Stevie & The Saints
Eye on the Prize
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Stevie Olsen returns with another helping of his "Saintly Boogie." One side of the album, appropriately titled "Side Blue," features the Texas blues sound that was exhibited on his "Metal Blue" album a few years ago. The other side, "Side Red," features more of a metal approach. These tunes cook. The highlights from both sides would include: "Pass Me Not"; "No Blooz Blooz", a slow git-down ditty; the title track, a rowdy metal number; and "Soldier Of Fortune", with great lyrics about the future--"When the smoke has cleared and the truth declared and the final battle won/ We'll all stand before that great white throne and rejoice in the Son." Yeah! The song "Wayfaring Stranger" starts out with a real Whitesnake feel, but female lead vocals keep it from reaching this level. Stevie's own voice would've been a better choice here. Sanctuary Pastor Bob Beeman slaps the piano keys on this album, showing what some Sanctuary worship services include--good ole piano rockin'. Overall, this is another good Stevie & The Saints record. I'm not sure if it tops the band's debut--"Metal Blue," but they've given us some more boogie-style worship songs in "Power In The Blood", "Psalm 3", and "Pass Me Not".