Sup folks, i’m really excited about today’s release.  It’s a GREAT couple of weeks for gospel music. Last week, we found out Marvin Sapp broke records and had amazing success with his new CD, “Here I Am.” Aside from it being the #2 album in the country and selling over 75K copies, it was REALLY good. (Let’s be real, everything that sells well isn’t always good!)

Well, today Myron Butler & Levi have released their 3rd CD, “Revealed… Live in Dallas” and I have to say, I LOVE IT! I think someone heard my prayer for them to record live because they’re so good at it! The members of this group are some of the most influential backing vocalists in gospel.  Myron and members like Candy & Peaches West have consistently created and honed a characteristic style that has become somewhat iconic.  It’s hard to explain in a blog but Myron’s style of precise opening unison verses, and Candy’s “group wail” are all musical mechanisms that we all use or hear in some of our favorite gospel music. I could go on and on about it, but it’s hard to explain in text.  They’ve also been the backing ensemble for Marvin Sapp’s last 2 hugely successful CD’s, so technically, they can share in Marvin’s success last week.

But today’s release is strictly their own and it’s got some really great music on it! My favorites on this one are “I Just can’t Live” featuring Kirk Franklin. Myron and a few members of Levi were part of God’s Property, Nu Nation and 1NC; various groups fronted by Kirk, so it was a reunion of sorts, and the song KICKS! “Speak Into The Atmosphere” has the potential to become a HUGE “moment” in the vein of “Let Go, Let God” by DeWayne Woods and “Never  Would Have Made It” by Marvin Sapp.  “Covered” jams in that “way I like” and “Run To The Cross” is a track with Smokie Norful and it’s just pretty (as Smokie Norful ballads always are) but it shows that as a vocalist, Myron can definitely hold his own.

HOWEVER, my favorite moment on this CD is their BRILLIANT remake of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” Now, I’ve always maintained that Cyndi Lauper  could have easily been a singing televangelist. (My friends will tell you I’ve said this for years!)  Her music to me always had a certain pentecostal bend to it, and I always felt “Time After Time” had some “pop oil” all up and through it! Well, I’m so glad Myron got the memo too and tweaked it into a gospel song.  I can’t describe it anymore, you’re going to have to listen!

So click on the link/album cover and listen to it. After you listen to it, click on the iTunes download link or head out to the record store and get it! We have to keep supporting gospel music when it comes out, feel me?

Listen Up!: Myron Butler & Levi

TAGS: 1NC, Candy & Peaches West, Cyndi Lauper, DeWayne Woods, God's Property, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Myron Butler & Levin, Nu Nation, smokie norful

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