Graceful Gospel Pop
Posted July 24, 2014
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Being the daughter of the Karen Clark Sheard (of the legendary Clark Sisters), the granddaughter of the late Mattie Moss Clark and the cousin of producer/singer J. Moss, Kierra Sheard has been blessed with amazing heritage and mentors. Though she does draw from and seek advice from her family, "Kiki" has definitely carved her own niche and created her own style. She even has an annual youth conference, Bold, Right Life (BRL) that serves to empower and equip a generation with great potential facing great challenges.
Kierra's latest project is Graceland, an album that shows her maturity as an artist while not veering too far from the style that she is known for. Production comes from her younger and very talented brother J. Drew Sheard (JDS), along with additional production from Harmony Samuels, Aaron Lindsey and Justin Brooks.
Kierra really thrives on the pop-themed music, while some Gospel music fans may be feel as if she is hindered vocally. A good example is "In You." This song is a power ballad with the synthesizers and Kierra's vocals getting an almost stadium/concert effect. J. Drew comes through on the production and this may be a song that will get the "cell phones in the air" effect when she does it live.
"No Graceland" is another ballad that starts off with acoustic guitars from Jabbari Johnson and Kierra lightly singing how she wandered into living without God's grace. The song builds into her asking for His guidance and goes into the driving choir-laced vamp, "I gotta have You forever. Never leave me."
Of course Kierra is not going to leave out some bangers. My head automatically nods when listening to "Go." "2nd Win" serves to encourage and inspire people to get up and keep going. It has the mid-tempo beat to go along with some scratching. By song's end, Kierra does some adlibbing that drives the song home.
Kierra enlists the help of one of the best writers of our time, Diane Warren, to write "Flaws." Diane knows how to write those songs that really tug at the heart strings in the pop world. Many of us struggle with certain character flaws that are part of who we are. This song speaks of how God loves us even with our flaws. This would be a great song for people who are hard on themselves. Aaron Lindsey produces and plays the piano to make it complete.
Closing Thoughts:
Kierra Sheard has done it again with an album that stands by itself in terms of its sound compared to her previous albums. She has grown as a songwriter, and her vocal range continues to expand and blossom. Graceland is one that people should not leave on the shelves of the store, or they should go to iTunes and start downloading now!
Song to Download Now:
"In You" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By DwayneLacy_NRT | View DwayneLacy_NRT's Profile
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