Blogcritics Category: Music: Christian and Gospel

Music Review: Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson

Matthew Milam — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:05:45 EST

If Hudson had a tighter collection of songs this go round, she would soar tremendously on the charts.
Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut album isn't a masterpiece. Given that the album had gone through several setbacks and delays prior to its release, it's obvious that there was no one at the helm who knew what to do with the former American Idol contestant and Oscar winner. That being said, and in light of her recent family tragedy,...

DVD Review: Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years: Busy Being Born... Again!

Damian Penny — Thu, 4 Dec 2008 13:31:29 EST

Flawed but much-needed documentary examines Bob Dylan's flirtation with born-again Christianity.
They show me to the door,They say don't come back no more'Cause I don't be like they'd like me to,And I walk out on my ownA thousand miles from homeBut I don't feel alone'Cause I believe in you.- Bob Dylan, "I Believe in You" (1979)Any rock star can take drugs, trash hotel rooms, and support fashionable political...

Music Review: Hank Williams - Hank Williams: The Unreleased Recordings

Richard Marcus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:53:35 EST

Country music has yet to produce anyone who comes close to matching Williams for the emotional integrity of his songs.
For the longest time I could never understand how anybody could like country music. The problem was that it took me nearly forever to realize there was a huge difference between the music that's performed by people like Shania Twain, and country music. Growing up in urban centers, the only type of country music I heard for the longest time was...

Music Review: Sheryl Crow - Home For Christmas

Donald Gibson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:54:37 EST

Crow offers a worthy addition to any holiday music collection.
In past years, Sheryl Crow has contributed select performances to various holiday music compilations, most notably to the Special Olympics benefit series, A Very Special Christmas. This year, she has released her first full-length holiday album, Home For Christmas, which is available exclusively from Hallmark. Covering nine yuletide standards as...

Music Review: Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain Railroad - Pickin', Praisin' & Singin': Hymns from the Mountain

Jennifer Bogart — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:54:53 EST

Tight harmonies and frenetic fiddling will mark this album an all time gospel favourite.
Accomplished bluegrass ensemble Pine Mountain Railroad’s latest album is devoted to songs celebrating and declaring the gospel. Their five-man band (with supplements) of multi-talented, accomplished musicians covers a great deal of territory in this release. Roaming from fiery calls to repentance to aching songs of longing for heaven the...

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Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:54:53 EST

Music Review: Sleepy John Estes & Hammie Nixon - On 80 Highway

Richard Marcus — Mon, 3 Nov 2008 09:41:17 EST

There is a quality to what they do that makes it alive in a way that you're not liable to hear from many other performers.
I have to admit, that no matter how much I love the blues, there are times when some of the older styles of the music can get boring. After one or two songs there just isn't enough variety in either the music or the vocals to maintain my interest. I think, like any genre, unless the person performing has something unique they can bring to what...

Music DVD Review: Neal Morse - Sola Scriptura and Beyond

Paul Roy — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 22:43:45 EST

Another magnificent Christian, prog-rock, sermon from the hands of Neal Morse.
Ex-Spock's Beard frontman — and everybody's favorite Christian, prog-rock minister — Neal Morse, has hit another home run with his latest concert DVD masterpiece, Sola Scriptura And Beyond. Morse abruptly quit the mighty Beard in 2002 in order to follow his born-again Christian heart in pursuit of some of the most righteous...

Music Review: Elvis Presley - Christmas Duets

David Bowling — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:04:29 EDT

Elvis Presley returns with a new holiday release and he is not alone.
Ah the wonders of modern technology! The RCA label has released another Elvis Presley Christmas album but rather than just repackaging some of his holiday hits, they decided to get a little creative. They gathered together a number of country music’s biggest female stars to sing duets with him. Such artists as Martina McBride, Carrie...

Music Review: Awake My Soul - The Original Soundtrack / Help Me to Sing - Songs of the Sacred Harp

Anna Creech — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:53:59 EDT

Continuines the preservational and educational mission of the documentary which inspired this collection.
The documentary Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp told the story of the origins of shape note singing, and of the Sacred Harp collection in particular, as well as the recent revival of this type of vocal music. With the release of the two-disc soundtrack, we are treated with the full recordings of the songs referenced in the documentary,...

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Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:53:59 EDT

Music Review: Underoath - Lost in the Sound of Separation

Jordan Richardson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:19:52 EDT

The Christian metalcore's third record is a roaring, passionate confessional of sins.
For quite a while, we were told that rock and roll was the devil’s music. Ever since Elvis shuffled his hips in such a grotesquely demonic way, rock music was a good kid’s best bet for going bad. But times have changed and rock music not only is a sanctuary for Christians, but some of the little buggers are making music that shreds...