For many years, fans have associated the Talley Trio with strong harmony and intricate arrangements. With their different sounds through the years, the Talley Trio has continued as strong as ever with their song choices and excellent demonstration through singing. Their newest project, He’s Alive, is a live CD and DVD set which allows the listener to see how effective their latest songs are in a live setting. The songs performed here are, however, nothing new to the stage. These songs are exactly as you’d hear the Talley Trio sing them in concert. The earthy tones give a nice example for the casual listener or someone who hasn’t seen or heard them before.
By showing the more earthy side, the group has however shown some weakness in concert. This project strongly shows the differences between studio performance & the live performance. There are some songs that sound better live than in the studio and vice-versa. For instance, “Life Goes On” is executed with deep emotion, but the tones are inconsistent, causing the listener to go back to the original studio cut. Also, “My Hope Is in the Lord” is given fair treatment, not completely setting it apart from the original cut as better than its studio counterpart.
Fortunately, there are more songs that are performed better than their studio counterparts. “The Broken Ones” would be the one of the biggest highlights, given its soft, acoustic treatment. Performing this song in this particular style gives Lauren’s interpretation a better chance to shine. This is the type of musical accompaniment of which the album needed more. The title track, “He’s Alive”, is the #1 track of the album because of its being given the most energy and excitement, while preserving both as the song builds. The emotion Lauren carries from start to finish is the proverbial blueprint for the performance’s impact. To put it succinctly, she is a master of communication. This was evident in other songs, “The Promise”, “In Christ Alone”, and “Mountain Mover”, the strongest selections on the cd in addition to “Broken Ones” & “He’s Alive.”
For those seeking a unique addition of live singing to your collection, I’d recommend He’s Alive. The project simply offers something different from current live recordings. Its connection with the listener makes the recording become more alive whether or not he/she is listening to the cd or watching the dvd. Less instrumentation on more songs could have benefited the album’s earthy feel. The selections using this format seemed a bit out of place on the cd. However, Lauren’s pathos, combined with Debra & Roger’s harmonies, makes the project a good collection of their most recent, strongest lyrics. Because, after all, the name Talley is recognized with good quality music and talent.
Personal Rating: 4/5 Stars
Personal Favorites: “The Promise”, “He’s a Personal Savior”, “Amazing Grace”, “The Broken Ones”, “In Christ Alone”, “Mountain Mover”, and “He’s Alive.”
The Talley Trio is: Roger Talley, Debra Talley, and Lauren Talley. Track list: He’s So Good to Me, The Promise, He’s a Personal Savior, Amazing Grace, Life Goes On, The Broken Ones, The Extra Mile, Lauren Talks, In Christ Alone, My Hope Is in the Lord, Mountain Mover, He’s Alive, Debra Talks, Alleluia/How Great Thou Art!/Total Praise, and Hallelujah Chorus. Purchased by reviewer. Available from the artist or Crossroads Music.
*This project officially releases next Tuesday, April 26, but it’s already for sale from the Talley Trio and as part of a bundle with Crossroads!
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