Alvin Slaughter

Item: God Can!
Author: Stephen Trickey

God Can!

(1996)

Reviewed by Stephen Trickey

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Spotify YouTube Music

Label Hosanna! MusicThe LighthouseFebruary 1997

gospel r&b worship

Alvin Slaughter's new project, God Can!, is a hidden treasure in today's contemporary music scene. Recorded on the Integrity music's Hosanna! label, it is a masterpiece of live praise and worship songs performed with genuine feeling and masterful vocals.

Slaughter is a former lead vocalist for the famed Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, where he was featured on five recordings. In the early 90's he formed Alvin Slaughter Music Ministries and recorded two self-released titles before landing with Integrity. Since then, he has recorded a studio project, Champion Of Love, and a live praise & worship album, Revive Us Again. While the former was a quality collection of songs, it was the latter that allowed Slaughter to sing his kind of music his way.

The new album, God Can!, follows very closely in the steps of Revive Us Again in its content and style. It's a live project recorded in Long Island, New York, with about 3,000 people in the audience. The back-up choir consisted of several hundred singers from local churches and the Hosanna Music Mass Choir.

The first five tunes all flow with sounds of praise that provide an upbeat tempo of unrehearsed celebration. In the title track, "God Can," Slaughter leads the choir with his powerful voice, proclaiming faith and trust in our Lord:

I have a God who can do anything I have a God who is still the King of kings I have a God who is able to do Above and beyond what you could Ask him to

Throughout songs such as "Doin' A Good Work" and "More Than Enough," Slaughter complements the lyrics with words of encouragement or Scriptures. The sixth song provides the listener a slight break from the fast pace as Slaughter leads the choir with an inspiring performance of "Holy, Holy, Holy." Its impassioned lyrics and mid-tempo beat give the project a nice break.

In the album's second half, its tempo slows and its focus shifts to songs of worship. Slaughter's vocals prove just as effective here as with the faster-paced material. "That's When" provides the listener with the encouragement that no matter the circumstances, God will step in on our behalf:

When we have a work to do And the task ahead seems bigger than you That's when He steps in.... In the moment you call When you've given you're all He steps in, He steps in

One of the most promising aspects of God Can! is the seamless flow of songs. Especially with the songs of worship, it was effective that there were no studio breaks between songs. After "That's When" sets the tempo of worship, several familiar choruses are sung by Slaughter, the choir, and the audiences. These choruses included "Jesus Lord To Me," and the ever familiar "Alleluia," where Slaughter gives an impassioned prayer as everyone joins in the singing. The project ends with a song of celebration, as Slaughter picks up the pace one last time for "When We All Get To Heaven."

God Can!, very simply, is a wonderful collection of up-tempo praise and heartfelt songs of worship. It is obvious that Slaughter was not interested in simply providing a collection of songs that he performed on. He allowed the spirit of the songs to set the tempo and he allowed the audience to participate, which make it seem that they had all forgotten they were making a recording and allowed the impassioned lyrics to have center stage. If you are looking for a live praise and worship project that will inspire and encourage you, I highly recommend God Can!