Revive
Feel The Freedom
For this the month of October we take a look at one of the many young groups on the road today carrying on the quartet tradition. That group is none other than Revive. This North Carolina based group broke into the quartet industry in 1999 with their first nationally released project entitled "Live". The CD featured some great toe-tappin' selections that garnered the attention of the entire quartet industry. While this second project follows in the pattern of excellence it does showcase the group's diversity.
Now under the direction of lead vocalist Sheldon Pugh, Revive has reached higher heights after their former lead singer Johnavon "Bo Pep" Sauls left the group to purse goals. Though his vocals are missed on many of the drive selections Sheldon more than takes up the slack. On the whole the project offers a little something for everyone. While songs like the opening selection "The More I Lift The Savior Up" fall heavily into the style of something out of the pages of The Pilgrim Jubilees, other selections like "Too Good" are distinctly the style of Revive. In fact this is one of the few selections that features former lead singer Johnavon Sauls lending his vocal pipes to his old group. With a very heavy bass line in all of the selections and tight background vocals this project begs for the attention of any quartet fan.
This project features many stand out selections that are sure to be radio and fan favorites. By far one of my favorite selections is the mellow "That's Alright". This selection features lead vocalist Sheldon Pugh explaining the futility in trying to please man. The song climaxes with the background exclaiming their desire to please the Lord Jesus Christ alone in everything that they do. Following this selection the aforementioned Johnavon Sauls guest leads on the hard driving "Too Good". This song will put many Revive fans in the mind of the 1999 hit selection "Tell The Lord About It". While listening to the CD it is very evident that the group's song selections show a spiritual growth from within. In fact the majority of the project is in the style of Praise and Worship. In other words these young men are not just doing a whole bunch of screaming they are really saying something.
However, in the words of the late Robert Blair "We don't have to yell at you but I didn't say we wasn't going to." With that quote in mind Sheldon Pugh goes to work on the groovin' selection "Joy". This selection is what I call some hard praise. Last but not least is the beautiful classic "God Has Always Stood By My Side". This selection is given is just do as Sheldon Pugh weaves his way through this song that has never failed to draw a tear from my eyes. For God has always stood by our sides through many dangers toils and snares.
As a fan of straight up quartet singing I do have to say some of the selections on this project are a little on the edge. However this is to be expected from a young quartet group trying to find their niche in the industry. On the whole this project is definitively a powerful sophomore effort from this powerful group of young men. I give Revive "Feel The Freedom" an 8 out of 10.