The Isaacs let the fans in on just a little bit of the marketing for their current release. The popular family band asked for their help in deciding what to name their latest release. The story behind the album is that it is to be a collection of tunes in a stripped down, almost a cappella setting. Eventually, the group decided on ...Naturally...An Almost A Cappella Collection - a title that decidedly fits the feel of this release which will no doubt go down as a favorite of The Isaacs' many devoted fans.
The album starts off with the rousing "Little Bit of Heaven" - a Sonya Isaacs original that speaks of there being "a little bit of Heaven in every Gospel song." Stylistically it's got a nice modern country sound backed with a delicate mandolin accompaniment. Becky is featured on the beautiful and soulful "Hard Times Come Again No More" - an old American spiritual that was made popular during the Civil War.
The group tackles many splendid a cappella arrangements on this disc - the first noted on "I Will Praise Him" that features a fantastic key change and stellar vocal arrangement. Never has a group tackled such intricate arrangements since The Martins released their a cappella recording over 10 years ago. The first modulation in the chorus would make even the hardest cynic grin from ear to ear. Other nice a cappella arrangements include the hymn "Does Jesus Care?" and "There's Something About That Name" (though it does include an interesting pad of falling rain as well).
"Mama's Teaching Angels How to Sing," the Dottie Rambo classic, sounds something like how you would imagine Dottie heard it sounding in her head when she wrote the song. "Come My Child" features the understated and charming vocal of Lily Isaacs with a guitar accompaniment.
...Naturally is full of covers that have The Isaacs' unique fingerprint stamped all over them. Larry Gatlin's "Healin' Stream" gets a nice bluegrass arrangement, while "No Shortage" (the Imperials' classic) features Bill Gaither and gets a cool facelift with an a fun a cappella arrangement. "The Three Bells" (known in its time as "Little Jimmy Brown") is a charming little number that features a nice performance from Ben Isaacs and honors the original country/pop tune well.
"Hallelujah" is a nice number that pays tribute to The Isaacs' Jewish heritage. "Hear the Voice of My Beloved" isn't too far off from something that The Isaacs have recorded on previous efforts, and the album closes with another splendid tune - this time of the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul" with a violin backing.
...Naturally isn't unique in the fact that it features songs in unfamiliar arrangements for this talented family. The group is known for this kind of sound and their a cappella numbers. However, this is the first time that we get an album all in this setting - and The Isaacs keep things fresh and interesting as not to get the listener bored with the album (a trap that many an album like this can fall into). ...Naturally is just a beautifully performed and arranged recording that will surely go down as one of this decades finest releases - not only from The Isaacs - but from the Southern Gospel community as a whole.
Author: Chris D. Unthank
| Author's Website: http://southernspin.com
Written: 10/02/2009
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Category: CD Reviews
Comments: 1
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Everything I've ever heard them sing makes me tingle inside. I loved their rendition of the national anthem in New York years ago.
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