You know how the minister of music at church introduces a new song one Sunday, and the whole congregation responds so well that he/she does it again NEXT Sunday, then the Sunday after that and the Sunday after that, until it gets a little stale to everyone but the minister of music (and maybe the pastor)?

No matter how incredible the song is, sometimes churches have the tendency to wear a good thing out. Some examples might be “Total Praise,” “Souled Out, and “One God.”

Undoubtedly, they’re hits on the radio, and they will forever be everyone’s “jaaammmm,” but I’d be lying if every now and then, I didn’t think “we’re singing that AGAIN?!”

Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it.

Which song is THAT SONG in your church?

Y’Anna Crawley, winner of season 2 of BET’s Sunday Best, has debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Gospel Albums chart with her long-awaited project, The Promise.  Congratulations!!!

Also, Tamela Mann and Brian Courtney Wilson experienced some significant sales gains, jumping from #15 to #4, and from #10 to #5, respectively.

The rest of the top 10 looks like this…

#1 | Marvin Sapp – Here I Am
#2 | Y’Anna Crawley – The Promise
#3 | WOW Gospel 2010
#4 | Tamela Mann – The Master Plan
#5 | Brian Courtney Wilson – Just Love
#6 | VaShawn Mitchell – Triumphant
#7 | Various Artists (from Fred Hammond) – Life In the Word
#8 | BeBe & CeCe Winans – Still
#9 | Hezekiah Walker & LFC – Souled Out
#10 | Forever Jones – Get Ready

Did you guys grab Y’Anna’s new project yet?  What do you think of it?

What do you think of the rest of the top 10???

Several years back, I watched VH1 Divas Live as Bishop Paul Morton joined Aretha Franklin on stage to kill “Precious Memories” before the masses.

I love this performance today as much as I did back then.  Check it out–

What’dya think???

Israel Houghton returns to the scene today with his newest album, Love God. Love People. The project has been highly publicized, primarily because it was created in London’s famed Abbey Road Studios, the birthplace of much of the Beatles’ historic music.

Produced by Houghton, with Aaron Lindsey and Tommy Sims, the magic and wonder of the recording space can definitely be heard in this musical body of work.  One might criticize it, though, as it likely showcases more musicality than the average consumer can appreciate or follow.  Still, while Abbey Road may not carry as much significance for the gospel community as it does for Israel personally, there’s something quite cool about knowing that this project is unlike others in our genre.

The album opens with the title track, full of funk and a banging beat, before transitioning to another stand-out, “Yahweh.”  This tune is energetic and full of vocal/instrumental nuances that make you wanna listen multiple times in a row, just to ensure that you’ve heard it all.  Up next, is “Love Rev,” with a fun 60′s Motown/British invasion chorus (with a bit of a doo-wop vibe) that you’d expect to have been created at Abbey Road.

Other standout tracks are “That’s Why I Love You,” a mellow, jazzy groove that makes you wanna snap your fingers and fall in love with God all over again, and “You Hold My World,” a heart-wrenchingly performed ode to God’s faithfulness (the song’s build is captivating).

Israel’s also got some solid, but understated guest performances from his industry peers–  the upbeat and dance-ready “Mercies,” features Kirk Franklin.  With its Earth Wind & Fire kind of vibe, it’s just screaming for a skate party. The collabo is so seamless and natural that the song could easily have fit on an album by Kirk, too.  Then there’s “Surprises,” with Fred Hammond giving a vocal that is higher and lighter than we’ve come to expect from him, along with a bass-heavy vamp that showcases Hammond’s musicianship in a way that we don’t always get to hear.

Perhaps one of the most powerful songs on the entire project is the one that ends it– ”Hosanna (Be Lifted Higher).”  In various sections of the song, the tune is as pure and innocent as the children’s choir singing behind it, before becoming as intricate as the background vocals supplied by a cappella wonder-group Take 6.  It’s the type of song that should/will be sung at an outdoor crusade by about 40,000 people at once.  At over 8 minutes in length, “Hosanna” is over-the-top grand. And rightly so– it’s a cry of praise to an over-the-top grand God.

In sum, Love God. Love People. is certainly more experimental than any other project he’s done. If Houghton’s Real album bothered fans of the praise & worship New Breed sound, this one is gonna drive them crazy.  There’s hardly anything that most churches will be adding to their Sunday morning repertoires, but Israel has never claimed to be a limited to what we define as “worship music.”  In my estimation, he’s always explored the more creative side of himself in a way that is uninhibited and undefined.

The masterful production and simply “good music” found on this project is reason enough for any true music lover to grab it.  The fact that we can have it, and know that it’s about an infinitely creative God (who expresses His creativity in innumerable ways)… that’s a bonus.  Worth a purchase.

Click here to listen and/or download it now!

Just a quick heads-up that “Incredible,” the new single from 21:03, is available for download today on iTunes!

Click here to grab it!

And lemme know who’s gettin’ it!

Is it just me, or does CeCe Winans’ Throne Room album depict one of the greatest worship experiences in gospel music?

I can’t really pinpoint another album that so seamlessly creates a worship ENVIRONMENT and experience– it transitions beautifully, until you literally feel like you have entered into the throne room of God, spent some incredible time with Him, and left… to return again soon.

Maybe I’m being extra, but there are very few musical projects that give me an experience with God like this one.

Is it just me?

Hey family– don’t forget that voting ends tomorrow for the 2010 Black Weblog Awards, in which GospelPundit.com is nominated for Best Faith-Based Blog.

That’s pretty nifty!

If you haven’t already done so…

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

The faith-based blog category is on the first voting page, at the bottom.

Note: your vote is not counted until you proceed to the last page, enter your info and press “submit.” I don’t think they’ll automatically sign you up to receive anything, so fret not.

Thanks, folks!

Word has it that worship leader Mary Alessi, twin sister of Martha Munizzi, will return to the music marketplace on September 21, with a new release entitled Pressing On.

I think Mary has a great voice and is a great worship leader, with music that relates to more than just one culture– I love that.  I don’t have all of her projects (and I think someone stole her debut album from me years ago), but I wanna hear this one.

What about you guys???

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS Winans clip.

The audio is super low (so, turn it up to hear it, but make sure you turn it back down afterwards, or you’ll blow your ears out later)… but I’ve always loved this song and this performance from 1983 is just… VINTAGE.

Check it out–

Whatd’ya think?!

I love this song more than I can express– it’s just classic to me.

This isn’t the original performance, but it’s great all the same.  It’s “Jesus Saves” by Marvin Winans and the Perfected Praise Choir, and this particular video features Vickie Winans on guest vocals, too!

How about that?!