The Bridge

Description

The Bridge is an album by the American singer and songwriter Lenny LeBlanc, released on Integrity Music in 1996.

Lenny LeBlanc offers up a gentle country-pop effort with ‘The Bridge’, his second album for Integrity. A prolific songwriter, vocalist, and player in both the mainstream and Christian music industries, LeBlanc has a style similar to Buddy Greene‘s. With its smooth acoustic arrangements and often subtle vocals, ‘The Bridge’ spans the distance between positive country and adult contemporary quite nicely.

LeBlanc produced the album himself, supported by renowned studio players that include Steve Brewster on drums and Michael Rhodes on bass. He also wrote or co-wrote each of the 10 songs featured. The songs cover topics common to the experience of the everyday Christian life, including the shelter and fulfillment that can be found in Christ («When the Rain Comes» and «Heaven Is»), the hope of Christ («Looking Up»), and feelings of abandonment by God («Message to You»). The title cut alludes to success which LeBlanc has encountered, both past and present, and concludes “All that I’ve seen and done/ Has left me with this thought/ I pray that my children/ Would find the faith to cross/ The Bridge to the other side.”

Though occasionally coming close to tired lyrical clichés, as in «River of Forgiveness» and «Candle in the Rain», ‘The Bridge’ is nonetheless a satisfactory effort for fans of the growing Christian country movement. [Michael Ciani, CCM, June 1996]

Much loved worship leader follows up highly successful solo CCM album ‘All My Dreams‘ with this selection of country based pop tunes housed in the same street as Brian Barrett’s current musical activities. The White One has a pleasant pop voice and the skill to write pop tunes that glide perfectly across the space between speaker and the ear. Sadly once they get there, they go in one ear and out the other without there being much to grab you. The lyrics are in the general vicinity of inspirational, it’s beautifully packaged and played but like a bland meal, I am hungry for something with a bit more substance to feed me. I suppose what I am trying to say is that it’s…erm…well…boring actually. There, I’ve said it! I listened a few times and I was bored. Okay? I wanted to like it because Mr Le Blanc has worked hard and I dare say it’ll sell squillions in the States where there are whole radio stations dedicated to playing this lightweight fluff 24 hours a day but I wouldn’t listen to it unless it was 3am and I couldn’t sleep. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, August 1996]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-bridge/646394319)

CD tracklist:

01. Inspiration Of My Heart – 3:34
02. Looking Up – 3:24
03. When The Rain Comes – 4:06
04. Heaven Is – 4:22
05. The Bridge – 3:35
06. Enough Of You – 3:27
07. River Of Forgiveness – 4:01
08. I’ll Be There – 3:56
09. Candle In The Rain – 3:43
10. Message To You – 3:39

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Integrity Music.

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