Kingdom Heirs

When You Look at Me
Sonlite

For “When You Look at Me,” the Kingdom Heirs draw heavily from the songwriting talents of Dianne Wilkinson. Nine of the 12 tracks come from her abundant supply of well-constructed lyrics and expressive melodies. The songs on this CD seem familiar right away, even though the lyrics are new. This is because of the tried and true style of the Kingdom Heirs as well as the manner in which the lyrics are arranged.

Most arrangements either move at a lighthearted pace or exude a soulful attitude. “Help Me, Lord” is a slower track with a swing in the rhythm that works great with Jeff Chapman’s melody. Two songs later, “Turnin’ Loose” offers a similar platform for Arthur Rice to demonstrate his dynamic range of vocal skills. If you like “Turnin’ Loose,” you’ll love “Steppin’ on the Stars” and “Jesus Showed Up” where Rice winds it a notch tighter — proof again that a slower tempo doesn’t mean the song has to be boring. But there is a good supply of songs that should inspire you to get up and move. “On the Gloryland Way” follows the convention song tradition. “He Locked the Gates” employs a driving backbeat rhythm. Tenor Billy Hodges is featured on “Fire Away.” “When the Story of My Life Is Told” is sung from beginning to end by the whole group except for a few phrases where Chapman takes a turn at the melody.

All things considered, “When You Look at Me” offers a very good collection of traditional songs by the Kingdom Heirs.

(By David Bruce Murray)