Mike LeFevre Quartet

Nothin’ but Good
Canaan

The Mike LeFevre Quartet’s Canaan Records debut, “Nothin’ but Good,” shuns predictable arrangements in favor of a more adventurous route.

“Let Me Tell You ’Bout Jesus” has an infectious percussion cushion under very tight vocals.

A similar rhythm is used for “Didn’t It Rain,” a variation on the traditional spiritual featuring half-sung/half-spoken verses and creatively harmonized choruses.

“Take My Life” makes a stylistic shift with an extended orchestra intro followed by a slow build to a dramatic finish. Some of the impact is lost due to there being little variation in the volume of the track.

The upbeat pop style, praise/worship lyrics and layered vocals of “Glorious” should appeal to fans that enjoyed “Days of Elijah.”

“Big Mighty God” has a gritty energy with a lyric testifying to the power of God. Bass singer Stacy Bragg is featured on “Last One Worthy,” a slower track with a well-written lyric about the joy of salvation. The pace settles even more for “You Thought of Us,” an arrangement similar to “Take My Life.” The title track gets the juices flowing again with a “microphone-in-a-paper-cup” effect added to spice up the mix.

The energetic “It’s Time to Sing” is followed by another slow ballad titled “You’re Never Too Far Away.” “Nothin’ but Good” concludes with “Jesus Saves” in a movie score inspired vein similar to Allen Asbury’s “The Light of That City.”

The compressed mix of “Nothin’ but Good” gives the ears little time to relax, but the vocal arrangements have an impressive level of complexity. This helps “Nothin’ but Good” maintain a fresh appeal on repeat listens. (By David Bruce Murray)