Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy - Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy [Music Review]

Artist: Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy
Album: Anthony Brown & Group TherAPy
Label: Tyscot Records
iPod Pick: Better Days

Okay here’s the deal, the first thing that caught my attention on first listen to Anthony Brown & Group therAPy’s self-titled debut was Anthony’s voice. Wait, it’s not the typical Deitrick Haddon or Chris Brown type but it’s got this crispy, husky and soothing feel, (think Bebe mixed with a bit of Donnie but more organic and raw). I absolutely loved it even as he opened up the Jazz styled first track (Group Therapy). He effortlessly sails through personal sounding lyrics that discuss satisfaction and where it can only be found. Even in this song, his voice soars from the low to the high again and again. ‘I Will Be’ utilizes the church clap style a lot of gospel tunes are accustomed to but the vocals remain sharp throughout. The song lyrically talks about being all God’s called one to be. ‘Better Days’ which opens up with Anthony’s great voice in an animated way and also with hopeful lyrics (Open your eyes. Today’s a brand new day and those tears you cried are all in yesterday) would sure get you off your seat on getting to its chorus. You can’t be still with this one.

For me ‘Water’ gets a five star, not that it brings anything new musically to the table but there’s a strange worshipful moment on that song no one would want to miss. The track overflows into ‘Overflow’ which might almost be mistaken if left alone as a chant by one of those very big voiced choirs. Simply said; innovative. ‘Harvest Song’ musically is a free bird. On hearing it, I’m like ‘why didn’t this start off the album?’ The choir modulation which was also utilized on ‘Better Days’ makes ‘Your Way’ shine. ‘Beyond Beyond’ showcases beautiful vocals from different members of the group and kinds of soar with different melodies.

Listening to Anthony Brown & therAPy for me was an adventure though I knew there was something more to this group even as I listened to the songs. Some songs had a leg out of the boundaries already explored by gospel music and some had both legs in. It feels like Anthony Brown and his friends have loads of creativity and stories to tell in their hands but hold back all in the name of a genre. The stories behind some of the songs are personal but fall back into clichéd lyrics we’ve probably heard before. I hopefully wait for their sophomore release, this is one musical group that has the potential of walking the red carpets of the Grammys to receive an award very soon, only if they allow God tell and paint at the same time the unique voice he wants the world to hear through them.

P.S – All the same this is still a great work any lover of classical gospel would love and those who embrace the contemporary scene too. Good efforts Anthony Brown & Group therAPy.

* [Review Originally Penned For and Featured Courtesy of TheGospelGuru.com]

Fireflight - Now

Artist: Fireflight

Album: Now

Album Length: 10 tracks; 36 minutes 6 seconds

Genre: Rock
Label: Essential Records

Street Date: March 6, 2012

IPod Pick: Escape

10 new tracks from Grammy nominated female front band whose music can sure shake up a sleeping child isn’t something fans of Evanescence, Paramore, Flyleaf, Kelly Clarkson and Gretchen would want to miss. 

The album starts off with ‘Ignite’, which is very anthemic and reminiscent of Paramore and a bit of the playfulness of Avril Lavigne’s music. ‘Escape’ follows suit as Dawn Michele (lead vocalist of the band) ems the chorus with soaring and haunting vocals and less I forget, who did the keys for this song?, they are awesome. The album slows down on ‘He weeps’ which is hopeful and sometimes uses cliché lyrics but is sure enough to evoke emotion. Dawn’s voice morphs into the Taylor Swift- sweet kind on ‘Keeping Me Alive’ which paves way for a beautiful and worshipful easy listening track.

The album picks up it pace again on ‘stronger than You Think’. The innovative and confident ‘Prove Me Wrong’ kind of breaks new ground musically on the album. You would hear nothing really new musically on ‘Dying For Your Love’, using riffs similar to that on former Fireflight and Skillet albums. ‘Rise Above’ is beautiful in that the musical style used amplifies it story-like and hopeful lyrics. The album ends with the title track ‘Now’ which I personally think is a loud way to end a rock album. Ending one like this might just throw the listener out of the reflective mood rock music is generally known for.

I have always known Fireflight as that band that has a collection of songs to ‘wake you up’ in the mornings ( ‘Brand New Day’,’For Those Who Wait’, ‘Unbreakable’) and they don’t fail to bring the same vein of hope-driven songs on this new project but musically this one doesn’t break any new grounds. Fans wouldn’t sure want to miss this. And this one is more interesting to listen to than the Grammy nominated ‘For Those Who Wait’ album. If you liked their first two albums, this is for you and if you are a new listener, you would not regret getting this as long as front-female rock bands and hope aren’t one of the things you detest.

Grammy 2012 [My Predictions]

I woke up this morn to the news (Thanks to the amazing Yada site) that the Grammy nominations were out. So excited about that and below are my predictions.


Category 1 - Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance

1. Do Everything
Steven Curtis Chapman
Track from: re:Creation
[Sparrow Records]







2. Alive (Mary Magdalene)
Natalie Grant
Track from: Music Inspired By The Story
[WOW Joint Venture/EMI CMG]



3. Your Love
Brandon Heath
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records]

4. Jesus
Le’Andria Johnson
Track from: The Awakening Of Le’Andria Johnson
[Music World Gospel]





5. I Lift My Hands
Chris Tomlin
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]





Okay some songs I really love which were released this year aren’t on this list and I really don’t know what Natalie Grant’s Alive is doing on this list, it’s my least favourite song on the Story album. ‘My Heart’ by Chris Tomlin would have made a better cut. And Le’Andria Johnson’s Jesus is just the normal gospel tune, nothing special from my point of view. So and the winner is
Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman

Category 2 - Best Gospel Song


1. Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Track from: Hello Fear
[Verity Gospel Music Group/Fo Yo Soul Ent.; Publisher: Aunt Gertrude Music]







2. Sitting With Me
Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Tammi Haddon, songwriters (Mary Mary)
Track from: Something Big
[Columbia Records; Publishers: Precious Baby Music/T Bella Music/EMI April Music, It's Tea Tyme, That's Plum Song]





3. Spiritual
Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Donald Lawrence & Co. Featuring Blanche McAllister-Dykes)
Track from: YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publisher: Quiet Water Entertainment]









4. Trust Me
Richard Smallwood, songwriter (Richard Smallwood & Vision)
Track from: Promises
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal-Z Tunes/T.Autumn Music]



5. Window
Canton Jones, songwriter (Canton Jones)
Track from: Dominionaire
[Cajo Records; Publisher: CAJO Music]





Without Much Ado, The winner is
Sitting With Me by MaryMary. That song is just awesome! Though Window by Canton Jones almost got this one. It’s a great song too.



Category 3 - Best Contemporary Christian Music Song


1. Blessings
Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Track from: Blessings
[Fair Trade Services; Publishers: New Spring/Gleaning Publishing]



2. Hold Me
Jamie Grace Harper, Toby McKeehan & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Jamie Grace Featuring Tobymac)
[Gotee Records; Publishers: Universal Music, Brentwood Benson Tunes, Songs of Third Base/Chriscendo Music, Meaux Mercy/Achtober Songs]
Track from: One Song at a Time






3. I Lift My Hands
Louie Giglio, Matt Maher & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us…
[Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Thankyou Music/spiritandsong.com Publishing]





4. Strong Enough
Matthew West, songwriter (Matthew West)
Track from: The Story Of Your Life
[Sparrow Records; Publishers: External Combustion Music/Songs For Delaney/Songs of Southside Independent Music]



5. Your Love
Brandon Heath; Jason Ingram, songwriters (Brandon Heath)
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Big Skwawka Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing/Windsor Hill Music]


There's just something about Laura Story’s Blessing. Though I think She might not win this one  cause she’s new on the Grammy Scene but still I will still tag her winner.


Category 4 - Best Gospel Album
1. The Love Album
Kim Burrell
[Shanachie Entertainment]




2. The Journey
Andraé Crouch
[Riverphlo Entertainment]



3. Hello Fear
Kirk Franklin
[Verity Gospel Music Group/ Fo Yo Soul Ent.]









4. Something Big
Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]



5. Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
[Music World Gospel]







 
The Love Album by Kim Burrell is so artistic but too jazzy, Hello Fear by Kirk Franklin, I personally think isn’t his best effort yet, Trin-I-Tee 5:7’s Angel & Chanelle? How did they get on this list? In fact I just couldn’t concentrate on listening to the album to the end. I personally think it was a weak comeback for the girls. As much as I want Mary Mary’s Something Big to get this, I don’t think it’s going to get it not because it’s not good but excuse me, we have a veteran on the list. So the winner is
The Journey by Andraé Crouch


Category 5 - Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
1. Ghosts Upon The Earth
Gungor
[Brash Music]



2. Leaving Eden
Brandon Heath
[Reunion Records]



3. The Great Awakening
Leeland
[Essential Records]

4. What If We Were Real
Mandisa
[Sparrow Records]

5. Black and White
Royal Tailor
[Essential Records]

6. And If Our God Is For Us…
Chris Tomlin
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]



I have listened to all the albums on this list except the Royal Tailor’s album and I must say these are very good albums. But I sincerely think Mandisa might be getting her first Grammy this year. So the winner is
What If We Were Real by Mandisa. Great Job girl!


So there it is, fingers crossed till February when the awards going to air. In the time being, keep rocking the music and check out the guys you haven’t heard of on the list.
U R LUVED :)

P.S.- What are your own predictions? Who do you think is likely to get an award? I would like to hear your point of view, drop a coment :)

2010 GRAMMYS - THE UNEXPECTED !

The Grammy Awards which was broadcast live by CBS at 8 P.M ET/PT from the Staples center in L.A. wowed lovers of Gospel Music on the 31st of January. The amazement started off in December when the Nomination list was released. It’s the norm for the Expected to be overlooked. Now I don’t mean to undermine the nominated artist (in the Gospel section) but some albums which also did very well last year didn’t even see the Grammy’s break light. Since the nomination in December, we were already expecting the unexpected. Even the Nominations weren’t expected. See for yourself what I mean.

Best Gospel Performance



• "Wait On The Lord" - Donnie McClurkin Featuring Karen Clark Sheard - WINNER

• "Free To Be Me" - Francesca Battistelli

• "Jesus Is Love" - Heather Headley Featuring Smokie Norful

• "I Believe" - Jonny Lang With Fisk Jubilee Singers

• "Born Again" - Third Day


Best Gospel Song





• "God In Me" - Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters
Performed by Mary Mary featuring Kierra "KiKi" Sheard - Track from: The Sound - WINNER

• "Born Again" - Tai Anderson, David Carr, Mark Lee & Mac Powell, songwriters
Performed by Third Day - Track from: Revelation

• "City On Our Knees" - Cary Barlowe, Toby McKeehan & Jaime Moore, songwriters
Performed by TobyMac

• "Every Prayer" - Dayna Caddell, Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey & Ricardo Sanchez, songwriters
Performed by Israel Houghton & Mary Mary - Track from: The Power Of One

• "The Motions” - Jason Houser, Sam Mizell & Matthew West, songwriters
Performed by Matthew West - Track from: Something To Say


Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album





• Live Revelations - Third Day - WINNER

• The Big Picture - Da' T.R.U.T.H.

• Crash - Decyfer Down

• Innocence & Instinct - Red

• The Dash - John Wells-The Tonic

Now you tell me, how do you compare Da’ T.R.U.T.H. with Red. Worlds apart! Totally different genres and both do lovable music. I really think the Grammy committee should consider splitting this category.

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.



• The Power Of One - Israel Houghton - WINNER!

• Speaking Louder Than Before - Jeremy Camp

• The Long Fall Back To Earth - Jars Of Clay

• Love Is On The Move - Leeland

• Freedom - Mandisa

Now this is cruel and funny and I’m laughing out loud. Calling Israel Houghton’s Music Pop? I guess I have to listen again.

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album



• Jason Crabb - Jason Crabb - WINNER

• Dream On - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

• The Rock - Tracy Lawrence

• In God's Time - Barry Scott & Second Wind

• Everyday - Triumphant Quartet

Now, I’m really not to familiar with this genre but what happened to Bart Milliard’s Hymned Again and Patty Loveless’ latest Album?

Best Traditional Gospel Album



• Oh Happy Day - Various Artists - EMI Gospel/Vector Recordings - WINNER

• God Don't Never Change - Ashley Cleveland

• The Law Of Confession, Part I - Donald Lawrence & Co.

• The Journey Continues - The Williams Brothers

• How I Got Over - Vickie Winans

Yeah yeah, the Oh Happy day album was good but the album featured some mainstream artist also. And I really don’t know what Vickie Winans latest effort is doing in this category. The album is so contemporary and upbeat. It should have been placed in Contemporary Gospel.

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album





• Audience Of One - Heather Headley - WINNER

• Renewed - Sheri Jones-Moffett

• Just James - J Moss

• Smokie Norful: Live - Smokie Norful

• Bold Right Life - Kierra Sheard

Now don’t get me wrong, J Moss’s Just James and Kierra Kiki Sheard’s Bold Right Life are two amazing albums and really that’s the type of R&B this generation is familiar with. I have the other albums mentioned in this category and I really had a great time listening to them (especially Sheri Jones-Moffett’s Renewed. Her voice is amazing. You should get the album) but apart from Kierra’s and J Moss’s the rest are basically church music. Anyway it’s all well and it ends well.



Really I had my heart desires concerning this past Grammys. Like seeing Britt Nicole picking up a Grammy for ‘The Lost Get Found’ album ( but sorry she wasn’t even nominated). Also would have loved to have Addison Road, Skillet, Cadia, Switchfoot, Hillsong, Michael W. Smith, Casting crowns, Damita and many more others on the nomination list ( Now don’t say I’m biased cause this guys are really good too, but it’s only a wish any way).



Lastly,I recently gave a friend of mine who listens to strictly Mainstream Music a copy of Skillet’s new CD ‘Awake’ and he was like ‘Oh my, that’s like the best rock album I’ve listened to in a while’. I believe a lot of our CCM and Gospel musicians have what it takes to compete with the mainstream guys so why on earth are they kept in a box in the Grammys (and their category don’t even get TV time. Can you imagine that? ) Dear Grammy Committee, Please set them free and let them soar. That is nominate them with the main category, let Leeland compete against The Dave Mathews band, Let Britt Nicole Compete against Pink, T-pain with Lecrae and Mandisa Maybe against Beyonce. They’ve got what it takes and if they don’t let them soar, their wings would get stronger.

SWITCHFOOT - HELLO HURRICANE

Artist – Switchfoot

Album – Hello Hurricane

Label – Atlantic Records/Lowercase People Records

Street Date – November 10, 2009.

Album Length – 12 tracks. 49 Minutes, 2 seconds.

Genre – Rock

IPod Pick – Enough to Let Me Go



Veteran rockers from San Diego, California are back again. The members of Switchfoot have established themselves over the years with unique rock tunes incomparable to other contemporaries. Let’s say over the years with the release of seven studio albums,the members of Switchfoot have carved a niche for themselves in mainstream rock music.

Hello Hurricane opens with a head nodding and melodious tune (‘Needle and Haystack life’) that would do any day for a drive downtown. ‘Mess of Me’ follows up sounding like a tune never heard before, the singer cries out to a power greater than his saying ‘ have made a mess of me . . . I wanna spend the rest of my live alive’. Mellow Love song for our savior ‘Your Love is A Song’ follows next. ‘Enough to Let Me Go’ would soon be a favorite after the first play. It’s soothing and very melodic with insightful lyrics to sing along.'Free' sounds a bit like something off a Keane Album.

The title track ‘Hello Hurricane’ is an ‘anthemic’ song that declares that nothing can stop the power of love.’ Hello Hurricane/ You’re not enough/Hello Hurricane/ You can’t silence my love’ Jon foreman lead vocalist of the band sings on this track. On a part the song deals with materialism.

All in all, there’s never been a dull moment with Switchfoot and on ‘Hello Hurricane’ they fail not to deliver the usual unusual. Looking for good rock with inspiring lyrics to rock on to? For now ‘Hello Hurricane’ is your best bet. And who knows it might be knocking on the next Grammy nomination doors for best rock of the year.

PLUMB - BEAUTIFUL HISTORY

Artist – Plumb

Album – Beautiful History: A Hits Collection

Label – Curb

Street Date – November 3, 2009.

Album Length – 20 Tracks. 1 Hour, 32 Minutes, 33 Seconds.

Genre – Pop/Electronica /Rock

IPod Pick – Stranded (2010)

Achievements - The first single off Beautiful History, "Hang On" reached number one in US Billboard Hot Dance Cub Play in 2009 and additionally became the first single of 2010 to reach the top spot in Billboard's Hot Dance Airplay chart.


Maybe what catches me about Plumb is her life journey that everyone can relate to. In early 2000's, Plumb almost gave up recording and doing music when she got a note from a young female fan before her supposed last concert saying that Plumb’s music had really influenced her life and really helped her through a very hard time. That in itself was a miracle. It made Tiffany Arkbuckle lee (a.k.a. Plumb) to embrace her career once again and start over again.
Plumb has a way of writing lyrics that reflects that we live in a world of people not just a ‘me, myself and I’ world. Her lyrics would start you thinking in a new direction. ‘Real’ a song inspired by the controversy caused by Jennifer Lopez’s low Versace gown which she wore to the 2000 Grammys, would help you see the lifestyle of the Rich and the famous in a new perspective. ‘Stranded’ is that Love song that sings silently in the heart of every lovebird in love but not wanting to make the first approach. The harmonies and guitars of the Plumb’s 2010 recording of this hit would make you fall in love with it in a new way. ‘God Shaped Hole ’, famous for its appearance on the soundtrack list of blockbuster movie ‘Bruce Almighty’ also has a new recording on this hit collection. ‘There’s a God shaped hole in all of us and the restless soul is searching’, Plumb sings anew on this recording. Two brand new song appear on this project (‘Hang on’ and ‘Beautiful History’). Trust me, its vintage Plumb style.
The other half of this album is filled with new remixes. You would love them and if you are the dancing type, it’s all the way. Plumb who is known for ambient sounds of the likes of Enya,Amy lee of Evanessence, Lara Landon, Dido and generation next diva, Leona Lewis is back with freshly recorded old tunes with some brand new stuff alongside. The thing about hit collections are that they could be monotonous and give you the ‘headache’ of having multiple tracks of the same title in your library but Plumb breaks that jinx beautifully with a ‘beautiful history’. For new fans of Plumb, ‘Beautiful History’ is a must have. For old fans it’s indeed a beautiful history and you don’t want to miss out on this.