There isn't a thread devoted solely to reviews of Idol CDs, so I thought I'd start one. I am starting out with this CD, which I have rather belatedly
just heard:
Mandisa (Hundley) True Beauty CD. Sparrow Records, 2007. Six producers listed, varying from one track to another. Highest Billboard pop chart position: #43, 8/18/07. Highest Gospel chart position: #1. Total sales: 97,000; 7th place out of 10 (!) 5th season singers to release a CD, outselling Ace Young & Paris Bennett who finished ahead of her. (* indicates tracks I have downloaded).
This CD runs the gamut of modern gospel. Since I neither loved nor disliked Mandisa when she was on the show, I figured I could give it a reasonably objective review when I heard it, and the 5 songs (out of 11) that I am downloading seem to confirm that. I am breaking the album's songs down into thematic segments, in order of their appearance on the CD, for convenience.
A. Gospel Influenced R&B
*1. Only The World
*2. True Beauty
These two songs, both good, are probably what most of Mandisa's fans on the show wanted the whole CD to sound like when they heard it would be gospel: commercial R&B with vaguely gospel-y lyrics. The title track, one of three cowritten by Mandisa, has lyrics that will wonderfully resonate with serious fans of the show:
"You can keep all your red high heels and open-toed shoes
I'm good in my bare feet"
Considering how Mandisa's homophobic comments on the show helped get her booted, it's not surprising how she takes a dim view of the songs of Katherine McPhee & Kellie Pickler in light of their affair with each other (and of both finishing ahead of Mandisa).
B. Christian Rock
3. God Speaking
4. Voice Of A Savior
6. Unrestrained
*8. Never Gonna Steal My Joy
*10. Only You
Christian rock is one of the great oxymorons of modern music ("Rock & roll is the devil's music. Let's keep it that way") Nontheless, so-called christian rock (gospel lyrics with medium tempo rock beats and instruments) is a mainstay of modern gospel and makes up the biggest part of this CD. But for the most part, these are not memorable songs.
C. Gospel Rap
5. Love Somebody (featuring Toby Mac & Diverse City)
If Christian rock is a problem, what about a mix of gospel & rap? Can a genre that normally glorifies violence, rape and bling really be successfully used to praise the lord? Maybe, but not here. This is one of the two songs on the CD that are outright bad. At least it's not Mandisa that's doing the rapping. Someday somebody wiser than me will be able to figure out exactly why a gospel album needs to include rap to gain "street credibility."
D. Old Fashioned Gospel
*7. Shackles
9. Oh, My Lord
These cuts are what outsiders expect ALL gospel to sound like: like the middle of a black baptist charch at full blast on a sunday morning, with choir, organ and a dynamite soloist. And until fairly recently, this IS what all gospel sounded like. A little of this goes a long way for most of us, but Shackles (a cover of a Mary Mary song) delivers and then some. Simply put, it's a great song (for anybody who doesn't hate gospel, of course). Oh My Lord is generic and mediocre compared to Shackles.
E. Sanctimonious, String-laden Treacle
11. He Will Come
This is the sort of long, deadly cut that keeps gospel from "going mainstream." Trying for a big finish, it is instead boring and annoying; the second overtly bad song on the album. But overall this is a pretty successful CD: well sung, well produced and with a wide variety of styles.
Mandisa (Hundley) True Beauty CD. Sparrow Records, 2007. Six producers listed, varying from one track to another. Highest Billboard pop chart position: #43, 8/18/07. Highest Gospel chart position: #1. Total sales: 97,000; 7th place out of 10 (!) 5th season singers to release a CD, outselling Ace Young & Paris Bennett who finished ahead of her. (* indicates tracks I have downloaded).
This CD runs the gamut of modern gospel. Since I neither loved nor disliked Mandisa when she was on the show, I figured I could give it a reasonably objective review when I heard it, and the 5 songs (out of 11) that I am downloading seem to confirm that. I am breaking the album's songs down into thematic segments, in order of their appearance on the CD, for convenience.
A. Gospel Influenced R&B
*1. Only The World
*2. True Beauty
These two songs, both good, are probably what most of Mandisa's fans on the show wanted the whole CD to sound like when they heard it would be gospel: commercial R&B with vaguely gospel-y lyrics. The title track, one of three cowritten by Mandisa, has lyrics that will wonderfully resonate with serious fans of the show:
"You can keep all your red high heels and open-toed shoes
I'm good in my bare feet"
Considering how Mandisa's homophobic comments on the show helped get her booted, it's not surprising how she takes a dim view of the songs of Katherine McPhee & Kellie Pickler in light of their affair with each other (and of both finishing ahead of Mandisa).
B. Christian Rock
3. God Speaking
4. Voice Of A Savior
6. Unrestrained
*8. Never Gonna Steal My Joy
*10. Only You
Christian rock is one of the great oxymorons of modern music ("Rock & roll is the devil's music. Let's keep it that way") Nontheless, so-called christian rock (gospel lyrics with medium tempo rock beats and instruments) is a mainstay of modern gospel and makes up the biggest part of this CD. But for the most part, these are not memorable songs.
C. Gospel Rap
5. Love Somebody (featuring Toby Mac & Diverse City)
If Christian rock is a problem, what about a mix of gospel & rap? Can a genre that normally glorifies violence, rape and bling really be successfully used to praise the lord? Maybe, but not here. This is one of the two songs on the CD that are outright bad. At least it's not Mandisa that's doing the rapping. Someday somebody wiser than me will be able to figure out exactly why a gospel album needs to include rap to gain "street credibility."
D. Old Fashioned Gospel
*7. Shackles
9. Oh, My Lord
These cuts are what outsiders expect ALL gospel to sound like: like the middle of a black baptist charch at full blast on a sunday morning, with choir, organ and a dynamite soloist. And until fairly recently, this IS what all gospel sounded like. A little of this goes a long way for most of us, but Shackles (a cover of a Mary Mary song) delivers and then some. Simply put, it's a great song (for anybody who doesn't hate gospel, of course). Oh My Lord is generic and mediocre compared to Shackles.
E. Sanctimonious, String-laden Treacle
11. He Will Come
This is the sort of long, deadly cut that keeps gospel from "going mainstream." Trying for a big finish, it is instead boring and annoying; the second overtly bad song on the album. But overall this is a pretty successful CD: well sung, well produced and with a wide variety of styles.
