
Producer: Kevin McManus
Label: Mercy Records
Website: www.statelinequartet.com
From Cottontown, Tennessee comes a fairly new group called Stateline Quartet. This group, formerly known as a mixed group called New Heart Family Gospel, has reformed as an all male quartet and this is their first recording as such, and I am pretty impressed. They have a solid, pleasing sound; one that most fans of quartet music would really enjoy.
"I'M SETTIN' SAIL" is a nice quartet opener and it leads well into the smooth sounds of "LONELY HEARTED LAND". Both songs lend very well to the title of the recording, Passin' Thru and reiterates that we are just pilgrims passing through, headed for a better land.
"BE GLORIFIED" is a wonderful prayer in song that the Lord be glorified in our lives, while the Mosie Lister classic, "WHEN THEY CALL MY NAME" as well as "WHEN I REACH HEAVEN SOMEDAY" are excellent quartet tunes that also remind us that we just passing through and a better land awaits the saints. (I think I am beginning to notice a reoccurring theme here!)
"I CAN PRAY" is the strongest song on the whole recording (vocally and lyrically) and is a great song offering hope that "I can pray, though the storm around me rages, I can trust the rock of ages…I know I'm not the same, when I pray."
Written by group member Larry Biggs, "WRAP ME UP IN LOVE" is an easy flowing song while, the power ballad, "BIGGER SINS THAN THAT" is a wonderful song reminding us that though we think our sins are so big that God cannot forgive, "they're bigger sins than that under the blood." Biggs also wrote/co-wrote the final tunes, "THE FINAL FRONTIER" and "WE'RE GONNA HOLD"
As I said earlier, these guys have a very good, solid sound. While I wouldn't say that vocally or musically there isn't anything extraordinary or unique that sets them apart from any other male quartet, I will say that they are very good and I thoroughly enjoyed the recording. In their defense, this is the first recording they have done as an all male quartet, so finding their "place" will take time. But all the way around … vocally, musically, arrangements, song selection, etc., this is an extremely solid effort.
Personal Favs: LONELY HEARTED LAND; WHEN THEY CALL MY NAME; I CAN PRAY; BIGGER SINS THAN THAT; WE'RE GONNA HOLD
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