CD Reviews

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Linda Shelton - I Think About Grace

Label: 3ABN Music
Producer: E. T. Everett
Website: [url=http://www.3abn.com]http://www.3abn.com[/url]
Song Titles: “I Think About Grace,” “Things That Matter To Jesus,” “I Will Not Let You Go,” “I Know Jesus,” “The Worship Song,” “Time Out,” “Take The Higher Road,” “Your Way Is Better,” “Stand Up For Jesus,” “This Year”

Linda Shelton’s style is the antithesis of the prevailing vocal trends in Southern Gospel. She sings with a pleasant and clear alto tone that is not varied more than necessary for communicating the message of the song. If you prefer vocal acrobatics or an extreme range of expression, look elsewhere. Straight forward simplicity is Shelton’s strongest quality.

On her new CD, I Think About Grace, Shelton has written all ten of the tunes. She’s a quite talented writer. “Time Out” hits a medium speed in contrast to some of the slower numbers. “Things That Matter To Jesus (Matter To Me)” has a jazz influenced arrangement, setting it apart from the other tunes. “Your Way Is Better” puts a classic country ballad accompaniment behind Shelton’s vocals. The patriotic styled “Stand Up For Jesus” is a good song, but it’s really more suited to a dramatic vocalist. Shelton comes across more effectively on songs like “This Year,” where the lyric is the main focus.

This project could have used a little more variety in terms of tempos and styles. Production quality is very good, though. Carl Gorodetzky’s Nashville String Machine performed the orchestrations on the CD, with other recognizable studio musicians like Bobby All and Gary Prim also contributing to the tracks. If you like a female soloist who avoids vocal theatrics, writes her own tunes, and hires only quality musicians to play her tracks, you may want to consider I Think About Grace.

David Bruce Murray