Brian Free & Assurance – Live in New York City, ReviewsCD Review

Mar

2005

Brian Free & Assurance – Live in New York City

Add this entry to Your Favorites | [0] Favorites

[26] Comments

Producer: Wayne Haun
Label: Daywind Records
Website: www.brianfreeandassurance.com
Song Titles: “The Foundation Medley,” “Why Not Make It Now,” “He's All That,” “Goodness And Mercy,” “Only By The Blood,” “We'll Say Goodbye,” “Knock No More,” “Healed,” “For God So Loved,” and “Long As I Got King Jesus”

James Hales (JH): David Murray and myself will be doing a joint review of this latest effort from one of Southern Gospel's most popular male quartets, Brian Free & Assurance. Recorded live at Christ Tabernacle in New York City , the recording is both exciting but yet somewhat ordinary for me. While there are several outstanding songs on this recording, there isn't a lot that really reaches out and grabs me and screams, “LISTEN TO ME!” I really wanted to love this new recording, as the group's last one, Greater Still, was the best recording I felt they had ever done and therefore, I had extremely high hopes for this one. But quite honestly, the recording lacks the luster I think it could have had. Don't get me wrong, it really is a great recording, but in my opinion, it just didn't live up to the hype maybe, that I had generated in my mind. With a long 4-minute acapella arrangement of hymns called “The Foundation Medley” starting things off , it takes a few minutes for the recording to really get off the ground for me. I just don't think it was smart to start the recording off the way they did. The group really shines though when they do get off the ground with the uptempo, “Why not Make it Now.” David, what are your thoughts?

David Bruce Murray (DBM): I actually thought the slow a cappella number was a good way to set the stage for the rest of the recording. It was a bit unusual that two rounds of group intros were included, though. The first time, Free quickly introduces each musician and singer. Three songs later, Free goes back and gives an extended intro for each performer along with some humorous comments. It's pretty entertaining until Bill Shivers introduces Free and trots out the tired old joke about them having a man who sings like a full grown woman. It went over well with the crowd in New York , though. I guess they'd never heard it before.

Musically speaking, this is a great CD that effectively captures the live element of the audience. The up-tempo numbers involved the audience and the tunes with the choir are especially nice.

JH: I noticed the double intro as well and I also thought it was kind of odd. I will agree with you though that the crowd really seems to be “into” the group, as it was a very exciting crowd, which is something you desperately need to have a successful live recording.

Now there are several bright spots on this recording for me. The songs, “Goodness and Mercy” and “Only By the Blood” are both very good songs, though they both run very similar, musically. “We'll Say Goodbye” is a very cool uptempo tune that I enjoy very much. I also love the re-make of Brian's former #1 song, “For God So Loved” with the Christ Tabernacle Choir and I have to say, that despite my utter distaste for “Long as I Got King Jesus,” I very much enjoy the group's rendition of the song, which also features the group with the Christ Tabernacle Choir. The group really kicks on “Long as I Got King Jesus”… got to give them kudos on that. As I said, despite my original feelings towards the song, I am quite impressed with their arrangement of this James Cleveland classic.

DBM: Well, you know what they say . . . there's no accounting for taste!

Seriously, though, it's easy to see why “Long As I Got King Jesus” is a favorite for fans. Not many Southern Gospel quartets would be able to switch into a black gospel choral mode so comfortably as Brian Free and Assurance. I agree regarding “For God So Loved.” That's a tune that has been in the Assurance notebook for several years now, but adding the choir gives it a fresh twist.

JH: Another song that at least bears mentioning, as a departure from the average is the song, “Knock No More” written by Patti Hawkins.

As far as the group sound, they sound great and are very polished. Brian Free and the gang have always boasted a polished, classy sound. So, I can't find any flaws in the vocal quality of the group or in the music tracks; the tracks are great. I guess the one thing that detracts things for me is that with the tracks done in the studio beforehand, the spontaneity of a “LIVE” recording tends to get lost with me. I felt the exact same way with the Perrys recording, Absolutely, Positively Live from back a few years ago. With a lot of things being done in the studio beforehand like this, it loses a lot of what makes a great live recording, great for me. I have always been a big fan of live recordings, which is why I was really looking forward to this one. But it just lacks that special “something” in it for me. The crowd was definitely into what the group was doing, but it's just missing something. Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think I would love this album more if it were just a studio album. But, I suppose weighing in on everything and considering all things; I would have to give this recording 4 stars.

DBM: I'm going to go half a notch higher with 4 ½ stars. I believe this recording has just about everything you'd expect from a good live CD . . . great crowd participation, a nice level of interaction between the artist and the crowd, and a fairly energetic performance overall. They also have a Top 5 hit from this project, which is not common for a live recording. This CD should please current fans while attracting some who weren't previously fans.

Written by David Bruce Murray and James Hales

Reader Comments

Brian,

It appears to me that you are complaining about us being random in our ratings, yet you're making a random generalization of you own. Six people write reviews here. Are you saying we're all inconsistent? If so, please indicate with specific examples when we've been inconsistent. Thanks.

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 03/27/2005

Keith,

I am happy to make you laugh. If I have an opinion to share...this is the forum to do it. A project review is only as good as the person who agrees with it or perhaps learns a different perspective from it.

I don't believe the public forum is the place to start sighting examples of who's projects were overated and who's were not, as David Bruce Murray was looking for (which I feel would not be the correct thing to do because you run the risk of hurting some artists' feelings by exposing who you believe should have been rated lower).

All I am saying is... the SG industry produces a great amount of second rate projects from low budget groups who can't afford to do more. When a project like Brian Free's live CD hits the market... I think people should take note and appreciate everything that went into it... and especially since the vocals are top notch, the production/orchestration is spectacular, the choir is great, the live audience was showing their love and you could feel it... and the fact that it's a powerful message of the Gospel in song...... I mean...let's get real here folks... that is a 5 star project.

Of course, I guess I'm out in left field just making people laugh.

Commented by Brian Klinger On 03/29/2005

Hi! I don't really listen to a lot of Southern Gospel, although I have heard some that I really like. I just heard "Long As I Got King Jesus" by Brian Free and Assurance; it was in the #1 position on a Southern Gospel Music countdown. I've become extremely familiar with Vicki Winans' version of this song, and Brian Free and Assurance really rock it, I think. I'm really tickled, so much so that I immediately began looking for it on the Internet, which is how I found you guys. I'm buying the album so I can play "Long As I Got King Jesus" for my sister. I think she'll get as big a kick out of it as I did. And for me to buy an album just for one song, the song would have to be really good! Four stars to them for effort and sheer sass!

Commented by On 03/30/2005

Brian,

You're not in left field due to your skills as a comedian. You're in left field due to your double standards . . . you say we're random, but you are making a broad general statement that's vague. I don't think I've ever over-rated an inferior project, personally, so when you say we do that here, I'd naturally like to know if you're talking about my reviews in particular, and if so, which ones . . . but you aren't willing to say.

I'm willing to publically say what projects don't measure up when I put my ratings on them . .. not to hurt the feelings of artists, as you imply would happen if you stated your own opinion about projects that "should" be rated lower . .. but to give my readers a way to compare one project with another. I even rate projects that I personally like lower if they don't measure up in a technical sense. The point of the review is to describe what is or isn't there.

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 03/30/2005

Er . . . I could have said that next to last sentence better. What I'm trying to say is there are often CDs that I really enjoy on a personal level, but when it comes time to rate the CD, I am honest about the project's flaws. I'm a big fan of everything the Kingdom Heirs record, for example, but it's still pretty obvious which is the more professional recording when you compare _Forever Changed_ to _Sing It Again_. In other words, I don't let my being a fan of the group get in the way of being honest about which of their products are better than others.

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 03/30/2005

Although I have not heard the new live CD by Assurance, I recently heard them sing several of those songs in person. They have one of the tightest sounds I have ever heard and they were awesome. I enjoyed every song and Brian just gets better with age.

Jerry Carr,
Under Grace

Commented by On 03/30/2005

Bro. Murray,

You are the reviewer, that's what you do and your criticism is expected and warranted, that's why artists send you projects. They are looking for promotion, approval, constructive criticism, affirmation, acceptance, promotion (did I say that already).

If I felt comfortable sharing openly what I feel about certain projects previously reviewed, it would not be taken in the same manner because I am not an official SGN critic, just a fan of good SG music.

Is something I am saying rubbing you wrong? Does the critic have an open mind to some criticism? <--- I actually find this dialogue very entertaining... and look forward to your next response where you may furth find a way to place me in a designated location in "left field" where the double standard people roam.

: ) Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what you guys do here. It can be very valuable to the industry... and many times I agree with your reviews. Just not this time.

The Left Fielder

Commented by Brian Klinger On 03/30/2005

Brian,

You have to admit that you came off pretty condescending and hyper-critical with such statements as "I've noticed for a long time that it seems the rating system varies greatly depending on which way the wind blows the day it's written," and "the SG industry produces a great amount of second rate projects from low budget groups who can't afford to do more. When a project like Brian Free's live CD hits the market... I think people should take note and appreciate everything that went into it... and especially since the vocals are top notch, the production/orchestration is spectacular, the choir is great, the live audience was showing their love and you could feel it... and the fact that it's a powerful message of the Gospel in song...... I mean...let's get real here folks... that is a 5 star project."

To express your opinion is one thing, but you insulted the reviewers and the website just because they failed to give what is so obviously your favorite group 5 stars instead of 4 and 1/2. You have to see the irony in that and it certainly produces a chuckle.

Then you go on with these statements, "You are the reviewer, that's what you do and your criticism is expected and warranted, that's why artists send you projects. They are looking for promotion, approval, constructive criticism, affirmation, acceptance, promotion (did I say that already)." Yet you obviously don't believe that Mr. Murray or any of the reviewers are doing their job as you expressed in your first statment, "I've noticed for a long time that it seems the rating system varies greatly depending on which way the wind blows the day it's written."

You also continue to insult Mr. Murray with this statement, "I actually find this dialogue very entertaining... and look forward to your next response where you may furth find a way to place me in a designated location in "left field" where the double standard people roam."

Mr. Murray, nor anyone else in this discussion said anything about you being in left field. That is where you placed yourself.

Had you simply made the following statement, "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what you guys do here. It can be very valuable to the industry... and many times I agree with your reviews. Just not this time," to express your disagreement with the review I believe Mr. Murray as well as myself would give your criticism more validity. But it is hard to take you seriously when your statments have been full of insult.

Commented by On 03/30/2005

The thing about project reviews is that you are not only comparing the current album to other artist's projects, but you are also comparing it to their entire body of work.

Let's face it, BF&A;had a lot to live up to after Greater Still. That album was fantastic, this coming from someone who is not a quartet fan.

I've heard this album myself, I would've given it 3 1/2. That just shows that each review is different because each reviewer is different.

Commented by On 03/31/2005

Well, I wasn't going to comment on this CD, but since it's causing a stir, I will. I was disappointed in this CD. "Long As I Got King Jesus" is getting all the fuss, and I don't think it's the best song on the CD. I much prefer the Southern Harmony version. To me, BF&A;just comes off too white. It's like four white guys trying to sing a black song. I LOVE Brian Free and Assurance, but this wasn't one of their best efforts. I declined reviewing it, because I it didn't strike me as their best work. I would have given it 3 1/2 stars.
Ratings for the CD reviews on this website do not vary as the wind blows, they are honest reviews with honest ratings.
Every group does not put out a great recording every time. Some recordings by groups are better than others. This one, in my opinion, is not as good a other CDs by BF&A;.
All that said, 4 1/2 stars is a great rating.

Commented by On 03/31/2005

Page 2 of 3 Comment Pages < 1 2 3 >

Add Comments

If you are seeing this form you are not a Member or have not logged in. Why not consider becoming a Member? All comments must be made with a valid email address. Comments with invalid email addresses are subject to removal.

Membership allows you to have a prepared signature of your choice applied to every comment you make, as well as the ability to choose an avatar to display next to your name to help identify your posts. Members are also given opportunity to vote weekly in our Weekly Chart as well as special Members Only contests, polls and giveaways during the year. If you are already a member, login here, otherwise please register here.

**Note: Forums membership is a seperate membership.

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Name:
Email:
Location:
URL:
Comment:
	Remember my personal information
	Notify me of follow-up comments?
Please enter the word you see in the image below: