Description
The self-titled, fourth album by the American contemporary gospel/R&B group Anointed was released on Myrrh Records in 1999, a division of Word. Also manufactured by Epic, a division of Sony Music. The album was produced by Chris Harris (tracks: 2 ,4, 8, 10), Keith Crouch (tracks: 5, 6, 9), Tony Rich (tracks: 3, 7), and Lanar “Kern” Brantley (track 11).
With their fourth album, Anointed make it big! They finally deliver the album you’ve always wanted them to make! From the scorching slab of the opening cut «Revive Us» which bounces along on a pounding groove through to the closing «Anything Is Possible», which sounds closer to the ‘Under The Influence’ album than anything else here, Anointed are a band that have finally found the perfect groove and they’re sticking to it. Recruiting some heavyweight mainstream R&B talent to twiddle the production knobs was a shrewd move so Keith Crouch and Tony Rich (remember «Nobody Knows»?) get to contribute to the perfect sound of this release. Basically, what you need to know is that there isn’t a duff track on this album and whether you like the heart wrenching emotional balladry of «Something’s Missing» or the perfect crossover pop of the two Rich produced tracks («Take It Easy» and «It’s All Good») or for that matter the beautiful love song «Ooh Baby», this is a hot album. For me I love the atmosphere of «Head Above Water» and the pop groove of «Godspot» but the one that’s been getting me going both lyrically and musically is the powerful «Revive Us», a rallying call that will do more than just get your feet moving. It’s been three years since we heard a new album from Anointed but for me it was worth the wait. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, June 2005]
Before we get started, what’s up with the seemingly new habit of artists releasing self-titled projects several albums into a career, a move traditional of new artists? Mariah Carey did it; Sheryl Crow did it; Jonn Mellencamp did it; Sixpence did it.
In Anointed’s case, however, its new self-titled adventure has a very good chance of introducing them to a brand-new audience, so it’ll give those new converts the illusion of getting in on the ground floor of something very cool. Those who have been following the exploits of one of gospel’s most talented vocal trios, smirk quietly to yourselves.
Anointed kicks off with the driving single «Revive Us», a tune infused with more than a few Michael Jackson-esque vocal tricks but still a track that gets the record off to a rollicking start, before dropping into more of a contemplative mode with «Godspot».
The trio of Steve Crawford, Da’dra Crawford Greathouse and Nee-C Walls is joined by a slate of very talented producers, including past collaborators Mark Heimermann and Chris Harris, as well as Tony Rich, Keith Crouch, Kern Brantley and Wayne Tester. The mix ‘n’ match approach to production gives all of the tracks their own distinctive texture, playing not only to the strength of the vocalists but also the style of the producers.
For example Rich, known for his work with Aaron Neville and Toni Braxton as well as his own projects, contributes production to two tunes he wrote, «It’s All Good» and «Take It Easy» (co-written with Peter Moore), and gives them a smooth, albeit a touch darker, fluidity that will play well on urban radio.
Crouch, who’s collaborated with the likes of Boyz II Men, Brandy and CeCe Winans, relies a little less on loops (though he’s not averse to them; see «Head Above Water») but turns instead to brighter vocal arrangements to carry the song through.
Regardless of producers, the project’s strength comes from the singers, who have been working on their brand of melodic and harmonic interaction for more than a decade now. All three singers are incredibly strong, and there’s no drop-off in quality when switching lead lines within a single tune or when one steps up for lead duties for a particular song. The album’s centerpiece, literally and figuratively, «Anything is Possible», is Anointed’s career in a nutshell. This group can appeal to fans of Christian pop, straight-up gospel and today’s urban radio without even trying really hard, and there’s something on Anointed that will please any and/or all of those audiences. [Lucas W. Hendrickson, CCM, May 1999]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/anointed/1172399830)
CD tracklist:
01. Revive Us
02. Godspot
03. Take It Eazy
04. Love By Grace
05. Head Above Water
06. Anything Is Possible
07. It’s All Good
08. Something Was Missing
09. Ooh, Baby
10. Must Have Been Angels
11. Revive Us (Urban Mix)
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Myrrh.
The May 1999 issue of CCM Magazine featured a cover story on Anointed.
A full-page advertisement for Anointed’s self-titled album was featured on the back cover of the May 1999 issue of CCM Magazine.
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