ALLISON LYNN
Real Big Fan

Allison Lynn’s debut project, Real Big Fan, is atypical for Southern Gospel.  This project has more of a New Orleans, dixieland jazz feel to it.  Because I played in a jazz band in high school, I wanted to listen to this project several times before posting my thoughts. I love jazz, so I wanted to keep an open mind about this new soloist.

This Canadian-born soprano puts a new spin on the Cathedrals’ hit “Movin’ Up To Gloryland”, completely changing the tempo and jazzing up the instrumentation.  What’s really cool is that it totally works for her.  Her voice fits this type of music.  Allison Lynn brings a unique voice to our genre.

Her first single, “Shepherd Of The Hills”, is a soft ballad that suits her voice well.  Although her voice can seem thin and somewhat nasal at times, it is still enjoyable and pleasing to the ear.  If I were to offer any advice, I would recommend adding a few songs that move.  It seems every song was mid-tempo at best, which tended to make the songs run together.  I would have liked to have heard at least one “barn-burner” from Allison Lynn.

My personal favorite tracks were “Wedding At Cana” & “Shepherd Of The Hills”.  Overall the album was enjoyable…not one that will make my most played list, but this was a solid debut effort.

Final Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

I went to be in service with The Rowlands last night at Trinity Baptist in Asheville, NC.  This was a church service, so they were to sing 3 songs and let Bro. Ralph Sexton preach, but God decided to move through and bless using the group.

Ron Martin proved again last night why he is one of the best vocalists in Southern Gospel music today.  Not only does he have “power to burn” (if I may borrow a quote from George Younce), he also has amazing control to sound so soft and smooth.  Even though Ron is starting to get a few years on him, he can still hold his own when it comes to singing songs like their opening number, “Field Of Grace”.  This song was just outstanding!

Their tenor, JW, recently was hospitalized with salmonella, most likely from the tomatoe scare that’s hit the nation.  He was still weak last night, but did an excellent job on Kyla Rowland’s “Safe Thus Far”.  Kenneth, the baritone & pianist, sang “Will Grace Be Enough” after the story was told of how he had lost half of his right hand in an accident & had it reattached, enduring 13 major operations.  God really moved on these 2 songs.  They sang an additional song and Ron Martin gave the story behind a new song that you may be hearing soon. It was titled something like “You’ll Always Be My Son” or something similar.  Since it was a brand new song, I’m not 100% sure of the title, but I’m sure I’ll get to hear it again in a month when The Rowlands come to my house for a photo session and meeting about the artwork for their new project.  They will also be singing in a couple of churches in Spruce Pine, NC.

Check out The Rowland’s schedule to see if they are going to be anywhere close to you.  Go and see them if you can.

UPDATE:  Scott Robinson of Eighth Day has contacted me about the “new” song by The Rowlands.  It’s actually a previously released song entitled “Back To Me” and it was originally released to radio last year by Eighth Day.  It reached #26 on the October, 2007 Singing News Top 80.  The song was new to me…I don’t think I had heard it before.  Thanks for the update, Scott!

Here’s a short list I’ve compiled for July 4th.  What are other songs you guys play for the 4th?

1. “Let Freedom Ring” by The Kingdom Heirs is also a great song.  It’s from their Forever Gold project.  Steve Lacey is awesome on this song.
2. “Blood Bought My Freedom” by The Primitive Quartet is another one.  It’s on their 20th Anniversary project.  This is one of the few times that they’ve used drums in their music.
3. “God Bless America” by Vestal Goodman from her Lifetime of Favorites compilation.
4. “God Bless The USA” by Lee Greenwood, The Nelons, or The Kingdom Heirs.  What’s July 4th without this song?
5. “Pray For America” by Tara Jackson is amazing.  It’s on her debut, self-titled project.
6. “America Medley” from the GVB/EHSS Together project.
7. “America The Beautiful” by Three Bridges from their Believe album.
8. “Proud Of The American Flag” by The Isaacs from their Labor Of Love project.
9. “I Still Believe In America” by Brian Free & Assurance on their So Close To Home project.
10. “We Want America Back” by The Steeles.  Although this song in it’s day was very controversial with the secular media, the message is very much needed today.

What are your thoughts?

I voted online this morning.  Here’s my ballot:

Maybe……maybe not.  I picked up a couple of CDs by Gaither alumni, Jonathon Pierce.  2 new CDs for .97 cents a piece.  I thought they were too cheap to pass up.

I was dragged to a Family Christian Store this past Saturday so I browsed their “Southern Gospel” section (what a joke!).   I dee-test these stores because they don’t really carry any study materials or music that I would ever purchase.  After getting through their section of SG which may have had maybe 10 CDs that were actually part of the genre, I saw a section of clearance CDs.  Since I was stuck in the store anyway, I went and checked them out.  Of course, most of CDs were junk (another word came to mind here).  I did however see these 2 projects from Pierce, Mission & One Love.  

So, did I waste 2 bucks or was this a good find?  My mind is already telling me that I won’t like the CDs, but I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.  Guess I’ll know in a few minutes….if I actually listen to them after importing them into iTunes.