Anyone who follows my music preferences knows I love family harmony. Genetics just help build a foundation for a vocal blend difficult for non-family groups to match or conquer. Though its roots run deep in traditional male quartet singing, Southern Gospel has been home to family groups of varying styles for decades. The Isaacs have transformed a unique Bluegrass blend into a successful conglomeration of Bluegrass & Country with deep Southern Gospel roots. The group’s latest release, Why Can’t We, proves their diversity while keeping each listener enthusiastic.
For groups who release new material each year or every other year, the recording process often becomes tiresome. However, if one were to add the potential strain of songwriting in the mix, the process could seem, at times, a bit overbearing. Sonya Isaacs Yeary and Becky Bowman contribute the majority of songs on the project while communicating them at the same time. For instance, the thought-provoking lyrics in “Waiting in the Water” probe into deeper emotion due to Becky’s soulful delivery. Likewise, Becky & Sonya’s demanding alto and soprano vocals shine on “You Can’t Take My Joy”, one of the project’s best up-tempo selections. The title track, “Why Can’t We”, offers a unique perspective on the task Christ outlines, forgiveness. This song’s hook may have been stated in murky format in some other song I don’t currently recall, but I enjoy the fresh and earthy feeling the tune offers.
Similar to their last project, Naturally…, the Isaacs dig into the wells from other great artists/songwriters. Becky’s cover of “I Still Trust You”, made popular by the Dunaways & the McFalls, is soft and enlightening on a simple avenue of life. Sonya’s layered harmonies above Becky’s lead vocals make the song even more enthralling. The group also turns in a superb performance of the Gaither classic, “I Believe in a Hill Called Mt. Calvary.” Many fans will associate this tune as a David Phelps-transformed ballad, but the Isaacs draw more emphasis on the lyrics in their simplistic approach. Covers of songs like “I Believe…” and “Hallelujah Turnpike” make the recordings seem not so much of a tribute to the past, but a uniquely different perspective of songs Southern Gospel fans have experienced throughout the years. In other words, the Isaacs’s recordings of these tunes don’t sound as if the group were obligated in any form to perform them.
As mentioned earlier, the Isaacs have experienced varying styles in their music, but the roots have stayed firmly planted in Southern Gospel. Until the group’s 2004 release, Heroes, the world didn’t hear much of the Country side of the Isaacs (electricity + drums). Their last “normal” cd, Big Sky, was the farthest from their traditional Bluegrass roots the group had visited. For most, the album seemed a bit too much too soon. Naturally… came along with much of the music taken away which left fans perplexed as to the group’s direction. However, Why Can’t We solves those qualms. This album is exactly the Isaacs’s last 3 projects tied into one release. Why Can’t We isn’t for only the sophisticated or more learned people. The honesty and sincerity prove their living the messages which helps make this project worthy of a slot among Southern Gospel’s best. The music, songwriting, and performances all show exactly the Isaacs’s abilities to sing differing versions of Southern Gospel while preserving the heritage instilled within them.
I highly recommend this project. I’m not into Bluegrass very much, and I like this project.
Personal Favorites: Hallelujah Turnpike, Waiting in the Water, Why Can’t We, You Can’t Take My Joy, Why, I Still Trust You, I’m Gonna Love You through It, and I Believe in a Hill Called Mt. Calvary.
Available from the Isaacs and Gaither Resources.
