Rating:
Genre:
Country
Release Date: 11/11/2003
This may be
Randy Travis' second
gospel album in three years, but that doesn't make it redundant.
Travis, like
George Jones,
Merle Haggard, and
George Strait, could sing the back of a can of peas and make it sound inspired. When the material he takes on is the absolute core of
country gospel and public domain
spirituals, the result is nothing less than soul-stirring, powerful, honest, and truly beautiful. Here
Travis takes on the reverential
hymns such as
"How Great Thou Art," "Peace In The Valley," "Room at the Cross For You," and
"In The Garden," and makes them sound fresh and new. They are startling in their intensity and bare bones homage. In addition, the great nuggets of
country gospel, such as
"The Unclouded Day," "Will The Circle Be Unbroken," and
"I'll Fly Away," are taken back to the
country church where they came from. From the bluesy,
honky tonk alleyway,
Travis sings songs from the cannon like
"He's My Rock, My Sword, My Shield," and
"Just A Closer Walk With Thee." He reports from the dancefloor as the barroom clock is crossing over from Saturday night into Sunday morning. This is direct, unfiltered, hard-line
gospel at its best, by a master.
~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
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