::ALBUM REVIEW::

Laying down vocal and background work for the legendary Commissioned is a good enough reason to go solo. And even though Commissioned has been quite mute since their Commissioned Reunion project, Marcus Cole has made significant progress by making hefty appearances on several projects including the late Ron Winans and Andrae' Crouch's comeback 2006 disc. Now, with a holy hook-up from CeCe Winans' PureSpring Gospel music label, Cole is out on his own and testing the waters as a solo artist. On board in the production chambers is the underrated songwriter/keyboardist Luther "Mano" Hanes (whom also worked on Andrae' Crouch and Ron Winans mentioned projects). And with an excellent cast of musicians including Maurice Fitzgerald on bass, Bobby Sparks on keyboards, and LeDell Abrams on drums, Cole is in good hands.

The album opens with "That's Alright (Cause I Got You)", which digs into familiar Commissioned grooves and soft imagery of classic soul tossed into the groovy melody. It's not the strong opener one would expect from Cole, but it will suffice. Immediately following "Alright" is a quick throwback to Luther "Mano" Hanes' "The Lord Has Been Good" (umm, last time we will mention it - first heard on Ron Winans' Family & Friends V). The song contains all of the rich funky grooves from the original, but it looses its raw foundations because of the limitations in the studio. But, blazing horn arrangements are highly received while Rhodes and organ action places funky punctuation on the jam. Plus, Cole's riveting rolls and ad-libs are definitely appealing to those familiar with the original. "Finally" is a lyrical joy which also features Detroit legend Kayla Parker on background vocals and making a few lead duties with Cole.

Cole also explores praise-and-worship with "Celebrate New Life" (which interestingly sounds like Fred Hammond's "Lord Of The Harvest"). The uptempo gem, featuring spunky horn blasts and a rocking rhythmic bounce, stands strong and is sure to gain attention.

There's a good dose of contemporary R&B ballads to dig into. "Being With You" is probably the most intricate presentation of them all - containing smooth keys, romantic vibes and passionate background vocals. Cole delivers milky crooning that drives home the point of the song. It's uplifting, it's tender and it's just right for Cole's audience. Would have been nice if the song faded out with a soft instrumental slide - kinda like a Luther Vandross track. Still, the track is full of Quiet Storm fire. "Write My Song" is a musical odyssey to sultry soul and assertive R&B. It also explains the meaning of the album title as Cole breaks down explainations of God's omnipotent powers in his life and that he is also the ultimate "maestro", then he asks God to write his life's song. Quite different and well-crafted lyrically. "Bless My Soul", which rounds up the project, features symphonic structures with beautiful strings dominating the entire track. Cole's intimate vocals, delivered in a soft worshipful tone, are well received here.

"Write My Song" contains eleven cuts and is sufficient enough to prove Cole's transition to the solo recording scene. It actually feels as if he was a star in waiting - waiting for the right opportunity and timing. And although the cuts aren't significantly groundbreaking, Cole's skills and craftsmanship, along with the companion musical deliveries on "Write My Song", is far from amateurish and mediocre; proving the significance of his valuable presence in today's music world.