MARY MARY/This Isn't Your Grandma's Gospel Music

Growing up, when it came to Gospel Music, I listened to the usual suspects, Andre Crouch, Rev. James Cleveland and Shirley Caesar(did anybody see the excellent Ed Bradley interview he did of her on 60 Minutes about 5 years ago?). Nowadays? Some of my favorite artists include Take 6, John P. Kee, Allison Krauss, Karen Clarke, BeBe & CeCe Winans just to name a few. However, I do have a slight problem with today's Gospel Music.

I can't get behind is gospel music that is, for all intents and purposes, secular music with a Jesus or God thrown in as an afterthought or Gospel music that tries to pass itself off as anything but(Can we say, KIRK FRANKLIN boys and girls?). And I don't want to tell you what I was doing the very first time I heard I O U ME by CeCe & BeBe, I will say that it really killed the mood when I realized that it was a gospel song. Ahem! I am all for using R&B, Rap and any other secular music as a template for Gospel Music, times have changed and the Word has to change to adapt. But when you got stuff out currently that sounds more like a SLOW JAM by barely mentioning Jesus' name and mostly referring to Our Father as "Him" and "He" only, the message tends to get rather vague and can easily be mistaken for a slow jam.

I did mention that I wasn't gonna mention WHAT I was doing when I heard I O U ME for the first time and I mean it...and I know that God understands that mistakes do happen...LOL.

anyway.

I was rather apprehensive about listening to THANKFUL, the debut from the sisters Atkins(Erica and Trecina a.k.a. Tina) better known as the Gospel group Mary, Mary. I didn't know what to expect and I made the unfortunate mistake of "judging the book by the cover". I mean, the sisters look like any other R&B group out there but there the similarities end.

The sisters, along with three other sisters and a brother, got their start on the Bobby Jones Gospel program on BET after which Erica and Tina branched out on their own. They were a part of the Michael Matthews traveling gospel shows MAMA I'M SORRY and SNEAKY, between them both, backup gigs with major recording artists Brian McKnight, Kenny Lattimore, Eric Benet, Brandy, Terry Ellis and Ray-J. Then they branched out to songwriting, writing Gospel based songs for Robin S., 702, Yolanda Adams and performing one of their songs on THE PRINCE OF EGYPT soundtrack before being the first gospel group to be signed to the prestigious record COLUMBIA RECORDS label. All of their hard work is evident on the CD.

The music is smooth, fine R&B, due to the producing skills of R&B/hip-hop producer Warryn Campbell(whose work has appeared on albums by Brandy, Boyz II Men, Shanice, Dru Hill just to name a few, he produced or co-produced all but one of the songs on THANKFUL) and the lyrics(Erica and Tina had a hand in writing every single track on THANKFUL)are stylish, chic and sensitive, unconventional, faithful, surprising, soulful and spiritual. Pure gospel, no mistaking it at all.

From the hip hop flavor of the title track and I SINGS; to the R&B influenced sounds of GOOD TO ME(with Destiny's Child), SOMEBODY, I GOT IT and SHACKLES(PRAISE YOU), the Message comes through unmistakable and clear as a bell. The best parts of this CD occur when the pace slows and you are allowed to indulge in and let the music and the Message wash over you. Tracks like WHAT A FRIEND, CAN'T GIVE UP NOW(which incorporates parts of the classic NO WAYS TIRED), the beautiful BE HAPPY & STILL MY CHILD the heart-felt ONE MINUTE and, especially, the sisters rendition of the old standard WADE IN THE WATER all tug at the heart strings and make you feel like you're on the front pew at a church concert.

THANKFUL is a auspicious debut by Mary, Mary that transcends the boundaries of Gospel music and crossover to R&B hit status. It will appeal to both Gospel and Soul music fans everywhere.

Even my grandma.