Reviewed by Donna Marshall

It not hard to hear why this debut is a product of Florida, as Joe presents us with a very sunny and bright sound. The opening track "He Will Be Right There" is filled with toe-tapping energy while Russell's voice is smooth and persuasive. "Talkin' About Jesus" is a captivating track and possibly the album's standout while "He Is" is a slow ballad that showcases the singer's languidly soulful phrasing. Unfortunately, this does not contain enough truly memorable songs though his cover of McFadden and Whitehead's 1979 classic "Ain't No Stoppin Us Now" is worth a listen. This is not a bad independent CD but more consistently top drawer material is needed if Joe is to break through.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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