This is the regular release follow-up to 1982's
Precious Lord
. That effort had
Green
doing a pretty much straight-faced religious effort. Despite a few gorgeous notes and some heartfelt
standards
, it may have been too staid and Nashville for his fans. This presents
putting more
R&B
and his own free sprit into the mix. Whereas on efforts ranging from
Full of Fire
to
Truth N' Time
he seemed to reign himself in, by the first notes of 1980's
Lord Will Make a Way
,
was back to using all of his confidence and charm. This effort also reflects that thinking. The first track, the suitably quirky and proficient
"It Don't Take Much,"
has
's religious message taking a backseat to his melismatic flourishes. It's a compromise most
fans can live with.
's charisma throughout seems to be oblique to the pretty strong religious content that's here. But often when
is attempting to hit listeners over the head with it, the results are just so-so.
"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"
and
"I Just Can't Make It By Myself"
are for the traditionalists, but his flagging attention span sinks them both. That's certainly not true of one particular track. This album's transcendent moment belongs to
"Ocean Blue (I'll Rise Again)."
Mixing in sounds of crashing waves, and a methodical, steady arrangement,
's conviction and winsome qualities come in loud and clear. Recorded at
's own
American Music Studio
I'll Rise Again
is a warm and skilled effort that can stand with some of
's best work. ~ Jason Elias