Love & Freedom

Description

Winans,Bebe ~ Love & FreedomThe USA may be founded on the principle of separation of church and state, but when Christian music artists attempt to cross over to the mainstream, it s hard to keep the lines from blurring. Chances are pretty good that when BeBe Winans--one half of the duet BeBe and CeCe and a member of the acclaimed Winans family--sings of everlasting love and devotion, he is giving a shout out to the Big Fella upstairs. But this CD works on a secular level as well. The devotion here is muted--certainly far from the raise-the-roof testifying associated with gospel music. Even a cover of "Jesus Children of America" (with its author, Stevie Wonder, on board) lacks the original s grit, fire, and spirit. Most of this pleasant but less-than-compelling CD sounds like Luther Vandross-lite, which isn t suprising since Vandross did many of the vocal arrangements. But unlike Luther, who could infuse even the most maudlin sentiment with some flair, BeBe, though a gifted singer, is not a unique one. Much of this well-intentioned and well-crafted CD fades into the background, making it suitable make-out music perhaps, but not the sort of joyful noise the Lord had in mind. --Amy Linden