Copious Notes

When Phil Stacey was a ­contestant on American Idol, he was pegged as a little bit country.

So that’s where the Harlan County native ended up after the show, on the country label Lyric Street Records. In 2008, he released a self-titled debut.

But anyone who was paying attention and knew a little bit about Stacey could hear something in the twang: a message.

Phil Stacey. Photo courtesy of Reunion Records.

“Even on my country record, every song was based on a Bible verse, to me,” Stacey says. “People who knew Christian music would say, ‘How could you put a John Waller song on a country CD?’” Stacey adds, referring to a modern rock worship leader and songwriter, “but we managed to pull it off.”

Since then, Stacey has made what he calls “a lateral move from Disney’s country label to Sony’s Christian label.”

And what a Christian label.

On Aug. 25, Stacey’s Into the Light will be released on Reunion Records. That would be the same label as Michael W. Smith, with whom Stacey also shares a manager. And he recorded the album with legendary Christian music maestro Brown Bannister, who was behind many of Smith’s and Amy Grant’s big successes.

“It was intimidating going into the studio with someone who’s worked with such gifted people,” Stacey says, noting other Bannister collaborators such as Russ Taff and Michael English. “But at the end of the day, he started out as a youth pastor, and he has a minister’s heart, which set my nerves at ease.

“We talked about the Bible and verses behind songs, and prayed before tracking. I admire Brown more as a person than for his musical background.”

This fall, Stacey hits the road with Smith.

“He’s been so encouraging,” Stacey says. “He’d send me texts like, ‘Phil, I really like this record,’ which meant the world to me.”

So far, the Smith/Stacey tour itinerary does not include Kentucky, though Stacey says he does get back home frequently.

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Danny Gokey visited Faith Builders International in Milwaukee May 8. Photo by Carrie Antlfinger | AP.

This year’s American Idol finals ­offered the nation 13 singers from across the country with ­different strengths, looks, backgrounds and styles. But six of them had ­something in common, aside from wanting to be the next American Idol: They all had experience as church worship leaders.

That included two of the final three competitors in the eighth season of Idol, which wraps up Wednesday with a two-hour season finale.

Danny Gokey, 28, was praise and worship leader at two Faith Builders International locations in Wisconsin.

Kris Allen performs Kanye West's "Heartless" on "American Idol" May 12. Photo by Frank Micelotta | PictureGroup for FOX.

And Kris Allen, 23, has worked with praise and worship teams at two New Life churches in Arkansas.

Gokey was booted Wednesday night, so Allen is the one who is going on to compete in next week’s final against Adam Lambert, long considered the front runner in this year’s race. And that was fine by several Christian music observers.

“I see the worship leader in Danny, but Kris has more of the ability to be artistic,” said Joanne Brokaw, a Christian music writer who brought the preponderance of worship ­leaders in this year’s Idol field to light with a Feb. 27 post on her Beliefnet.com blog that asked, “Is this the season of the worship leader?”

Other artists in this year’s final group who have Christian music backgrounds were dueling pianist Matt Giraud, blind musician Scott MacIntyre, oil rigger Michael Sarver and Memphis mother Lil Rounds.

“The thing that really struck me was not just that they were Christians, but they were church worship leaders,” said Brokaw, who has since ­predicted Allen will win the finale, already ­being ­characterized by some as David vs. Goliath. “These are people who have actively been ­working within their churches as musicians.”

And that work can give a singer a leg up on the ­competition. Read the rest of this entry »

Mandisa. Photo courtesy of Sparrow Records.

Review: Mandisa, Freedom

That some editions of Mandisa’s Freedom contain a cover of the 1979 Sister Sledge classic We Are Family may initially sound funky and cool. But it is actually indicative of one of the problems with the sophomore effort from the American Idol season five finalist.

Just a couple of years ago, ‘Disa burst onto the Christian scene with a voice honed by years as a backup session vocalist in Nashville and her solo turn on Idol. It was a voice and perspective that seemed vibrant and compelling on her debut, 2007’s True Beauty.

But Freedom just sounds old. There’s a reasonably good opening track in My Deliverer — though after listening to it numerous times, mention of the title still brings to mind the Rich Mullins classic of the same name. But then, we are into a series of songs that sound like Amy Grant retreads and soundtracks to motivational seminars. Mandisa’s best shot of energy comes from hip-hop trio Group 1 Crew on Definition of Me. But the album is more defined by songs such as He Is With You, a midtempo, umpteenth retread of Ecclesiastes.

What is missing here is what was so present on True Beauty: an individual voice and sense of adventure. This doesn’t sound like Mandisa as much as it sounds like somebody’s idea of what Christian music by a young African-American woman should be. Frankly, I feel like I’m hearing a lot of legendary producer Brown Bannister, who’s won Grammys helming projects by Amy Grant, CeCe Winans and others, and who was behind the controls for this one with Christopher Stevens. Christian music doesn’t need another Amy or CeCe. It needs Mandisa as Mandisa.

Israel Houghton's new album is a solo effort.

Review: Israel Houghton, The Power of One

Few Christian pop artists have as many styles at their disposal as Israel Houghton. His music usually comes in a modern gospel style, but he also has funk, hip hop, ballads, a world sound and even a punky side to work with.

Houghton has usually used this palette for worship music, but his latest effort, The Power of One, is more of a straight pop effort, and one of the best listens in quite a while for the genre.

There is a lot on this effort that stands alone: the worshipful I Receive, gospel basic Everywhere That I Go, soulful Sing (Redemption’s Song) with Delirious’ Martin Smith,   overpowering You Found Me with Tobymac and the conscience prodding The Power of One (Change the World).

That last track is probably most illustrative of this disc’s headline: Israel Houghton’s solo album. With songs such as the social justice rallying cry of the title track, this is more of a personal than universal statement, which is what we are used to hearing from Israel Houghton and New Breed. There is also the greater flexibility of an artist who does not need to check his vision with anyone else. So we get moments like Houghton swinging out of Sing into the brassy soul of Better to Believe, or the album gearing down to the groove of U R Loved.

On full display is the universal appeal of Houghton’s music. You may not like everthing he does, but most listeners should be able to find something. Still it all comes across as uniquely Houghton. He’s been called a chamelon, but you always recognize his form.

Other new releases: After several months of fairly tepid Tuesdays, this week gave us new tunes not only from Mr. Houghton, but also Mandisa’s Freedom — which we will review next week — and a new farewell concert effort from Delirious, My Soul Sings, which reminds us why we’ll miss these guys.

Sara Groves' Christmas album in "O Holy Night." Photo courtesy of INO Records.

Why do recording artists make new Christmas albums?

Seriously, three-quarters of them are usually full of songs that have been recorded a quarter-of-a-million times already, and the rest are attempts at new seasonal tunes that are in reality what is known as filler.

So, what does a current recording artist bring to the table that’s any better than what Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby did decades ago?

Well, first off, like the rest of us, pop stars like to sing Christmas songs. So, if you can put your own twist on O Holy Night, and your fans will probably buy it, why not?

Casting Crowns' singer Mark Hall. Photo by Rich Copley | LexGo.

And new tunes sometimes take root, which comes to mind listening to Casting Crowns’ take on Wayne Kirkpatrick’s God is with Us. And new artists come with new points of view, be it the classical colors of the Annie Moses Band or Sara Groves’ brand of Americana.

Yes, my eyes do roll when the newest Christmas discs start arriving on my desk, usually somewhere in the middle of August. But there are sounds and songs on albums that will define the year, and I’ll pull them out every year like tinsel.

So here’s a look at the best of 2008’s Christmas packages from the contemporary Christian crowd.

Sara Groves, O Holy Night – Critics’ darling, thy name is Sara Groves, and we will not vary from that here. O Holy Night is a wide ranging Christmas package that starts off sounding like it will be a rootsy exploration of songs about the sacred evening, but slowly begins to fold in other experiences such as To Be with You, a sentimental look at family Christmases, and Toy Packaging, an unsentimental look at that which sends many a parent’s blood pressure soaring at Christmastime. The sonic centerpiece is a Silent Night arrangement that spirals into reverberating electric guitars that create a sublime effect, like a sky filled with shooting stars.

Casting Crowns, Peace on Earth – The unassuming superstars’ Christmas disc succeeds the same way the band succeeds, by being relevant to its audience and thoughtfully made. While You Were Sleeping is a prime example, telling the Christmas story of a town that went down in history as having no room and asking if that’s how America will be remembered. There is an amped-up Joy to the World, giving the DeVevos, guitarist Juan and violinist Melodee, a little room to jam, and a beautiful cover of Wayne Kirkpatrick’s underrated God is with Us, with Megan Garrett delivering a vocal that has Mary Chapin Carpenter-like intimacy.

Mandisa, It’s Christmas – Whether you’re looking for skillful pop-song styling or American Idol-style earnestness, former Idol contestant Mandisa delivers with a classic contemporary Christmas record. Of all the discs in this roundup, ‘Disa’s is probably the best one to spin at your Christmas party.

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