Mercy’s Mark - Something’s Happening, CD Review

Oct

2006

Mercy’s Mark - Something’s Happening

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Label: Daywind Music
Produced by: Dottie Leonard Miller and Garry Jones
Website: http://www.Mercysmarkquartet.com

Mercy’s Mark kicks off this record in true SG quartet style with “When It All Starts Happening I Want to Be There.” This song reminds me of why I love quartets so much! The bass sings in the basement, the tenor sings in the stratosphere and the endings are always big. “Prayer will take Heaven by Storm” keeps things rolling right along. Just as enjoyable as the first cut, Mercy’s Mark already has you anticipating the rest of the record. The title cut, a powerful ballad called “Something’s Happening” written by Kyla Rowland, will show you that Mercy’s Mark can do more than just get your hands a clappin’, they can move your soul too.

“Living in the Arms of Mercy” is one of my favorite cuts on this project. It mixed things up a bit stylistically, and showed off the groups range. The melody really grabs your attention, and so do the lyrics. Followed by another impressive tune called, “Amazed,” these guys make it difficult for me to choose my favorite. The energy of the project picks back up with another song that showcases the traditional quartet sound, “Anytime.” There’s just an overall evident quality of this CD that can’t be denied.

“He’s the God of Second Chances” again features the group’s bass singer, Christian Davis, as well as a message we’re all glad to hear. “Jesus Said Love” was another stand out song, featuring Brent Mitchell, the group’s outstanding tenor. It’s sure to become a fan favorite. I enjoyed the traditional, yet somehow fresh vocal and instrumental arrangements on this record. The man probably responsible for that is group founder, producer and baritone, Garry Jones. Garry’s talent is no surprise to this industry. He has a long list of successes to his name, and Mercy’s Mark is certainly among them. “All I need to know” stayed consistent with the rest of the album’s quality. Then the ‘WOW’ factor, “He Was There All the Time” a cappella! The harmonies were tight and ambitious. What a way to end it! This CD brought a smile to my face, and left me wanting more. Its song selection, instrumental arrangements and vocal executions were what I believe to be the definition of what SG is at its best.

Reader Comments

This is one of the best projects i Think I have ever heard! WOW! Great harmonys, great arangements, great lyrics, great everything! AWESOME job Mercy's Mark! Keep it up!

God Bless,
Aaron

Commented by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) On 10/01/2006

Gosh guys a lot of praise is going to this group. I likewise like the CD. But I don't agree with 5 stars. The real problem with me is that this is the prime example of what a studio can do for a group. I heard them at convention twice and was INCREDIBLY disappointed. It seemed more like 4 singers than 1 quartet. They just did not blend except on "Something's Happening" because the vocals were stacked to the hilt. I definitely think gary needed to work harder to replace Anthony Facello. This is nothing personal. I'm sure that Brent is a fine individual, but vocally it just isn't happening. He had so many intonation problems at convention that it was just tough to listen to. I really like Christian Davis' voice also but he seemed to be reaching for notes that just weren't there. I like what George Younce used to say. "Worry about being a singer first and the low notes will come". I would rather hear a bass singer not go SO low and nail the note rather than Reach for something that is not consistantly there and be sharp. I really was looking forward to this recording and was not disappointed. But what good is a group if they cannot consistantly reproduce the sound in a live setting? Ya might as well lip sync. Sorry for maybe being a bit negative, but a group with this much hype and potential needs to deliver!!!