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Producer Kevin Stokes
Executive Producer: Dottie Leonard Miller
Label: Daywind Records
Website: [url=http://www.annieandkellymcrae.com]http://www.annieandkellymcrae.com[/url]

I’ll admit I wasn’t much of a McRaes fan prior to this album.  That had partly to do with the fact that I really wasn’t too familiar with the group.  I knew that they had managed to build a very large following traveling with Mark Lowry, appeared on some Gaither videos, and had some great chart success.  However, I’ve fallen in love with the music that the McRaes create in just a few short weeks of having Traveling On, their debut release with Daywind Records.  Produced by Kevin Stokes and boasting songwriting from top writers such as Gerald Crabb, Marty Funderburk, Jake Hess, Jr., Aaron Wilburn, John Darin Rowsey, Tony Wood, Gina Vera, and many more, the album is a rollicking mix of country and progressive Southern Gospel.  It’s hard to nail down a specific genre that the album leans toward.  “If It Had Not Been for the Lord” kicks things off right with a rollicking progressive country back drop that showcases Annie McRaes knack at writing catchy hooks and also features Joyce Martin-McCollough on background vocals.  “Isle of Grace” adds a touch of inspirational flavoring similar to FFH or The Martins.  “A Little Further Down the Road” and “Traveling On” are pure country that add to the kaleidoscope of musical offerings.  Jason Crabb makes an appearance on “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”, a bluesy number with Americana and bluegrass undertones.  The McRaes truly shine on the ballads, which is what earned them strong radio airplay in the first place.  “There Is a Remedy” has “classic” written all over it.  “I Still Love You” is a heartfelt love song written for The McRaes’ grandmother’s marriage to her childhood sweetheart some fifty years ago.  “He Will Deliver Us” is a jazzy big-voiced ballad that features a choir background and stretches the girls vocally.  I’ve noticed this trend in Southern Gospel of artists trying on new hats and turning out great performances (i.e. Karen Peck & New River’s “Inseperable”, LordSong’s “The Call”, Crabb Family’s “You Let the Light Back In”, or the Hoppers’ “Jerusalem").  The McRaes take their stab at it with great success.  It’s hard to find an album that impresses me as much as Traveling On.  They’ve mixed just the right elements of different styles to appeal to wide variety of listeners.  It’s an approach that big groups like the Crabb Family and The Martins have been doing for years.  The industry should take notice.  The McRaes are the future of Southern Gospel.  We should be proud, because the future is in good hands.

Reader Comments

This recording of the McRae's is awesome! Daywind and Kevin Stokes did them right!

Chris' review was "right on" with me. :thumbsup:

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