I've said a lot about music recently, so I've decided that for my sake, as well as yours, I should post a list of my favorite artists. Keep in mind that the order changes with my mood, but this is the normal order. Click on the band's name to hear one of their songs.
1. Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound.
A Gospel quartet, and part of the Gaither group.
Pros: Very young for a gospel quartet, they put a lot of energy into their music. And their voices don't have the distinctive indistinctness of old singers.
Very happy/joyful sound.
Totally awesome bass singer, and the other three are excellent as well. All of them can and do take the melody.
Cons: Sometimes it seems like they are more into the show than the meaning of what they are singing. But maybe their showiness is just really noticeable because they have to exaggerate their motions for stage singing.
Summary: I like most of the songs they sing, but I don't really like their original compositions.
2. GLAD
A band of five guys who decided to try some acapella albums. Previously they had done 80's CCM.
Pros: Five people allows for some pretty incredible harmonies.
They can interperet music very well IMO. They have incredible voice control and they know how to use it
Cons: A few of their songs are too "jazzy" for me. Which means their harmonies get so close that it is annoying.
Summary: I like most of their acapella songs, but I don't like their "pre-acapella era" songs. And Some of their jazzy songs can give me a headache.
3. Gaither vocal band.
Another Gospel quartet. It changes members about every year, the only constant one being Bill Gaither himself.
Pros: Hand picked and trained by Bill Gaither.
Many Many Many songs over almost twenty years.
Cons: Some combinations of singers are worse than others, I don't really like their current lead Michael English, he sounds way to "country."
Summary: They have a few songs I don't care for, but they have so many good ones!
4. Steve Green
CCM singer who was a lot more popular twenty years ago
Pros: Incredible voice.
I got to see him in concert, the only concert I've ever been to, so doubtless that helped him get higher on my list.
Amazing voice.
Lot's of passion, you can tell he believes what he sings.
Cons: He definitely was creating his own style of music, and a some of it seems quite bland, but that is just my opinion.
Summary: He is probably my favorite soloist, but a lone voice can only sound so good, even if it is the best one in the world.
5. Michael Card
CCM artist and songwriter, with a high tenor voice.
Pros: Really deep, meaningful and thought provoking lyrics.
Cons: All though he has great vocal range I don't think he has the same vocal qualities as most of the other singers on this list.
Summary: I'm not sure why I'm doing summaries, since they are basically the same thing as the pros and cons... He writes new music which some how attains the qualities of old music.
I'm going to bed now, but I have four of the next five all ready picked out. I just have to decide on #10 and then write.
