Reviewed by James Attlee

The album kicks off with some soulful, almost-gospel organ before the band kicks in with a foot stomping slice of blue-eyed funk about the joys of havin' church, called 'Sunday Go To Meetin'. Boy sure can sing - a bit like a rootsier Daryl Hall. The horns on 'Ain't No Stoppin Now' are positively Muscle Shoals, and backing vocals on 'We All Need' come courtesy of the LA Mass Choir, so it's clear that he's into black music in a big way. Lyrically he comes to grips with some of the contradictions and hypocrisies of church life, detailing the delights of growing up as a preacher's kid in a US Pentecostal Church on the rap 'Mr Bailey's Daughter'. "Like most people over the years/I got used to the pressure/of saying and doing all the right things/whether I believed it or not/because if I didn't, I had the largest gathering of elderly ladies/Ever to act upon their moral obligation/To report everything I ever said or did." Like Jon Gibson, he's not afraid to sing about his own weaknesses and failures as well as the positive aspects of his faith. He's as at home taking apart the real drive behind his motivations as he is deconstructing music styles. A cast of great session men and a hot production from Dan Posthuma give this an "A" grade. Honest Christian music that grooves!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.