NewSong's latest release, People Get Ready, is a whole new sound for the group. Two of the original members have departed. Now joining the two remaining singers, Eddie Carswell and Billy Goodwin, are Russ Lee, Charles Billingsley, Leonard Ahlstrom, and Scotty Wilbanks.
The album begins with the Curtis Mayfield classic, "People Get Ready." The slow pace with lush harmonies and big vocals creates an almost soulful feel.
"When I'm With You" then turns the album toward more acoustic pop while offering thanks to God for always being close by. Much of the rest of the album lies in the AC/pop range, with a little of the power pop, ala a brass section--best shown in the funky "My Heart's Already There." The production is crisp, with plenty of backing vocals.
With the exception of the Curtis Mayfield track, the songs were written by Eddie Carswell with Leonard Ahlstrom, Jamie Harvill, and Russ Lee assisting. The sound is fresh, but the words and message are similar to the prior releases by NewSong. They are straight-forward lyrics offering praise to God, reminders to depend on the Lord, and several tracks concerning Jesus Christ. "Love's Never Been Like This" talks about how Christ paid the highest price that could be paid for love, and now we can know what real love means. "This One's With Me" is a tender ballad (not unlike Tim Miner's "Love Me Still") about a dream of going to heaven and hearing Jesus say to God, "Father this one's with me/Part of the family/One of the reasons/I died on Calvary." As Easter approaches, "Arise, My Love" is especially appropriate, as God tells His Son and the world that he has defeated the grave in this slow, deliberate anthem--something that sounds just as appropriate for closing out a motion picture as it does a musical project.
I think the words from the pop-anthemish song, "We Wear His Name," sum up the feeling of this release: "We wear His name/The name above all names/We wear His name in a world that's lost in hopelessness/We are called to be the light/...When we see those in desperate need/How can we pass them by?/Let's not forget we represent the name of Jesus Christ."
I recommend this album to all NewSong fans, and those who like AC styled music. Give these new guys a chance to show they can make the group what it has been known for in the past--a bunch of guys who love the Lord and aren't afraid to show it.
Similar sounding releases
1994Gary ChapmanThe Light Inside
1995Wayne WatsonField Of Souls
19944HimThe Ride
1994Paul SmithExtra Measure
1993Michael EnglishHope
1995Scott KrippayneWild Imagination
