Artist: Forever Jones
Album: Musical Revival
Album Length: 11 Tracks, 38 minutes, 21 seconds
Street Date: April 10, 2012
Label: EMI Gospel
iPod Pick: Being With You
If you thought ‘He Wants All’ was the best thing that could
ever happen come from the Grammy nominated family band Forever Jones, you are
most definitely wrong. In a world were artists are always termed not to really
outdo their first work (since it more like it took them the most time to
prepare for that one) Forever Jones offers an even more powerful and vibrant
sophomore project. And honestly this one is on a whole new level leaving the
gospel-negro spiritual style they are known for and edging out into a unique
sound which is pop/hip-hop/Urban/RnB with a bit of edginess which some might
term rock.
‘Hallelujah’ starts off the album with an intro that might
get you (if you are a lady) doing the independent-lady salute (and if you are a
guy) doing the dougie. It’s a very groovy tune but not has groovy has the party
ready and power pumped ‘Musical Revival’ that might have you throwing a party
at first listen. It sounds musically something mainstream artist Rihanna might
record on an album. ‘Being With You’ is beautiful in its entirety, never heard
anything like it before. The vocals are slurred and sung in ad-lib Adele (or
say Musiq Soulchild) style. It would break through a dusty window in your heart
like sunlight with causing any damage. It’s really that beautiful and it’s got
a rap too somewhere in the middle. It’s embedded in a tune that kind of allows
the throwback/snapback dance. ‘Hold Me Still’, ‘Every Moment’ (my personal favorite),
‘Just The Way’, ‘Rescue’ and ‘I See You’ are very intimate songs written in the
first person God format ( like God is singing) and conversational prayer form.
And they are all musically beautiful. And less I forget the wailing/chant vocal
form on ‘Every Moment’ is hauntingly beautiful. I paused at the window on my
first listen gazing beyond through the whole song as it played over my dock
station in my living room.
‘You’re Welcome’ takes us back to church (in the usual
Forever Jones’ style) and it’s excellently done, lyrically and musically too.
‘Most of All’ is a bold song on the very sensitive but yet culturally relevant
issue of life purpose, funny enough it might just remind you of Natalie Grant
singing one of her very ‘anthemic’ songs. The vocals on ‘I know Who I’m Living
For’ would bring Mali Music to mind. What would it be like if Florida made
music and Mali Music did vocals? Whatever answer you come up with is what this
song might sound like to you.
This album is such a complete package that this review
focuses more on the musical side of it. Lyrically this album is also packed and
for a Gospel album it is far from the clichéd standard most have set. I must
say this is the best record yet I have listened to this year. There’s something
about this record that goes way beyond its mainstream sound. I believe it’s
heavily anointed. This isn’t the Forever Jones you came to know on the debut
‘Get Ready’. ‘Musical Revival’ is a whole experience you do not want to not be
a part of.
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