We Praise You
The McClurkins take the adage "it runs in the family" to an extreme, don't they? With four sisters and one brother all over gospel music, one can only imagine where they would go after an outstanding debut of The McClurkin Project in 2000. Seven years and a mountain of work between them, sisters Andrea, Olivia, Cheri, Tanya, and close friend Carol Carter are back with brother Donnie in the wonderfully rewarding We Praise You. The McClurkins waste no time in laying down the hot groove with the Andrea-penned title track, a more traditional Gospel call-and-answer track livened up by a super backing band in front of a live crowd in Queens, New York. Sister Olivia capably takes up the reins with the R&B-infused;, be-boppin' "You Are An Awesome God." The ultimate highlight has to be the Donnie-led "As Long As There's You," a warm and moving worship number. Donnie offers plenty of vocal pyrotechnics here while the McClurkin Sisters keep the harmonies and melodies flowing beautifully  underneath. It's a show-stopper for sure. Other great moments include "His Mercy," a testimonial buoyed by the sisters' well-mixed vocal parts and the closing "Song of Gratitude," which has the sisters sounding like an angelic choir. Brother Donnie and Stanley Brown should be commended for tasteful production that keeps voices front and center in a silky smooth blend. All in all,We Praise Youis a sweet-sounding bounty of Gospel praise that makes us all hope we don't have to wait seven more years for the McClurkins' next collective effort.--Michael Lyttle