Artist: Ernie Couch & Revival

Project Title: Pioneer Hymns

Label: NURI Records

Producer: Ernie Couch

Purchase this project at: www.erniecouchandrevival.com

Ernie Couch and Revival have another new project out and this one is full of good old fashioned hymns of the church.  I always enjoy a good project with hymns and this has 15 great songs on it.

"Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" is a wonderful hymn that reminds us how wonderful the walk with Christ is.  "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior" is an old song that is a favorite of many.  "Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross" is another old hymn that is handle well by this group.  "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" is an upbeat song that you will enjoy.

"Sweet By And By" is another great old hymn that I remember singing frequently in church while growing up.  "The Haven Of Rest" is another song that I remember very well and it is an all time favorite of mine.  This song also features the special guest of George Beverly Shea.  "Brethren We Have Met To Worship" is the next song on the project.

Artist: Ivan Parker

Project Title: Inseparable

Label: Horizon Records

Producer: Ivan Parker, Geron Davis, Roger Talley

Purchase this project at: www.junipersquare.com

Ivan Parker is a true veteran of Southern Gospel Music.  I first remember Ivan with Gold City in the 1980's but his history goes back even further than that with groups like the Singing Americans.  Ivan has been a soloist for several years now and his latest solo effort is another good one.

"You Can't Take My Crown" gets the project off to a rousing start and Ivan delivers a solid performance on this fast paced song.  "Inseparable" is the title song to the project as well as the next track on the project.  It's a touching song with a powerful message.  "Keep Testifying" is a song written by Sandy Knight and you will enjoy this up tempo song.  The song reminds us to keep testifying in our every day lives!

Artist: Kirk Talley

Project Title: Beyond Words

Label: Independent

Producer: Wayne Haun

Reviewed By: Scott Evans

Purchase this project at: www.kirktalley.com

I have stated a good number of times that Kirk Talley is one of my favorite singers.  I first heard Kirk over 25 years ago when he had just joined the Cathedrals.  His music was great then and it has continued to be exceptional over the years.  The songs have changed but the message never has!  His latest solo effort is another good one in a long line of quality projects.

"Beyond Words" is the title of the project and the opening song.  I enjoy this song because it reminds us that the description of God is so far beyond words.  It reminds us that no matter how hard we try, we can never explain the greatness of God.  "Oh How Excellent" is a slow melody that reminds me a little bit in style of "He Is Here."  The song celebrates the excellence and power of our God.  The tempo picks up again with "Nothing Shall Separate Me From The Love Of God."  It reminds us that no matter what, nothing can separate us from God's Love!  What a great message and thought in that great song co-written by Kirk and John Rowsey.  "Scarlet Ribbon Of Redemption" is a wonderfully crafted song that reminds that God's Blood covers all of our sins.

Kirk Talley and Rodney Griffin team up on "Keep Puttin' One Foot In Front Of The Other" and I simply love everything about this song.  It reminds us to keep walking along and keep doing what the Lord says to do and this song says it with a catchy tune!  The next song reminds us of the power and the strength of God's Love.  The title is "Love Is Strong" and this upbeat song will bless you as you think of the power of God's Love in your life.  "Garden Of Grace" is a song that I am certain that Kirk has recorded before.  However, I cannot find where I have it!  Anyway, this song about growing in God's Garden of Grace is a great song from Kirk's pen.

If you know anything about the Talley family at all you know that Kirk has some pretty talented relatives!  He enlists the help of his niece, Lauren Talley, on the next song and the result is a duet on "Faithful" by Kirk and Lauren that is awesome.  The song talks about how faithful God is to us and the blend of the two voices, well, you need to hear it for yourself!  "I'm Glad" is written by Kirk and Daryl Williams.  The resulting effort is an up tempo song that celebrates many things that God does for us that we are glad about.  "When His Presence Fill This Place" is an outstanding song with a powerful message.  The song reminds us of the effect that God can have when He comes on the scene.  The final song on the project is a song written by Kirk and Phil Cross and this one I know I remember.  In fact, "He Won't Take Back One Promise" was on a Talley's (Kirk, Debra and Roger) live project from 1992 titled "A Night To Remember."  The song is an awesome, upbeat proclamation that God will not take back one promise that He has given to us.  I loved the song in 1992 and I still love it!

As I said in the beginning of this review, Kirk Talley is one of my favorite singers.  Kirk has a quality and style that is different from anyone else I have ever heard sing Gospel Music.  I mean that in a good way!  This project captures Kirk at his best as he sings some news songs and some older songs.  Wayne Haun produced this project and he is one of the best in the business at the moment and the production quality of Kirk's project helps it to shine even more.  My favorite songs from this project are "Keep Puttin' One Foot In Front Of The Other," "Garden Of Grace" and "He Won't Take Back One Promise."  I also really enjoyed the duet by Kirk and Lauren on "Faithful."  The entire project is very good and I would recommend getting a copy of this project so you too can be blessed by the great music on it!  For more information on Kirk Talley, visit his website at www.kirktalley.com.

Artist: Matt Throgmorton

Project Title: His Hand In Mine

Label: Independent

Producer: Matt Throgmorton, ET Everett

Reviewed By: Scott Evans

Purchase this project at: www.mattsministry.com

I have been involved in Southern Gospel Music now for close to ten years.  I have been a fan of the music for well over 30 years!  During those years I have seen many people, groups and artists come and go.  One group that I remember from a few years ago is the Florida Melody Boys.  In that group was a man named Matt Throgmorton.  Well, Matt has resurfaced with a solo ministry and his voice is still as pure and clear as it was back when I first heard the Florida Melody Boys.

Matt's brand new solo project is a song of mostly familiar hymns.  "I'll Tell It Wherever I Go" is a song that proclaims that we will tell others about Christ wherever we go.  That is something that we should all strive to do as Christians.  "Consider The Lillies" is a beautiful song that I am sure most of the people reading this will recognize.  "His Hand In Mine" is another old hymn of the church.  The message of it is how we can feel God's Hand in ours and that is enough for us. 

One of my all time favorite hymns is "In The Garden."  My favorite version of this song was recorded by Michael Booth and the Booth Brothers a few years back.  However, Matt's version is very close to that and may even be equal to it.  "Little Is Much" is pretty much a standard for all tenor singers and Matt does an outstanding job on this great, old song.  "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" is another familiar hymn that reminds us just what a great journey it is to walk with our Lord.  Not many artists will record the song "Jesus Loves Me" anymore.  The song, of course, is a song that I have been singing since I was old enough to remember but the message of the song is for everyone and every age.  I appreciate Matt recording this song and I loved hearing it again.

"Rock Of Ages" is a song of the hope that we can find in Jesus, the Rock of Ages.  Matt has a fine version of this song that you will enjoy.  When I think back to my growing up years, I remember my mom playing records with "I'd Rather Have Jesus" on it.  Those records were by George Beverly Shea, Doug Oldham and others.  Over the years I have heard many other versions of that song and Matt now adds one more version to that list.  I never tire of hearing this song because in my opinion it is one of the all time great songs of testimony.  We need more songs like it!  The final song on the project is "Praise To The Lord" and Matt does another outstanding job on this familiar song.

Matt Throgmorton is a very talented tenor singer.  This project is a collection of some of the greatest hymns and familiar songs that you will find anywhere.  Matt's clear tenor voice seems well suited to sing these songs and I enjoyed every single one of them.  Favorite songs are hard to choose because they are all familiar songs but I finally decided on "In The Garden," "I'd Rather Have Jesus" and "His Hand In Mine."  I believe that anyone who takes the time to listen to this project will find a blessing in the songs and hours of enjoyment from this talented man.  I am happy to see that he has returned to Southern Gospel Music and I believe that if he continues to turn out quality music like this project, we will be hearing about him for a long time.  For more information on Matt, visit his website at www.mattsministry.com.