::ALBUM REVIEW::

CeCe Winans has to be one of the most consistent artists of modern gospel. While she is known throughout her career to take a turn towards pop and contemporary Christian-favored material - with hopes to reach a larger audience - she is in no way trying to emulate the success of Amy Grant. She is true to her gospel roots and that proof is highly documented on her big solo projects like Alabaster Box (1999) and Alone In His Presence (1995). She’s found her niche’ over the years after departing longtime duet partner BeBe Winans to go solo and remains committed to that polished sound. Her previous musical offering, Purified, allowed her to play with the experimental-pop ingredients used to make her Everlasting Love (1998) or 2001 self-titled album. Press reports from her PureSprings Gospel label calls her newest release, Thy Kingdom Come, a return to her “church roots.” One good listen to it and you can easily distinguish the trendier path towards her worship projects like Alabaster Box and Throne Room and not her thick urban gospel outfits. While the emphasis surrounds worship and the heart of CeCe Winans’ musical trademarks, Thy Kingdom Come is surrounded by a staff of well-rounded producers and some of her best supporters including Tommy Sims, Cedric & Victor Caldwell, Percy Bady, Luther “Mano” Hanes.and her son, Alvin Love.

For the most part, CeCe Winans plays with all of what best describes her elegant mature style. The Hillsong prototype - anchored by CCM trademarks, sweeping strings and an full acoustic set - is used on the album’s opener; “We Welcome You (Holy Father)" and also on the entrancing ‘80s soft rock sounds of “The Test of Time.” Tommy Sims puts a great effort in penning short messages of peace and love into an inspiring motivation to pursue God’s perfect will on “Thy Will Be Done.” “It Ain’t Over,” produced and penned by renowned gospel veteran Percy Bady, delivers a funky contemporary workout honing a big brass arrangement and clubbish foot-on-the-floor beat. For the most part, this Bady production finds the music drowning out Winans’ performance, but it is definitely one of the more upbeat highlights on the disc and gives gospel lovers something tangible to really shout about. The lead single, “Waging War” is brightened up with the pop magic of Celine Dion upon lyrics that are downsized to friendly reminders for God’s army. The song’s title alone sounds like something that would bear all the raucous elements of a hostile environment, but the song is more of a bible study on our authority on the earth than of takeover domination. Equally as impressive is the uptempo and wisely-produced creation of “A Million Miles.” Its pop-like lyrics, intertwined with gospel rhythms and ‘90s pop rock, sort of duplicates the popular cross-cultural New Breed sound but with simplistic and favorable results. “Oh Holy Place,” “You’re The One” and “Bless His Holy Name” - all three playing after one another - are definite worship numbers and easily come off as continuations of Throne Room.

Winans also creates her own compositions and does so with great results on the bright puppy love-for-God track “Falling In Love” and the worship-meets-gospel sounds of “Forever.” The latter even allows Winans to enter into worship leader mode; exhorting and ushering listeners into a place of reverent adoration. Tommy Sims collaborates with Winans on the urban arrangements of “Worthy.” The Afro-pop percussion drives, matched with urban drum programming and a big choir-like background vocals, are winning combinations here and finds Winans in comfortable territory.

Thy Kingdom Come is a pleasant and interesting ride of Winans’ styles. It’s like a quick look through her wardrobe and relearning the essence of her sound - a sound that still sounds good on her whether she’s playing with crossover lyrics or in-your-face gospel themes. But it’s focus throughout the album’s fourteen tracks is worship. It’s not as sleepy as Throne Room and it’s not quite as competitive with her R&B/urban and more successful persona - highly exemplified on Everlasting Love. It’s safe to say this album falls in between the two projects.