Music

Review: Gospel albums brings early Christmas gift

Houston’s Gospel music singer James Fortune tagged along with gospel vocalists FIYA to release their sixth project “Grace Gift” via Light Records.

The album marks the singer’s first Christmas album and houses other Gospel names such as Jessica Reedy, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Ricky Dillard, Bishop Paul Morton and Shirley Caesar.

The 12-track album is by far one of the best Christmas albums in the market. As the main marketing vehicle for promoting this album, Twitter was a large part of this success.

Fortune and FIYA should be commended for their well-timed release of “Grace Gift.” Despite it being two months before Christmas, interested listeners should purchase the album in anticipation of the upcoming holiday season.

The album aims to be the first to provide an early Christmas spirit this season, while at the same time holding true to Christian messages in the tracks.

“Grace Gift” is innovative, easy on the ears and a year-round treat. It has a sound only FIYA can produce, but it remains true to the message of “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

“Mary’s Song” is a beautiful ballad written and performed by Fortune’s wife, Cheryl, about how the Virgin Mary was so honored to be the vessel that birthed Jesus Christ.

The album features an upbeat version of the Christmas time classic, “This Christmas,” featuring Isaac Carree, another gospel artist with Men of Standard.

“The First Noel” is a smooth, intimate and reverencing twist on the original, sang by FIYA’s D’Shondra Rideout.

Featuring Houston’s Zacardi Cortez from “The Introduction” and Shawn McLemore, “I Believe Part 2” is an unexpected, power-packed reprise for the hit single “I Believe,” released by Fortune in 2010.

The album also features a twenty-second interlude of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” performed by Fortune’s children. This small, yet enjoyable track is a playful rendition that provides a personal and creative approach to an otherwise ordinary, bland Christmas album.

Christmas music enthusiasts should not mind giving this album a try. The non-traditional sound that the album emits is surprising but it also reiterates the unexpected musical experimentation that is known of FIYA and Fortune. The album merits that this gospel artist is truly shaking the Gospel industry.

The album is definitely one that any gospel music fan should purchase and one everyone should take a listen to. “Grace Gift” is worthy of being kept in any music collection for years to come.

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