Reviewed by Paul Kent When you buy a CD entitled 'Just Organ' you're not going to be shocked when you find out that's exactly what it is. For just short of an hour, hymn lovers are offered a generous helping of classics such as “Amazing Grace”, “All Things Bright And Beautiful” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” on one synthesized organ. But just as name dropping won't gain you respect, great songs alone aren't strong enough to make a CD enjoyable, particularly when other artists have done the same thing, but better. The main problem with this recording is that whereas a live organ (though difficult to record) has nuances, majesty, character and emotion, the synthesized organ here lacks all of these. In fact, by the end of the third song I was anxiously looking at the CD cover hoping the next 17 songs would have some sound variation. They did not. On the plus side, 'Just Organ' could be useful as a tool for church choirs, but this recording was clearly not marketed for that purpose. In fact the cover states “Sing, Pray, Listen, Enjoy”. So I sang, prayed and listened to the whole CD... I just didn't enjoy it.
The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date. Interested in reviewing music? Find out
more here.
|