More Than Enough, the Whisnants
Through the years, Southern Gospel fans have become familiar with the Whisnants’ music. Jeff & Susan Whisnant provide the baritone and alto vocals, while Aaron Hise joins on the lead/tenor vocals. Eric Ollis (piano) and Austin Whisnant (bass) accompany the group. Since the group became independent in 1997, the Whisnants have offered projects featuring one hit after another. Their long-running vocal blend has allowed them to keep a consistent sound and develop a strong fan base. More Than Enough features the talents of 3 producers: Lari Goss, Jim Brady, and Mylon Hayes. With their newest release, More Than Enough, the Whisnants treat fans to sweeping orchestrations, expressive vocals, and musical arrangements to enhance them.
Opening the project is the mid-tempo Oh, It Is Jesus. This gives clear examples of the Whisnants’ Country roots. Continuing the project is the tune, All Is Well. This tune features a stunning performance from Susan Whisnant. The vocals are crisp and clear. On the other hand, the song’s similarity to the McKameys’ tune of the same name will make fans of both artists perplexed for preferences. The project’s first true uptempo lyric, God Settled It All, follows. The bumpy personality makes this tune radio friendly. Stronger lyrics would have made it a definite #1 hit. I’m Trusting the Blood features an entirely slow, traditional Southern Gospel flavor. In exactly opposite fashion, He’s Living Today offers swift orchestration to pick up the pace from the previous track. This tune is one of several cover tunes, one of which the Whisnants recorded on A Glimpse of Grace (1999). Fresh vocals and music accompaniment breathe new life into this strong piece.
Sandy Blythe tunes have been welcome on each Whisnants project for nearly 8 years. Susan Whisnant delivers a strong performance on I’ll Trust the Potter’s Hand. This is the strongest “new” tune on the project. The music provides an excellent backdrop for Susan’s soft delivery. The group then picks up the pace for a driving Country tune, Are You Ready?. The chorus’s lyrics are catchy and sure to light up request lines. Are You Ready? proves Susan’s ability to handle an up-tempo tune just as much as a ballad. I Will Glory in the Cross stands as the strongest performance on the project. Aaron Hise’s vocals make this selection his strongest performance to date. This features excellent Whisnant harmonies and Goss’s lush orchestrations weaved throughout to enhance Hise’s superb vocals. The Whisnants’ cover of I Will Glory in the Cross stands as one of 2011′s strongest performances. Dottie Rambo would be proud.
Once again, contrasts occur with the next track, Weapon of Prayer. Jeff Whisnant’s feature gives a cool Country style. Next is a medley of Southern Gospel favorites: Ready to Leave, Packin’ Up, Gettin’ Ready to Leave This World, and Goodbye, World, Goodbye. While each song is performed well, the medley seems entirely too rushed for fans to appreciate each song featured. Since the group used Ready to Leave the most, it seems more logical to sing the entire song and include one of the other 3 tunes. Closing the project, Susan Whisnant expertly performs the encouraging, yet convicting lyric, Burn the Boat. This Dianne Wilkinson tune shines as a strong message for the Christian. The lyrical set-up stands strong and is the most lyrically capturing song on More Than Enough. This tune will likely encourage each person in concert attendance because of its direct message to each person.
More Than Enough captures the Whisnants’ dream for an outstanding project. Joining forces with Lari Goss in the orchestrations and Jim Brady & Mylon Hayes on the vocal arrangements gives a strong bond. Production expertise helps keep the project standard high. Producers and group members successfully weaved portions of hymns in applicable places. For instance, the production team used two lines from the Crosby classic, Near the Cross, in I Will Glory in the Cross effectively to keep from diverting the listener’s attention to the original lyrics. On the other hand, the lack of lyrically strong up-tempo numbers gives the project a dragging feeling because the slower tunes are where the project’s deepest lyrics lie. However, the Whisnants are sure to win new fans as well as satisfy returning fans with More Than Enough. The fresh performances and music accompaniment provide the listener with the Whisnants’ strongest project to date.
CD Rating: 8.5/10
Songs: Oh It Is Jesus, All Is Well*, God Settled It All, I’m Trusting the Blood, He’s Living Today*, I’ll Trust the Potter’s Hand*, Are You Ready?*, I Will Glory in the Cross*, Weapon of Prayer, Ready Medley, and Burn the Boat*.
*Asterisks denote personal favorites.
Album copy purchased by reviewer. Available from the Whisnants.
In the late 1980s, the Hoppers recorded what would become a concert favorite, Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Due to group membership changes & other songs receiving stronger response on the recording, the group quietly laid the song aside. However, for their debut Spring Hill release, Power, the group re-introduced the song giving a driving feeling instead of the more laid back feeling the original version possessed. This time, the song was an instant hit and traveled to the top 5 on the Singing News charts and was included in a Gaither video.
For their 2000 installment of the semi-popular Share the Joy compilations, New Day Distributors partnered with Spring Hill to feature a song from the forthcoming project. Instead of the now-popular introduction and complete song, the record company released a version featuring a prominently placed electric guitar. Those licks were woven throughout the Share the Joy version featured here.
However, the twist is that the collection will be available, for now, only at NQC next month. The cd set’s release lies in correlation with the Gaither Vocal Band reunion set to take place on Wednesday in Freedom Hall at NQC. By their (Gaither’s) stating that it’s not available anywhere else at this time, I believe that it will hit retail around late October or early November as a celebration of the group’s long – lasting trendsetting music.
