csberry

In 2009, Israel Houghton (pronounced "ho-ten" like "hotel") released this solo album. The man has created a praise album that shifts from one pop music genre to another with such ease. Listen to the songs carefully and you'll hear musical influences from Prince, Lenny Kravitz, The Jackson Five, Bob Marley, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, and Evanescence.

I downloaded this album after seeing it on emusic and enjoying the samples I heard. This has been "love at first listen" and has severely cut into my Rolling Stone Top 500 music time. :)

After a little intro track, the listener is catapulted to his or her feet with "Everywhere I Go." I love the Stevie Wonder-esque sound he gets at the end of the track.

Next is "Just Wanna Say" which sounds like an Outkast song that is missing the rapping. I just don't think you've got any soul if you don't tap your toes or somehow keep rhythm during this song.

Things switch gears to the reggae song "Surely Goodness." It is a song that offers sweet shuffling guitars, keyboards that grunt and sigh, and beautiful blending of layers of backing vocals. It also features a rap from Chevelle Franklyn.

The title track comes next with an intro that reminds me of Stevie Wonder with its harmonized "ah, ah-ah's" and organ. The song implores the listener to make a difference in the world. Each of us can change the world by doing our part. The body of the song reminds me a lot of Let Love Rule-era Lenny Kravitz.

Okay, now it's time for some Sly & the Family Stone-inspired music! "U R Loved" takes Sly, Lenny Kravitz, and rocks the house! Phew! Time to chill out for a little while. "Moving Forward" starts of soft and pretty and segues into a great epic buildup with a choir and organ raising the song up to brilliant heights. "I Receive" starts off sounding like "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, but quickly switches gears to sound more like a blend of Peter Gabriel's "Biko" and "Solsbury Hill."

AND HERE COMES PRINCE!!! "Saved By Grace" screams 1999 to Purple Rain-era Prince. Just listen to the song and you'll automatically envision the keyboardist as wearing doctors' scrubs.

Okay...do I really need to go through the rest of the album? I mean, if you don't like any of the above, the rest of the album isn't likely to change your mind. Oh, wait, if you are still iffy on this album, give "You Found Me" a listen. This track features tobyMac and finds Israel treading in Evanescence/hard rock territory.

It is obvious to me how this album earned the 2010 Grammy for Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.