Music Review: Revelation by David Phelps

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Amazing vocals on some good songs
Cons: Might have a little too much variety for some
The Bottom Line:
A mix of styles
David's voice units them all
A revelation




Looking for Variety?  You've Come to the Right Place

David Phelps started his music career as part of the Southern Gospel quartet the Gaither Vocal Band. And he's not the first to use that to launch a solo career. Revelation is his third solo release, and it's great.

What makes David's projects so amazing is his powerful voice. He's a tenor with wonderful range. And he's got an amazing set of lungs, able to belt out notes long after mere mortals would have to take a breath. He is truly a pleasure to hear.

With this disc, David took some musical chances. His previous releases were fairly safe adult contemporary projects. Not that safe was bad, because I enjoyed them. But this time around, he includes some songs with Rock Opera and Latin flavor.

The disc opens with several adult contemporary songs in a row. "Arms Open Wide" is a fun opener. It's got a steady mid-tempo beat and great lyrics of praise. "Heart of Hearts" is a slower prayer of confession and dedication. "Love Goes on" is a slow ballad reminds us of love's power. While those first two tracks featured a variety of instruments, this one has only piano and strings, which makes for a different sound.

When I got the disc, I thought "Just As I Am" was a cover of the classic hymn. While this song covers the same ground, I was wrong. David co-wrote this song with Cindy Morgan. It's got a wonderful minor melody that makes the plea for help so much more powerful. This one has just about everything, including drum, guitar, strings, and keyboard. It makes for a rich musical tapestry.

"Revelation" is an interesting track. It tells the story of someone caught up in their daily life and surprised by the return of Christ. It honestly sounds like something that would be in a modern Broadway musical, especially a rock opera. Part of the reason is the frequent tempo changes. Once again, we've got a mix of instruments, which helps with the impression as well. It's an interesting sound, but I really like it.

Then there's the interesting case of "Virtuoso." The song appears twice on the disc. The first time is in the middle. The first time, it's an upbeat pop track with heavy drum, some guitar, and occasional violin. It's got a pop feel and is quite fun. It shows up again as the last track. Even though it is called "Virtuoso (Reprise)" it is only 30 seconds shorter then the original version. This time is much slower and worshipful. And it's not just a remix because the second version has very light percussion, is mainly guitar, does have some keyboard, and is missing the violin completely. To be honest, I love both versions for different reasons. I love the fun of the first one and yet find the more thoughtful approach of the second one works just as well.

Not surprisingly, "Perdoname Dios (Pardon Me God)" features a heavy Latin influence. What's amazing is David's voice works here just as well as it does elsewhere. The lyrics are a cry to God to explain why there is love and yet also pain in this world. It's another great track I love.

David seems to love experimenting with widely different styles on his projects. It doesn't also work well. About the only awkward transition here is between "Just As I Am" and "Revelation." Even that one works, however. On the whole, this disc takes the various parts and weaves them together for a complete CD.

Even with the variety of styles, David's music isn't for everyone. But if you enjoy listening to a powerful voice sing uplifting songs, check out Revelation.

CD Length: 53:56

Tracks:

1. Arms Open Wide

2. Heart of Hearts

3. Love Goes on

4. Just As I Am

5. Revelation

6. Virtuoso

7. Satisfaction

8. Perdoname Dios (Pardon Me God)

9. God Will Take Care of You

10. Break Free

11. Live Like a King

12. Virtuoso (Reprise)