Mercy’s Mark Quartet - Mercy’s Mark, ReviewsCD Review

Sep

2004

Mercy’s Mark Quartet - Mercy’s Mark

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Label: Daywind Records
Producer: Garry Jones
Website: http://www.mercysmark.com
Song Titles: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "Another One Like Him," "Who Is This King," "I'm On The Battlefield," "His Response," "This Jordan," "I've Crossed This Valley Before," "I Got It," "Soldier On," "We Shall See Heaven Someday," and "In Awe"

Mercy's Mark earns high marks for song selection, track, and vocal performance quality on their debut self-titled CD. Printed lyrics aren't included with the product, but the packaging quality is everything you'd expect from a Tier 1 artist otherwise. Garry Jones pulls a triple role for this recording, functioning as producer, baritone singer, and player . . . and doing all three quite well. Jones is joined on vocals by former Journeyman tenor Anthony Facello , Josh Feemster at lead, and bass vocalist Chris West .

The project begins with a tight a cappella rendition of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Remember Gold City 's a cappella CD that Jones produced in 1993? This arrangement would have been right at home on that project. Chris West turns in a solid performance on the next tune "Another One Like Him." West's voice reminds me of Jeff Pearles . . . big, robust and very melodic as opposed to growling. I did noticed a minor pitch waver on the end of the song, but nothing too obvious. "Who Is This King" deserves a mention, also. Jones and Niles Borop co-wrote the tune in 1996, and it subsequently appeared in a choral release arranged by Tom Fettke and Camp Kirkland titled Lord Of Lords . "Who Is This King" is a powerful ballad that builds to a strong climax at the end.

From there, the CD more or less alternates between lighter/upbeat tunes, and slower/anthemic numbers. "I'm On The Battlefield," "This Jordan," "I Got It," and "We Shall See Heaven Someday" are all uplifting and get the toes to tapping. "His Response," "I've Crossed This Valley Before," "Soldier On," and "In Awe" give the listener time to fully absorb the message in each lyric. I enjoyed the modern rhythmic treatment of "I'm On The Battlefield" in particular . "I Got It" was my least favorite cut on the CD, due to the sheer number of phrases that end with the word "it." Of the slower tunes, I like the understated quality of the first half of "Soldier On," and the way it builds up on the last chorus for a contrast."In Awe" is a particularly nice acousitic guitar based arrangement to have at the end of this recording.

My analysis is that the debut from Mercy's Mark sounds like it was put together by seasoned professionals. I'd expect no less from Garry Jones. I deducted a half star for the lack of printed lyrics in the CD booklet and the one wavering pitch on what should have been a sustained ending chord, but don't let that deter you from enjoying this outstanding recording. It's great to hear another excellent male quartet in Southern Gospel.

Reader Comments

Wow, Alan, were we listening to the same CD? Mercy's Mark has a fresh new sound. They don't sound like half of the other quartets out there that's what makes them unique. Their arrangements are unique and their blend is excellent. They are a breath of fresh air in SGM quartets.

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown

Commented by On 10/17/2004

Deon, I'm right with you. I think this is the best quartet to come along in years!!! In fact, I heard them in Louisville last night and I will venture to say that this is the best quartet in SGM today!!! There is noone else in SGM that sounds like Anthony or really has the voice control that he has on the tenor part. Josh is incredible and Chris West is only 29 years old. Need I say more? All three of these guys should be nominated in the Singing News top 5 for their voice parts this upcoming year. Really, I was also impressed that Gary has an awesome baritone voice he's really good. He can flat out play the piano!! He doesn't sing a lot of solos though. I guess he knows what side his bread's buttered. The thing I love was that they all were very approachable and humble and among the people. This group is on a mission for Christ!!!! They take you from wanting to jump up and holler to bringing you into the presence of the Holy Spirit. There are a lot of good groups out there today, but none that are anchored on ALL 4 parts like this group. I would have said Signature Sound is right up there, and they are still top 5, but lately I have heard Ernie straining alot. Of course you can't forget Gold City. As far as the album, I too think its the best album of the year. I think I may have figured out the Pitch thing though. I think that Chris hit the note at the right pitch, but it was so low that it seemed he was singing more of a straight-tone where the rest of the group was using vibrato. Many times when this happens it will give the illusion that the straight-tone is out of tune because the vibrato notes are varying around it. I may be wrong but this seems like a distinct possibility. All in all, if this group keeps going the same road they are going, they are destined to go down in SGM history with the likes of The Cathedrals and Gold City. Speaking of Gold City, I do not see at all the comparison that was made above referring to emotion in their recordings. Gold City is like a machine. They are incredibly tight with their harmonies and are one of the best on stage and show a lot of emotion. But their cd's as far as I'm concerned are so straight laced and tight that they lack any emotion.

Commented by On 10/18/2004

Dan, I disagree on Gold City. You're the first I've heard to say they lack emotion. Jonathan Wilburn in particular puts a ton of emotion in his delivery on stage, and it comes thru on studio recordings as well. The same can be said for Jay Parrack on _Walk The Talk_.

Commented by On 10/20/2004

David, Maybe we will agree to disagree on this one. I think that Gold City has a lot of emotion ON STAGE, but there is a huge gap between the emotion portrayed on stage and what is on their CD's. I think maybe they should think about doing more live albums like the old Kingsmen used to do. I think this would bridge the gap, and I don't think those old Kingsmen songs would have been nearly as big in a studio setting. I tell you another thing about Mercy's Mark though. I love a group that brings new songs to the table with great backgrounds and orchestrations, but what I also love is when they can go both ways and also just stand around the piano do some of the old stuff. Mercy's Mark got A+ from me on both categories.

Commented by On 10/21/2004

Dan,

I'm glad we agreed on Mercy's Mark, however, I can't agree with you on Gold City. The worst thing Gold City could do is start making "live" recordings like the Kingsmen used to. I don't know the huge gap you are hearing between Gold City's live performance and their recordings, but there is certainly no gap. Gold City recordings are full of energy. As a matter of fact, if you will go back and read some of the reviews of Gold City's CD, you will find words like "high energy" and "excitement" used to describe these recordings. Gold City continually puts out high energy CDs, full of emotion.

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys… Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs - Author Unknown

Commented by On 10/21/2004

Jonathan: "Oh, tell me 'bout the Savior who came and CONquered sin . . . oh yeah (sliding down)." (from "Somebody Sing Me A Gospel Song")

Jay: "Then I heard about the one who knew everything I'd done . . . Still He loved me, still He touched me, and He made me whole." (from "Since Jesus Touched Me")

That's just two examples out of many that would cause me to say there's more emotional range on a typical Gold City CD than on this one by Mercy's Mark.

Yes, I agree that almost any group is going to go further live than they do on a studio CD, and Gold City is no exception. However, they have been very consistent with putting a lot of vocal energy and individual expression into their projects over the years . . . even dating all the way back to "The Greatest Of All Miracles" with Brian Free.

Commented by On 10/21/2004

I agree best with David on his review, but also saw some other sound points. As for not hearing the waiver with "blaring" ear phones, you probably clarified your reasoning there. I think pitch is heard best at low volumes and as David mentioned in front of studio monitors for sure.

I think this is a great CD for a debut project and has some very solid vocals and tracks. As for comparing it to Gold City, David I also agree with you. And, oh yeah, you have got to hear their new project "First Class!" Though, it is a different sound, I think they have stepped up and done some great work. Tim Riley is awesome on that CD, as are all the vocals, in my opinion.

Commented by On 10/22/2004

I guess I hate that we got off the subject of Mercy's Mark, but let me say I am not taking anything away from Gold City. But the live recordings of Gold City with Ivan and Brian Free are classics and show the emotion I'm talking of. Songs like Robe of White and I'm gonna move on up to Glory. You could feel the energy in those recordings. I tell you could also tell a difference from the studio recording of "In Time, On Time, Every Time", and the live recording on the '99 NQC album. I'm telling you I think they are one of the great quartets as they demonstrated when Jonathan brought the house down last year at NQC with "When He Calls" or this year every time they sang "When He Blessed My Soul" I just think, in my opinion, that a better job could be done to "let it hang out" a little more on the studio recordings. But I definitely think that Mercy's mark can be listed in the same ranks as any quartet. Let's look at the big picture, They have been singing for 5 months now as a group which means these recordings were done within weeks of their creation. For them to sound this good right from the get-go is awesome. They sound like they have been together for five years not five months.

Commented by On 10/22/2004

Absolutely. Mercy's Mark is on my Top Ten list of quartets singing today. No doubt about that.

For anyone wondering, my Top Ten male quartets currently include . . .
Signature Sound, Gold City, Kingdom Heirs, Mercy's Mark, Palmetto State, Dove Brothers, Gaither Vocal Band, Florida Boys, Old Time Gospel Hour Quartet, and Integrity

These are in no particular order.

Dixie Echoes, Legacy V, Anchormen, Dixie Melody Boys, Assurance, Anchormen, Southern Sound, Journeymen, the Stamps, and the Melody Boys would round out my Top 20

Commented by On 10/22/2004

I'm listing these in order on my blog, and yes, I caught my error of listing the Anchormen twice! :o)

Commented by David Bruce Murray On 10/22/2004

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