

Producer: Wayne Haun
Label: Independent Release
Website: http://www.kirktalley.com
It's been quite awhile since Kirk Talley has released a mainline studio album. Five years to be exact.and I don't think Kirk could have found any better songs to tell his story than those found on this latest release. Some of that may be due to the fact that Kirk wrote or co-wrote 5 of the 11 tunes and they appear to be some of his finest work.
The funk feel of the title song, "BEYOND WORDS" remind us that there just aren't any words to adequately describe the love, joy, hope and peace that come from God and the life we live through Him. "OH HOW EXCELLENT" falls more into the Praise & Worship vein, but fits well within the musical and lyrical confines of the recording, as does the uptempo, "NOTHING SHALL SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD".
No Kirk Talley recording would be complete without a couple of healthy power ballads and "SCARLET RIBBON OF REDEMPTION" and "WHEN HIS PRESENCE FILLS THIS PLACE" more than adequately fits the bill, with the latter tune being the strongest song on the entire recording. (This song could become another "Hallelujah, Praise the Lamb", which is one my all-time favorite Talley tunes!)
Two other really big highlights of the recording for me is the invigorating 1970's sounding tune, "LOVE IS STRONG" and an older Kirk Talley penned tune called, "GARDEN OF GRACE", which was recorded almost 25 years ago by Jerry & The Goffs.
"KEEP PUTTIN' ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER" is a light hearted tune penned by Talley and Rodney Griffin. Using the examples of Job and Noah, the song offers some sound advice that ".God's gonna see you through.God's gonna lead you all the way.so keep puttin' one foot in front of the other."
Lauren Talley joins Kirk on the soulful tune called, "FAITHFUL" before the pace picks back up for the uptempo, Southern Gospel sounding, "I'M GLAD". The recording closes with a song that the Talley's originally recorded on their live recording from the early 1990s (which coincidentally was the final Talley's recording before Roger and Debra decided to come off the road) called "HE WON'T TAKE BACK ONE PROMISE", and it was great to hear this song again and done so well.
While I don't think this tops Kirk's greatest work (Field of Grace), it sure comes awfully close. Though at times Kirk sounds a bit strained vocally, this is truly an exceptional piece of work. Great songs, wonderful tracks and arrangements and an all around superb blending of all those ingredients, came together to make this an extremely memorable recording.
God is good all the time & all the time God is good.
Elaine Harcourt
. Without Him I Would Be Nothing. He Loves Me For What I Can Be, Not For What I Am Now. Phil: 4:13- I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me… -Phil:4:19 And He supplies all of my needs daily.. God is in control of the Universe and me too! Praise The Lord.
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