So, I have to admit that I hadn’t heard much about the Nevels Sisters until I read a press release yesterday, announcing the release of their new album, Beautiful. I thought it was a debut, but their bio indicates otherwise– they’ve been recording since 1984. Turns out, they were the first winners of Gospel F.O.C.U.S., a nationwide gospel talent competition airing on The Word Network. I didn’t have cable back then, so…
Anyway, a line in their bio caught my attention: “The four biological sisters are one of the hottest groups to hit Gospel in a long time. Easily drawing strong comparisons to The Clark Sisters…”
I could see that.
But after listening to the album, produced by Tommie Walker (Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans), I believe the similarities are much more subtle than one might assume. Sure, they’re four ladies who sing a lot in unison before breaking into unique harmonies. But, the style of music is not Clark-esque. They’re not really doing traditional gospel, or even modernized traditional gospel. They’re more like an urban praise & worship– some of the songs have a sound that could easily translate to a Men of Standard, Virtue or Trinitee 5:7 album, in terms of style.
There’s no denying that these ladies are really good vocalists. Both the lead vocals and background vocals display some great agility and even better color and tone. I listened through snippets of each of the 17 tracks (good Lawd!), and enjoyed the song choices. My faves: “Clap Your Hands,” a beat-laden praise & worship track kinda reminscent of the Clark Sisters’ “You Brought the Sunshine”; “Unbelievable,” just a good song of gratitude; ”I Wanna Bless You” and ”There’s Only One,” two songs that praise teams want to include in their repertoire.
All in all, I really like ‘em. I wish I had seen or heard more about them before the day of their album’s release. Many people probably don’t know much about them. But if they don’t take off, that will be the reason; not because the album doesn’t deliver.
Check ‘em out!
They actually do sound good. I haven't ever seen them in person (via tv...), but I'm going to look them up on youtube and see what I can find. It'll be interesting to see what they do. Speaking of gospel contest winners... can we talk about Melinda Watts?! She's amazing.
1. I agree; they sound good. I'm impressed with the praise songs, the production, the fact that they're not 12 but seasoned, but... 2. Question: is it suicide to NOT market a record weeks -- months!! -- in advance?? I understand servicing radio is no easy feat, print ads are costly, and it's generally a chilly environment for the industry in general. This is a good record. This site is the only place I have heard of the Nevels Sisters (I don't get many press releases). 3. We must'nt liken artists to the Clarks too quickly.
just kidding...
Janice: per your request, a feature on Melinda Watts is comin' soon. :-) Byron: You're hilarious. It seems suicidal, but I think their indie label, MOLIFE Entertainment, did what it could with what it had... maybe. And, my sincerest apologies for the arguably premature references to the Clarks. Thanks for ALWAYS advocating for them... LOL
Well, I haven't heard of the Nevels Sisters, but since you've put them up, I will go out and buy there CD. I will know then if they sound like the Clark Sisters, but yeah they sure do look like em.
LoL. Yeah, Harmonie, tell me how it is.
WOW! They have beautiful pianos in both pictures! But, I like how both pictures are really different. See, the Nevels Sister's have on white and black to match their white piano with the black keys and the Clark Sister's have on black to match their black piano with white keys. See.......they didn't copy!
WOW WOW WEE WA WOW!!! You are once again stupid. I thought it just didn't write it. LOL
They didn't copy...and didn't actually even know of the similarity of the two pictures until this article put them side by side. But I can see how the public would assume they did. Hope you like the cd.
I soooo like the CD! Thanks for clearing it up for us!! Keep coming back-- we need people like you!
I love The Nevels Sisters so much there music iz awsome and have u guys seen them do the head bang in is magnificent but i wouldn't compare them to the clark sisters but i can undersatand wat u all are sayin after all they are four biological sisters and they are the same genre but they have a totally different sound they are some good singers and will cheer up anyone's day by listening to the new cd beautiful its in stares now go pick it up
I thought the Nevels Sisters compared themselves to the Clark Sisters in their own bio. At least, that's what I thought I read in the post. Listening to their music, I probably wouldn't have made that comparison either.
And furthermore, how could they not have known about the similarities in the pictures? If they didn't, their management team sure did. Let's be real. And let's just leave it at the fact that they're good, and have a picture quite similar to the Clark Sisters' photo.
Yeah, so... to clear things up: The Nevels Sisters are perpetuating the comparison themselves. Their biography, available on their MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/nevelssisters), says: "Often being compared to the group who served as their inspiration, the dynamic Clark Sisters..." Any similarities that folks are drawing are due to the fact that the group WANTS them to be drawn. But, like I said in my original post, the ladies aren't really like the Clark Sisters. They are, however, baaaaad on the mic and their album is really good. Folks should definitely check 'em out and be blessed!
It's not if they are baaad or not.It's are they annointed or not? The truth is the wrtiting on the wall The real writer is the finger of God. For it says in Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you. To God be the glory. The voices that you hear replaces the levitical praise that Satan once gave, and that alone is worthy of Bless God! Are they annointed? Ask Satan. Prophetess