Artist: The Florida Boys
The Florida Boys are back with another good studio recording. They have a solid line up with Gene McDonald, Josh Garner, Allen Cox, and Glenn Allred on vocals. You can tell an extra effort was made to get their voices sounding just right on this CD.
This project could be better in two areas, though. The packaging doesn't measure up to comparable top of the line releases on other labels. No lyrics are inside, for example, and the photography could have been better. (Cox looks mad in the shot on the back.) Some corners were cut in the music track production as well. The horns and strings in particular sound like samples being played on a keyboard, rather than real instruments.
You can certainly enjoy this CD despite those relatively minor shortcomings, though. The song selection is an excellent variety of new material with clever arrangements. "I Find Joy In Serving Jesus" is a happy rollicking tune, and "I'm Gonna Rise" steps up the tempo another notch. Most of the tunes feature the entire quartet blending in harmony, but Gene McDonald gets a humorous moment alone in the spotlight with "Want To Sing Bass." We need to bring back more of the songs where the bass singer shows off and makes us laugh! "He's Riding Home" brings back the Sons of the Pioneers' western sound. "It's Still True" is in the classic convention song style where each singer takes off on an independant melody for the final choruses. It would very likely do well as a radio release. The CD concludes with a very nice tight harmony á cappella arrangement of the classic hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."
The Florida Boys pack a powerful punch with this new project. If you appreciate variety in your male quartet music, you should be pleased with what you hear.
Title: I'm Gonna Rise
Label: Homeland
Website: www.floridaboys.com
Song Titles: "Jesus Will Do What He Said He Would Do," "Keep Pressing On," "I Find Joy In Serving Jesus," "I'm Gonna Rise," "It's Who I Am," "Want To Sing Bass," "He's Riding Home," "Travelin' Light," "Thy Will Be Done," "It's Still True," and "It Is Well With My Soul"