Free & Forgiven
Crossroads
The Skyline Boys open “Free & Forgiven” with the upbeat song “Movin’ Out of Here.”
After a fake ending, the arrangement returns to the original key.
The pace slows for “Heaven Is Real,” featuring baritone Bobby Nitz.
The smooth harmonies of the chorus compliment his verses.
Nitz isn’t a power singer, but this song is best sung in a restrained manner.
Rob Nykamp’s vocal delivery style helps make “Oh What a Change” more interesting. Up next is the classic “Look for Me.”
“I Can’t Wait for Heaven” is a remake of a song that appeared on Signature Sound’s debut CD a few years ago.
Sheldon Mencer’s “Mercy River” features Jodi Hosterman on the second verse.
Hosterman excels at smooth ballads like this. The unexpected chord progression at the end is also a nice feature.
The Skyline Boys used the original music track by Signature Sound for “Glory to God in the Highest.” This is one of the weaker cuts on “Free & Forgiven.”
For contrast, “Don’t Drink the Water” suits the strengths of the Skyline Boys perfectly.
Double negatives are used throughout the lyric for an unexpected twist.
“Heaven Is Real,” “Look for Me” and “Mercy River” are slow-paced arrangements, but “The Blood on My Hands,” which follows “Joy for the Journey,” is the only big ballad on this CD.
It has typical orchestration, a quote from “Nothing but the Blood” and a dramatic, showstopping pause at the last key change where Hosterman sails effortlessly into the rafters.
The CD ends with a reprise of “Oh What a Change.”
The streak of good quality CDs continues for the Skyline Boys with “Free & Forgiven.”
With Jeff Collins at the production helm, I expected it to be a little more distinctive and conceptual in scope, but it’s still a strong project from this rising quartet.
(By David Bruce Murray)
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