It is so difficult to label this CD as it is with any Kevin Wyglad project. However, we have broken down the songs from the CD and explained them.
Free My Soul (the song) is typical of a Wyglad medium tempo funk groove. With dynamic lead male and female vocals, this song made us think of Average White Band and Mothers Finest. When I Say I'm A Christian is straight ahead, rock rhythmic hook driven guitar - very commercial for contemporary Christian radio. Shout The Name Of Jesus, on the other hand, is drastically different. When we heard this song, the first artist we thought of was Kirk Franklin. This song is nothing but a kickin' up-tempo funky jam with huge choir answer-backs - definitely one that will get you movin' and singin'. No More Prison is another mid-tempo funky groove with a status hook, not to mention a killer B-3 solo in it. Welcome Me Jesus can crossover gospel or country. This song builds nicely with a large choir coming out of nowhere about 3 minutes into the song, but hugely effective and powerful in this ballad. Acts Of Love reminded us of one those cool rock grooves you might hear from Bryan Adams or Journey from the eighties - Another catchy chorus with a tasty bridge in the middle dumping into a Neal Schon style solo. The Lord Is My Light changes directions completely. This song showcases Wyglad's jazz groove background. The artist that struck us with similarity in this song was Ambrosia - a hip-hop/jazzy swing-ish feel with mega stacked vocals and a nice hook with an effective modulation. Hear Me is the only other ballad on this CD and somewhat resembles Hall & Oats, and the only song on the CD without a solo in it.
Heaven On Earth was a groove like no other on the CD. It has this mid-rock groove that could easily crossover to new country. It included a tasteful slide guitar and a surprising violin (unlike any other Wyglad song) to almost put us in a Dave Matthews mood. Feels So Fine would have been on rotation at every 70's night club in the world - funky disco groove, syn-drums, wah wah guitar, phat strings, catchy vocal hooks - the whole ball of wax. We also thought it would have been perfect for a theme song for a seventies show. Closing out the CD is a song called Power Of Love. We absolutely heard a Stevie Ray Vaughan meets Santana influence, and again those punchy Mothers Finest style vocals.
Free My Soul (the CD) is great for a ministry tool, to praise with, or to simply sit back, listen and enjoy. As a contemporary Christian project, we can hear many of these songs on so many different styles of inspirational radio.
Out of Wyglad's last two CD's - High Road and Free My Soul, we believe Wyglad has found his own sound. The new CD is definitely one to have in the collection and extremely appropriate for all ages, lyrically and musically.
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