Isaac Carree - Reset [Music Review]

Artist: Isaac Carree

Album: Reset

Label: Door 6 Entertainment 

Street Date: June 25, 2013

iPod Pick: Famous

From the bouncy ‘In the Middle’ to the soulful, laid back in tune ‘Uncommon Me’, Isaac Carree has brought in a kind of RnB in gospel we have come to love. Using his last project before this one as a springboard, it’s not like Carree brings something totally new to the table as various artist might come to mind when listening but the thing is how music is a part of this artist. He brings a presence to it that’s just uniquely his. And that is a very good thing. Isaac Carree carved a niche for himself and called us all in even with his debut ‘Uncommon Me’. That said, what about ‘Reset’.

On ‘Reset’ I hear many things. For me ‘Reset’ sounds more like a debut for Mr Carree as he totally leaves that niche he made for himself on his real debut. The thing about leaving niches is that just like a mother bird, you might lose some fans you already have in your nest.

Enter in ‘Clean This House’ the first single from the album which is already all over radio. This track is so R Kelly (Who coincidentally features latter on the album on a remix version of the same song)! Apart from concerns on originality on this track, the song writing is also skewed and lacks some precision. The verse starts off with a personal story ending up with a preachy bridge and ‘generalized’ refrain. My quick question for the artist or songwriter: is this a personal story or the metaphor story type with an ideal character the writer hopes anyone should fit into? These issues make the song a bit un-relatable.

Viewing as a whole, ‘Reset’ as an album is bold (maybe not lyrically) but musically. It is fresh and unlike a lot of things out there even in the mainstream. It has moments that shines with creativity [for example the ‘raggedy’ sounding little band choir chanting ‘Jesus’ on the moving ‘Famous’ (You need to listen. it is beautiful and has the ability to move your soul)]. Though with the Venn diagrams drawn already by popular RnB males such as Jason Derulo, Tyga, Chris Brown, Jor’dan Armstrong, Trey Songz, Miguel and little big boy NeYo, it’s hard to not be able to categorize anything thing that comes out in the RnB sector with pop flair into these categories but it’s good to find on Carree’s ‘Reset’ that thankfully some tracks fall out of these circles (Knock Knock, Famous, Never, Right Now.)

We hear a hint of what it used to be on ‘Right Now’ and its one song that would connect with you even from the opening lyrics and sound. Ever wondered what it would sound like whenKirk Franklin, Lecrae and Kiki Sheard appear on a song? You need to listen to the loud speaker bomb ‘So Glad’ and they do it well without overshadowing or too much shine.

Ever had that feeling when a piece of artwork is saying a million things when it’s best at just passing one across? That’s what ‘Reset’ felt like on first listen but I believe it would grow on me. It should grow on you too. But first you’ve got to press the reset button on the memory of Isaac Carree you always had (even way back with Destiny Child‘s Michelle Williams and the Men of Standard) cause it’s okay to call this one a brand new artist. Seriously, it’s okay.

P.S.- Whatever lyrics he was crooning on the song ‘Never’ girl stay strong! You might be whining your waist before the song ends. Honestly it matters. I just had to tell you. Lol

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

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.

MARY MARY - THE SOUND

Artist- Mary Mary
Album- The sound
Label- Columbia Records
Street date- October 21, 2008.
Album length- 12 tracks. 44.9 minutes.
Genre- Urban/R n B/Gospel
Ipod Pick- Seattle
Producer- Warryn Campbell


Welcome ‘The Sound’,Mary Mary’s fifth studio project (counting a former Christmas release), or rather should I say Mary Mary’s first radio station. The relevant and innovative record is styled like a play-list hour on a radio station and I tell you that’s way so cool.
The coolest thing about this effort is these God driven ladies being able to deliver a press play album (you won’t be reaching for your skip button anywhere on this album, no exaggerations, I mean it) that is soaked with words of hope and faith with beats to soothe the fans of artist like T-pain and Ludacris.

The album starts off with a spoken word intro done by Deborah Joy Imani Winans which flows into the 80’s styled ‘The Sound’. ‘Get Up’ would get you up your seat doing all dance and break moves you have learnt your entire life. All time sweet heart Kierra Kiki Sheard is feautured on the club ready ‘God in me’ which is soon to become your next ringtone once you’ve heard it. Mainstream rapper David Banner appears on ‘Superfriend’ telling us how God never left him lonely in lonely times. Worshipful and ‘beaty’ moments are not left out on tracks like ‘Forgiven me’ (soon to be your all time favorite), ‘I’m running’, ‘Seattle’, ‘I worship you’. The later (‘Seattle’) is co-written with former Winans phase 2 members Juan Winans and Marvin Winans.

From the Pop driven ‘ dirt’ to the Hands raised ‘Seattle’, The Sound is filled with infectious, radio ready, epic songs that would be heard generations to come and no doubt it not a waste of precious time, it’s THE SOUND! Listen to the sound.