Songs of Inspiration
Though it's hard to doubt the faith or fault the selection on Alabama's first album of religious inspiration--and first release of new recordings in more than five years--the arrangements range from the heavenly to the syrupy. The best are the simplest and purest, showing why familiar hymns such as "In the Garden," "How Great Thou Art," "Rock of Ages," and "The Old Rugged Cross" have such staying power. Yet the swelling (synthesized?) strings on "Amazing Grace" and "Silent Night" overwhelm rather than enhance the grace of the material, and the children's chorus provided by granddaughters of Alabama's Teddy Gentry on "Jesus Loves Me" is a little cloying. The unvarnished vocals of guest Ralph Stanley highlight the banjo-and-fiddle-driven "I Am the Man Thomas," and gospel's the Isaacs provide ethereal harmonies on "I Need Thee." Lead singer Randy Owen offers two strong originals to close the album, the ecumenical celebration of "One Big Heaven" and the uptempo "Rain" that sounds most like the old Alabama.--Don McLeese