No Such Thing As A Sophomore Slump for Mandisa!
Posted March 20, 2009
By the_haydster,
Mandisa, who was very prematurely eliminated from Season Five of American Idol, has shown what strength and determination she has by pursuing Gospel music after being exposed to national TV on a secular show, and boy am I glad of that!
Her first album, True Beauty, was a fantastic debut, with catchy songs that really had a message. The first album was about excepting who you are and always being yourself, and it worked beautifully. At one point or another, each and every one of the songs on her album was my favorite. And even two years later, whenever one of Mandisa's songs pops up on my MP3 Player, I can't help but get enlightened and joyous.
Luckily, Mandisa's second album, Freedom, follows almost the same format as her first, and what a winning format that is! Both start off with two catchy, upbeat songs that are guaranteed to make you want to groove ("Only the World" and "True Beauty" for her first album, "My Deliverer" and "How Much" for her second)! I would also like to point out that the first song of both albums is her first single for that album... coincidence?
Track 3 for both albums are beautiful ballads ("God Speaking" for her first album and "Not Guilty" for her second), followed by mid-tempo, still beautiful songs for Track 4 ("Voice of a Savior" and "Leave it in the Valley").
Track 5 for both albums is probably the most fun track on the album, both upbeat and insanely catchy ("Love Somebody" and "Freedom Song"). If they don't instantly make you happy, then you are probably a robot.
Track 6 is slower, kind of calming down the energy from Track 5, but still fun ("Unrestrained" and "Victorious"). Both of these serve some of the most important messages in the entire album.
Tracks 7 and 8 of both albums ("Shackles [Praise You]" and "[Never Gonna] Steal My Joy", "Definition of Me" and "Dance, Dance, Dance") are back to the upbeat party! Four really great songs that I can definitely see a youth group shouting too late in the night.
Track 9 and 10 of the albums ("Oh, My Lord" and "Only You", "He Is With You" and "You Wouldn't Cry") are the only ones that differ, with her first album going with two upbeat songs, and her second going with two ballads. Although different in tempo, all four of these songs are the ones that I just get chills from each time I listen.
Each of the albums closes with a ballad ("He Will Come" and "Broken Hallelujah"), and for both albums, on the first listen through, these were my favorites. Both are so emotional and personal; I feel like Mandisa is singing to me. I can't help but cry whenever I stop and really listen to these songs.
Okay, now for the track-by-track:
1. My Deliverer (9.5 / 10): I am so glad that this was chosen as Mandisa's first single. It really starts of the album with a bang, creating the whole atmosphere for the rest of the album. When Mandisa starts the final refrain of the chorus, I can't help but grin. It is such a beautiful moment!
2. How Much (10 / 10): This is my favorite song on the entire album. The music is really cool, it's fun to dance to, and the lyrics... just so perfect. Everyone, at some point in their life, feels unloved. When that happens, no need to look further than this song. Manidsa's voice is just.. spot on!
3. Not Guilty (9 / 10): I am sorry, but the entire song, I was comparing it to "God Speaking", and it's just not. "Not Guilty" is almost as moving as "God Speaking", and Mandisa's vocals are, again, a hole in one. I just couldn't stop thinking about "God Speaking."
4. Leave It In the Valley (8.5 / 10): Kind of an old gospel style. It sounds like an organ is in the background, it's nice. Mandisa's high notes on this song are just pure perfection. The message this song sends out about not giving up is another song that everyone can relate to.
5. Freedom Song (9.5 / 10): Starts out kind of slow, gospel, and then the beat starts, and so does the fun. The lyrics play out like testimonies, and it's inspiring. The chorus will become infections to Christians everywhere.
6. Victorious (8 / 10): This song sounds kind of R&B (other than the lyrics) and it shows that Mandisa also fits in this genre. This does the same thing as "Unrestrained" on her first album, kind of diffusing the previous, party song, and it makes this song one of the most forgettable. It's just sandwiched in between two upbeat songs, but it's still a great song.
7. Definition of Me (9 / 10): Another song that's chorus will be sang religiously (no pun intended) at youth groups and church camps everywhere. As soon as the opening beat starts, so does the party. Blanca Reyes (from Group 1 Crew) has a solo, and it's a nice addition. It's really great to see Mandisa collaborating with other Christian artists on this album like she did on her first.
8. Dance, Dance, Dance (9 / 10): I was dreading listening to this song because I purchased Mandisa's first version of this song from the album "Sonic Praise 2: Worship for Life", and I didn't really care for it that much; it just wasn't my style of music, and I didn't really like the song. Well, I listened, and wondered why I had even dreaded it! This new version is really great, upbeat, and a real improvement from her original pre-American Idol version.
9. He is With You (8.5 / 10) This is another song that is kind of sandwiched between two songs that are really amazing. It is still an amazing song and a great message being said, but I find myself wishing it was the next song. I still love this song, though.
10. You Wouldn't Cry (10 / 10): What an inspiring song. For those who don't know, this song was written from the point of view of a stillborn child. It is just heartbreaking, even though it is meant for the complete opposite. It is such a beautiful and... amazing song.
11. Broken Hallelujah (10 / 10): The final song on the album was, the first time I listened to it, my favorite song on the album. It is so pretty and probably the most relatable. Listening to this song, really listening to the lyrics, I can't help but cry, because everything she is saying [singing] is so true. Mandisa's voice is perfect for this song.
Mandisa has clearly worked hard for this album, and I am so glad / proud that it's been finished. Once again, for Mandisa, there is no such thing as a sophomore slump. View All Music And Book Reviews By the_haydster | View the_haydster's Profile
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