Dave's Review

Producer: Mark Trammell
Label: Daywind

As most Gold City fans know, the group typically releases one major project each year with mostly new tunes. They also do one or two "lower budget" products of more familiar material (Amazing Grace, Home For The Holidays, etc.). Gold City's major release for 2001 is Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over. The style of this recording is very similar to recent major Gold City projects. With Steve Mauldin again assisting with production and orchestrations, you are treated to their trademark driving tunes with brass driven accompaniment and their inspirational ballads in the vein of "Midnight Cry."

"I Believe" gets things going with an upbeat statement of faith and a fake ending that gives Jay Parrack a chance to do his thing. This is followed by Mark Trammell's "He Took The Hill," which is a tune comparable to "Show Me The Cross." "I'm Not What I Was" is another up tempo tune, featuring some rumbling low notes out of Tim Riley. "Grace" is given a blending vocal treatment on the choruses with Jonathan Wilburn featured on the verses. It goes through an odd key progression at the beginning before settling down. Other highlights on the recording include Daniel Riley's solo on "I'll Just Praise You," "It's A Matter Of Grace" which showcases Jay Parrack, and the convention style arrangement of "Some Glad Day." The only weak tune is "He Who Was And Is To Come," which has a great message, but is just a bit awkward in the way the lyrics fit the melody.

Gold City has again demonstrated why they are the premiere quartet in Southern Gospel. It's not enough to just have an exciting stage presentation, a low bass, and a high tenor. Consistent quality song selection and production are also required, and Gold City has been able to maintain these crucial elements. It's becoming a process that's like clockwork for them. Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over is better than Are You Ready and Within The Rock, but probably just a notch under Show Me The Cross in terms of song selection. The production quality is as good as you'll hear anywhere.

by David Bruce Murray