Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

After a spell out of the limelight to follow solo ambitions, vocal harmony siblings Joyce, Jonathan and Judy Martin have reunited to release a meaty retrospective of their work within Bill and Gloria Gaither's vast Southern gospel empire. In fact, the avuncular and ever-smiling Bill Gaither takes on the role of interviewer as he gently quizzes the trio on various aspects of their career whilst jogging their collective memories by watching concert footage from throughout the years. Amidst the camaraderie and the down home charm, it is the sheer vocal dexterity of the group that shines through with their ability to turn out high octane country workouts like "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" alongside simply stunning acapella readings of old hymns such as "All People That On Earth Do Dwell". Arguably, they are at their best when unaccompanied and Gaither is quick to ask for impromptu sofa performances to prove that the Martins are most certainly the real thing. Whilst a lot of the talk is around their experiences as part of the Gaither set up, there is a healthy discussion around what God has done in their lives during both the good times and the struggles which makes their responses seem less manufactured than they do elsewhere on this release. If you can stomach the sight of various Southern gospel luminaries from the audience getting moist-eyed and quivery-lipped, ballads such as "The Promise" and "Except For Grace" convey God's unconditional love in a very real and affecting way and reflect the evangelical heart of the Martins. Somewhat light on special features, a fun collaboration with Judy's late father-in-law and Southern gospel legend Jake Hess on "I Don't Think I Know" and a pretty tawdry Joyce original "What's God Gonna Do" round off a quality release that I'm guessing will please Gaither devotees rather than attract new fans.

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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Hosted by Bill Gaither, The Best of The Martins brings together two decades of spectacular Homecoming performances by this beloved sibling trio.

From a cappella hymns to soul-stirring originals, this video scrapbook features the intricate family harmony of Joyce, Judy and Jonathan Martin.

Take a warm, personal journey from their Arkansas roots, where they first learned to sing in a home with no electricity, to some of the most prestigious stages in the world.

This video celebrates God’s faithfulness in their lives and the incredible things He is yet to accomplish through the inspiring music of The Martins!