| Additional Review by: Jay Heilman On: 2/25/2009 jay.heilman@ christianmusicreview.org |
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| My Rating: Message: 3.2 out of 4 Music: 2.1 out of 3 Production: 2.0 out of 2 Creativity: 0.7 out of 1 Overall Score: 8.0 out of 10 |
80% [B-]
Let me be honest up front with you. Avalon has never
been a favorite of mine. Not for the message, because
their message has never been a question in my mind,
but musically they are not a band I have liked much.
Let's skip ahead to when we received the pre-release
of Avalon vocalist Melissa Greene's first solo project.
My expectations of Next Step were the same as if I
were expecting a new release from Avalon.
Musically I was somewhat surprised. Melissa's music
varied somewhat from song to song, but was different
enough to discern it from that of her previous work in
Avalon. Her press release for the album starts off by
saying, "I’m so excited for people to really get to hear
the real me,”
One thing I can say of Greene after listening to the
album is, she is a very talented vocalist. In fact, she is
one of the better female vocalists of this decade in my
honest opinion. She sounds somewhat similar to that
of CCM veteran Natalie Grant when you put the two
side-to-side in comparison.
I actually enjoyed a few of the tracks on Next Step.
Probably the ones that stuck out most to me were
"Long Road to Forgiveness", "Army" and "At Your
Feet".
As a whole, the album was a little too soft as for my
musical tastes, but I think that Melissa does a great job
at using her vocal talents to glorify God, which should
be and is most important in an album's content.
I sincerely hope that Melissa has success outside of
the Avalon-umbrella, and I even forsee her as being
one of the forefront members to step out solo.
Bottom Line:
I think fans of Avalon alike will enjoy what Melissa
brings to the table with her solo debut. Expect a slight
difference, but overall it is the same Melissa Greene
you have come to love over the past 7 years.
been a favorite of mine. Not for the message, because
their message has never been a question in my mind,
but musically they are not a band I have liked much.
Let's skip ahead to when we received the pre-release
of Avalon vocalist Melissa Greene's first solo project.
My expectations of Next Step were the same as if I
were expecting a new release from Avalon.
Musically I was somewhat surprised. Melissa's music
varied somewhat from song to song, but was different
enough to discern it from that of her previous work in
Avalon. Her press release for the album starts off by
saying, "I’m so excited for people to really get to hear
the real me,”
One thing I can say of Greene after listening to the
album is, she is a very talented vocalist. In fact, she is
one of the better female vocalists of this decade in my
honest opinion. She sounds somewhat similar to that
of CCM veteran Natalie Grant when you put the two
side-to-side in comparison.
I actually enjoyed a few of the tracks on Next Step.
Probably the ones that stuck out most to me were
"Long Road to Forgiveness", "Army" and "At Your
Feet".
As a whole, the album was a little too soft as for my
musical tastes, but I think that Melissa does a great job
at using her vocal talents to glorify God, which should
be and is most important in an album's content.
I sincerely hope that Melissa has success outside of
the Avalon-umbrella, and I even forsee her as being
one of the forefront members to step out solo.
Bottom Line:
I think fans of Avalon alike will enjoy what Melissa
brings to the table with her solo debut. Expect a slight
difference, but overall it is the same Melissa Greene
you have come to love over the past 7 years.