Nothing But the Truth
So how do you follow up a release that features the song of the  year? Very soulfully, if you're Bob Carlisle, the man who made  "Butterfly Kisses" the 1997 Christian song of the year. Much in the  vein of Michael Bolton, Carlisle's strength lies in his brand of gritty  blue-eyed soul. And it's never moved stronger than in his new release,Nothing but the Truth. In powerhouse R&B; numbers such as "Lay  Your Hands on Me" and "Forgiveness," Carlisle pays homage to the music  of his youth and a strong exposure to Motown. There's a wonderful duet  with Carlisle and Bryan Duncan, himself no vocal slouch, on the cover  of "Love Is the Answer." While Carlisle's reworking of Amy Grant's  "Baby Baby" seems flat, he ends the release on a rich note with the  moving, deeply reflective ballad "After All" (cowritten with Randy  Stonehill).--Michael Lyttle