Reviewed by Ken Hancock

This is the latest album from the Tennessee singer/songwriter, ordained minister and ex-lead singer of US CCM hitmakers NewSong. Each song has its own strong message, possibly the best example being my favourite "Living Life Upside Down", an updated version of a track Russ originally recorded with the band Truth back in 1991. The words are even more valid now than they were then, "We've got a program for saving the earth/While unborn children are denied their right to birth/One baby's blessed another's cursed/Have we made this world better or worse/Now that the life of a tree comes first..." Russ's powerful yet at times plaintive lead vocals are classy blue-eyed soul while his accompaniments on percussion, bass, guitar (electric and acoustic), piano/organ/keyboards, strings, violins, viola and cello are satisfyingly organic. A strident sax appears on "My Heart Is Already There" a track with a distinct Afro-Caribbean vibe. All in all, a fine album that grows on you each time you play it.