For this month's independent review we take a look at one of the top 5 young quartet groups on the road today. From California's Bay area I speak of none other than The Sons of Soul Revivers. Though the Soul Revivers were great in their own right I do believe this new generation has eclipsed their popularity. Their harmonies represent that which is expected of a family type group while style maintaining a distinct vocal color amongst each vocalist.

Coming on the heals of their very popular 1999 release entitled "Help Me Lift His Holy Name", this new release is a step in the upward direction. As with the last few projects featured here in the Independent review section the production is flawless. A gentle balance of the "Live" feel is employed to perfection on each of the 10 selections. If your looking for straight up hard quartet singing this is the right place. A gentle balance of hard, and I do mean hard driving selections and slow ballads is very noticeable from the first preview of this recording. However, this CD literally will not allow you to only listen to it once. Lead singer James Morgan has a very distinct vocal style that is matched by no one I have been able to think of. All I can really say is I like what I hear!!

As usual songs of note are numerous and it is literally a crime that I must leave some out in this brief review. The project opens in high gear with the roar of the crowd and the distinct warm-up sounds of the musicians that is characteristic of any "Live" concert. From the start it is evident that the Sons have come to have Service. The group jumps right into the classic "Come Over Here" which is noticeably set to a driving beat that is sure to have the sisters on the floor. The title cut "I'm A New Creature" is straight up foot stompin' quartet gospel with a powerful message. This selection immediately put me in the mind of another California group some of you may have heard of; The Mighty Clouds of Joy. If you've ever heard the Clouds sing "I Believe I'll Run On" then multiply that by 2 and you get "I'm A New Creature". It is also interesting to note that this selection is split into 2 parts, which is highly uncommon for drive songs. So far we have spoken about two up-tempo selections, but please don't get the wrong impression. This project has some real soul wrenching slow ballads as well. I do have to say my favorite would have to be "If You Don't Know The Saviour You Can't Get In". Not only does this selection have some very powerful lyrics but there is a great emphasis on the background vocals. In fact I really did not notice how sky high these guys were singing until this song.

Just to show how great this recording is the aforementioned songs are only from the first half of the album. The second half opens with another great slow ballad entitled "Open Up The Windows." However, the real standouts are the tracks that follow this. "Oh My Loving Mother" is a great arrangement of a great selection that is otherwise known as "When The World Is On Fire" and "What You Gonna Do?". The selection is given a mid tempo arrangement in the tradition of The Canton Spirituals "Hello Mother". There is a great emphasis on a deep bass line and powerful lead guitar playing. To say the least I really don't think I have ever heard this very old selection arranged in this manner. By far the best song on this project if not the best of the year is the Sons arrangement of "Joy When I Think About It". If you don't move when you hear this song something has to be wrong. This song has a deep bass line that is very similar to that of The Canton Spirituals "Glad I Got Jesus" or in other words "Fix It Jesus". However, neither of these songs can even stand in the same room as this tour de force. Enlisting the help of gospel broadcaster K.D. Bowe the Sons really go to work on this one. Also, unlike most good drive songs this selection lasts a unbelievable seven minutes!!

For the second month in a row as you can probably tell from the comments, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this CD. The only complaint I have is that the recording had to end. If you like good hard quartet gospel than must have this new offering from The Sons of Soul Revivers. To obtain this CD online visit CDnow.com or alpha7ministries.com. You can also listen to additional tracks at both sites. I give The Sons of Soul Revivers "I'm A New Creature" a 10 out of 10!!