Reviews

CD Reviews

The Laymen Quartet - Keep Going On

Label: Journey Records
Producers: Mark Hoggard, Jr., Randy Warren, and The Laymen Quartet
Website: http://www.laymenqt.com
Song Titles: "I'm Gonna Take A Trip," "Keep Going On," "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus," "By His Blood I Am Forgiven," "This Could Be The Day," "I Can Tell You Now The Time," "Wanna Be Ready," "God's Gonna Work It Out," "Did You Pray," and "Shoutin' Time In Glory"

The Laymen Quartet's Keep Going On is a good example of a talented group in need of a producer who understands their limitations. This could easily be a 4 star or better group if they would simply sing within the scope of their abilities. On the first song "I'm Gonna Take A Trip," everything is going great until the key change near the end where the tenor really needs to take the song to another level. "Keep Going On" is also promising, but it's unfortunately overly compressed and poorly EQed. Also, the bass singer attempts to sing too low in some spots near the end of the tune.

Things improve after the weak start. The Laymen have a very expressive vocalist filling the lead slot, so the songs that primarily hinge on him tend to be their best moments. The remake of "I Can Tell You Now The Time" would be better without the vocal stacks, in my opinion, not that I'm opposed to stacks . . . I just think this particular arrangement needs less of a chorused feel in the vocals. On a plus side, this song is arranged perfectly for the vocalists. No one sounds like they're stretching to get their part. I really like the next song "Wanna Be Ready," a mid tempo number with a more fully orchestrated accompaniment than their other numbers . . . good mix on this one, too. Some hot instrument picking distinguishes "God's Gonna Work It Out" from the rest of the CD. "Did You Pray" feels out of character . . . actually, it's just the intro that seems out of place . . .once the song gets going it sounds right at home with the rest of the CD.

This group certainly has potential. There are moments where they really shine. I think the challenge for the Laymen is to become more consistent with their music. Not every group has the ability to step a tune up a step or two for the last couple of choruses and blow the roof off. The Laymen seem to be going for a Kingdom Heirs or Gold City sound on this CD, but their singers don't have enough range and expression abilities to pull it off. I believe they would be better served employing a Toney Brothers paradigm . . . solid singing without the mega endings.