Renee Zawawi- Legends Review

Artist: Renee Zawawi
Title: Legends
Website: http://www.reneezawawi.com
Style: Pop Dance
Label: Sapines Record
Rating: 7.9 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

Renee Zawawi's life is fascinating and much of it can be found in this, her debut release, Legends. While still a young child, Zawawi was abducted from her home in Philadelphia and taken overseas. "I sang to release my soul and relieve the heartache of what I was going through," Zawawi explains. "Through perseverance and determination, I was eventually reunited with my family here in the USA." Unfortunately she didn't get the chance to see her mother before she passed away.

 

Renee has girl-next-door beauty with big puppy dog eyes and a smile that can light up a room.  She competed in and won several beauty pageants including, 'Miss PA 2004.'

 

Renee's true passion though has always been her music. "I can't imagine living without music in my life," Zawawi explains. "There is no better feeling than sharing touching moments with my audience. I think there are songs on my record for everyone, and I can't wait for people to hear it!"

 

Legends offer up many different offshoots to its main theme of pop dance music. Several of the songs have a Middle Eastern flair to them along with the very Spanish sounding, "Never Knew" with its castanets.

 

The songs alternate from heavy bass pumping dance tracks like "American Girrrl" and "Flirt With Me" to more melodic ones including the final track, "On the Road." That song deals with not letting people pull you down, to live your dreams.

 

Another track worth mentioning is, "Children of the World." This song was written to raise funds to help children suffering from war, violence, and disaster. The chorus of the song was translated into 7 different languages so children listening to the song could enjoy it in their native language.

 

When asked about where the inspiration comes from for her songs Renee says, "...the songs (are) from my heart and soul, about the best and the worst experiences that I have been through-through out my life trip in general and through out traveling to various countries. Each song speaks of dances, cultures, and encounters..."

 

With its club world beats and strong lyrics you should be hearing the songs from Renee Zawawi's Legends pumping from both your local club and favorite radio station.

 

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir- I'll Say Yes Review

Artist: The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Title: I'll Say Yes
Website: http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org
Purchase Online: http://www.integritydirect.com
Style: Gospel Choir
Label: Provident-Integrity Distribution
Rating: 9 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

I'll Say Yes is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's 26th album in a recording history that stretches back to 1981, with the choir itself being formed in the early 1970's. Over that time they've won 6-Grammy Awards, 7-Dove Awards, and sold over 4-million albums, not to mention gaining the reputation as one of the best choirs in the world.

 

They've also performed at noted venues like, Carnegie Hall, Radio Center Music Hall and a sold out Madison Square Garden.

 

What even makes all of those accomplishments even more spectacular is the fact that many of the choir's 300 members have never had any type of formal vocal training and choir founder and director Carol Cymbala cannot read or write music.

 

I'll Say Yes features 13-tracks of stellar music and last for just over 71 minutes. It all starts off with a rousing rendition of the song, "Holy is the Lord."

 

Besides the traditional gospel choir sound you'll also find the soulful song, "I Never Lost My Praise," along with a Latin flavored number entitled,
"We Fill the Sanctuary."

 

It's all about the vocals on this release. Nothing sounds better then a choir with all of its different vocal ranges all working together in perfect harmony.

 

Almost as big of a story as the choir's music is the members that make up the choir. Pulling on different ethnic and economic backgrounds the choir is made up of everyone from lawyers, and nurses to street people and former crack addicts.

 

When ask about their music choir founder and director Carol Cymbala said, "I just want to see people drawn to Jesus Christ." she continued, "I want the music to be the arrow that points them to Him."

 

Senior Church Pastor and husband of Carol adds, "The choir represents all different walks of life and every kind of sin. You name it and we have someone who has been saved out of it, standing right next to another one who has grown up in the church." he continues, "None of us would have met if it weren't for the Christ." he then added, "Our backgrounds are just too diverse. But all of us have one thing on common: we all have been lifted up and saved. So the choir sings-not about a theological position- but about what has happened to them. It's not a theory; it's a reality."

 

Whether you just enjoy hearing good choir music or your looking to experience it for the first time you can't go wrong with The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir's music.

 

Number One Gun- The North Pole Project Review

Artist: Number One Gun
Title: The North Pole Project
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/numberonegun
Style: Christian Rock/ EMO
Label: Tooth & Nail Records
Rating: 7.8 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

The title for this release, The North Pole Project, fits well. Gone are the other members of the band and left is frontman/vocalist Jeff Schneeweis.  Last Spring Jeff spent three months in his hometown of Chico, CA. working on this release. Jeff said that, "I just wrote and recorded as I went, playing every instrument."

 

This was to be the third full-length release from the band. Although this release will fly under the Number One Gun band flag it's more of a solo effort from Jeff.

 

The ten songs found on The North Pole Project for the most part are rock/emo in style with guitar hooks driving the songs along with a few melodic ballads added into the mix.

 

The lyrics aren't overtly Christian and tend to deal more with the themes of hope and overcoming life's problems. Jeff says, "I want to write songs that can give people hope..."

 

Jeff has already put together a touring band that includes, Justin Richards, and Jonathan Russo.

 

You can tell that Jeff has spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into the making of this release. Just know going in that this isn't the usual Number One Gun lineup.

 

Midnight Falling- Beautiful Pearl Review

 

Artist: Midnight Falling
Title: Beautiful Pearl
Website: http://www.midnightfalling.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/midnightmusiconline
Style: Progressive/ Hard Rock
Label: Midnight Music Online Publishing
Rating: 8.3 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

 

The band hails for Manchester, New Hampshire. At the time of recording Beautiful Pearl the band was made up of only two members, Stacey Scerbo (lead vocals) and Silvio Giarratana (all instruments and some vocals). Since then the band has added two new members, Sebastian Schmidt (drums, percussion) and Billy Mitchell (bass).

 

The new band members were added so that the sound found on Beautiful Pearl could be recreated live.

 

The first thing that struck me when I listened to Beautiful Pearl was its rich full sound. Stacey Scerbo handles all of the lead vocal duties except for on two songs, "Hard, Inflexible" a rock/blues number with a funky bass, and "I'm Dyin' Inside" where Silvio Giarratana handles them.

 

Stacey Scerbo's vocals are gritty and work well with the rock-based songs. They have a Pat Benatar meets Ann Wilson (Heart) tone to them.

 

Silvio Giarratana knows how to handle a guitar, from wailing hard rock to Texas blues riffs he makes it sing with joy with each new chord he hits.

 

The band's songs deal with life, both the good and bad parts of it. The band shows their more mellow side with the title cut rock ballad, "Beautiful Pearl".

 

For a debut release this band really has all of their cards in order and comes out of the starting gate at full speed. I'm sure that we'll be hearing a lot more from them now and well into the future.