Lord willing, December second I will be seeing Tribute in concert, and as a preview I thought I would review their Cd For This Time.  So be looking for a concert review shortly thereafter!

Enjoy!

1. I Love Living In Grace – This snappy quartet song is the perfect way to start off a project! Not only does it have a nice beat, but the message, one we have heard countless times, is portrayed in a new, fresh way. The first verse, sung by the whole group/sung by the whole quartet/sung by the quartet as a whole, talks about the Old Testament law and how God required a price to be paid and Jesus did so on Calvary. Bringing us to the chorus, which reminds us, in simple phrases, how much we have in Christ – grace, mercy, forgiveness, etc. The second verse joyfully declares that we don’t have to pay for our sin because Christ took our place on the cross. This song tells it like it is and that makes it so enjoyable! What a great song to hear when you first listen to the Cd! 5.0

2. I’ve Been Blessed – Gary and Josh share the lead on the first verse, which talks about Satan‘s attacks on the Believer. The Christian wins with assurance of their position in Christ. Then on the second verse Dennis and Brian get the lead, singing about the most important thing a Child of God is blessed with – salvation! “It can’t get any better than this! For I’ve been blessed!” 5.0

3. Calvary Wins Again – There is only one word to describe this song, and that is – POWER! I remember seeing it first performed live at the Steve Hurst School of Music when Tribute sang on Friday night, and thought, “That’s a great song.” Let me tell you why I think it’s a great song. . . It brings that feeling of victory! The song talks about a person coming to know the Lord, how Satan tries to stop it, and the battle of right and wrong. The ballad type music fit’s the theme to perfection. Chills are bound to go up your spine when you hear the powerful chorus “Calvary wins again, hallelujah!” We need more songs like this in our world today, songs that remind us that the battle is worth fighting for! 5.0

4. That’s Why I Love Him So – Those who listen to Southern Gospel Radio or follow the Singing News Charts will recognize this as a former radio single for Tribute. The smooth rhythm of this song mixed in with its beautiful lyrics describing the Lord’s faithfulness and our response to it. The first verse features lead, Garry Casto and the second features their tenor Brian Alvery. Both of these co-wrote the song, and it’s so fitting that they were the ones to sing it! 4.0

5. He Said That – This one features their tenor, who on this recording was Brian. He does a great job on it! This is a medium tempo song with a message of Gods faithfulness. It goes through the promises that the Lord has given us in His Word ended each line with the reassuring phrase “He said that, yes, He said that.” 5.0

6. That’s What Makes Grace Amazing – Josh Singletary, the quartet’s baritone, has the verses solo on this meditative song. The lyrics really cause you to contemplate the wonder and awe wrapped up in the thought that a Holy God would save sinners. Yet, the melody and the way that it is presented would cause a feeling of gratefulness, not guilt. Brilliantly written! “When I see what I am, Lord I don’t understand, why You’d save a wretch like me, and that’s what makes grace amazing.” 4.5

7. His Tomb Is Empty – Gary Casto calls this one their “John Wayne” (sounding) song. It has that Western feel to it that when you close your eyes you’ll see cowboys and horses, but the song carries the message of the hope our salvation, the resurrection of the Savior. The lyrics are centered around the fact that we know Jesus rose from the grave because the hope that is within us is one that is full. If He did not rise again, our hearts wouldn’t have the joy that it does. The quartet sings the first verse together, and then the second verse features their bass singer, Dennis. His bass voice is a perfect fit for the style in which this song is recorded! It’s one of those you will find yourself humming all day! 5.0

8. Helpless Not Hopeless – This song is all about trusting the Lord when you feel discouraged in life. Brian’s sweet tenor voice gives this song a peaceful mood, and is bound to encourage any who are facing a situation where they feel helpless. 4.0

9. He Was In Charge – The message of this song sets us in the time of Christ. Both the verses and chorus speak of when they came to arrest Him in the garden, His death, and resurrection, all to say that He was the One who held the power that day. I love the part where Gary is featured on the first verse that says, “They thought they held power in the palm of their hand, but the dependant was God’s own Son.” This up tempo song reminds us that not only was Jesus aware of all the events surrounding His death and resurrection, but He was in charge of them. 4.0

10. I Heard It, I Believe It – Featuring Josh on the verses, this new quartet song takes us through the journey of salvation and it’s simplicity. It tells it like it is, the whole Gospel message is wrapped up in the chorus ~ it couldn’t be better! The fast tempo of the song is catchy and you’ll be bound to be humming it throughout the day. 4.0

11. I Am Healed – Is a beautiful ballad written by Sherry Forbes, that features Gary Casto. It talks about how the Lord has purpose in your suffering, hurt, and pain. That Jesus is the Healer and in Him you can believe that you are completely healed. (A little side note, this is the song that Tribute closed with at the Steve Hurst School of Music, and everyone in the audience was on their feet before the song was over!) I Am Healed starts out softly and builds to a magnificent crescendo! This is a very special song and I think it will touch a lot of people. 5.0

12. Who Am I? – Any Southern Gospel fan would be familiar with the Happy Goodman hit Who Am I! As a special bonus track, this classic, written by Rusty Goodman, features Brian, who does an awesome job on it! 5.0

Conclusion: I believe that this project has the reoccurring theme of God’s Faithfulness. Songs like That’s Why I Love Him So, He Said That and Helpless Not Hopeless are a few examples. All the songs on this project have a strong encouraging message, and Tribute does a wonderful job singing them. I highly recommend that you add this Cd to your collection! You would be very blessed by it! I’ll give the whole Cd a 5.0!