Rodney Friend - Don't Lose Sight

Sunday 1st July 1990
Rodney Friend - Don't Lose Sight

STYLE: Gospel
RATING 6 6 6 6 6 6
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 11439-31648
LABEL: Command 7015506033
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Paul Kinvig

I'm a big supporter of any artist who can mix and match styles and bend them to his/her own specifications. However problems arise when an artist attempts this but comes out sounding indecisive. 'Don't Lose Sight' is an album of two distinct styles with the common denominator being the inspirational lyrical thread. On the one hand you have Luther Vandross style dance/soul, and traditional gospel choir material on the other. And before you all start screaming at me that both are pillars of contemporary black gospel, it just seems as if they don't quite gel together on this album. Taken as individual tracks they're fine (with the exception of "God Has Been Good") but with the overall impression of a disjointed album when it is looked at as a whole. Of the more up-tempo songs, "Don't Lose Sight", "Freedom" and "Alpha & Omega" are worth a mention, whilst on the slower side "Touch Me" and "More Of You" are typical examples of well executed inspirational songs. Vocally, as you might expect, the performances are first rate. Rodney has a silky smooth voice and a tip of the hat goes to an unnamed female singer who rips a couple of tracks with hair-raising power. Perhaps I'm trying to pigeonhole this LP too much, but it's just that I feel Rodney needs to go for one or the other - not exclusively, but to concentrate on one and really go for it.Divided we fall? 6/10

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.

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