Wow Gospel 2001
Much like contemporary Christian, its cousin genre, modern gospel music showcases a larger variety of styles than ever before. The diversity is quite obvious on theWOW Gospel 2001collection, a 32-track spiritual pick-me-up bound to find favor with most listeners. "Let's Dance," one of the release's hotter grooves, shows this well when the more traditional (Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir) meets the not-so-traditional (rapperB.B. Jay). Or check out the blistering soul and hard-driving bass lines ofJohn P. Keeand theNew Life Community Choiron "Right Here." Of course no gospel collection is complete without aYolanda Adamsballad ("Still I Rise") and aCeCe Winanstune ("Alabaster Box"). Disc one holds surprises such as ol' Doobie BrotherMichael McDonaldonDarwin Hobbs's "Everyday." The second disc focuses more on traditional gospel instead of crisp urban pop. You'll have a hard time not raising your hands to the soaring choruses of "Battlefield" byNorman Hutchins. AndAaron Nevillebrings forth "Mary Don't You Weep" in the classic spiritual style of gospel. Altogether, this collection testifies to the great and varied sounds in today's gospel music scene.--Michael Lyttle