Style: Urban-flavored black gospel; compare to Vickie Winans, Kierra Sheard, Patti Labelle
Top tracks: “Prayed Up,” “Hold On,” “Blessings”
Having influenced high-profile divas like Faith Evans and Mariah Carey, gospel music legend Karen Clark Sheard extends her legacy with another relevant recording of R&B-infused gospel tracks. From church stirrers like “Have Your Way” to hit-heavy grooves like “Blessings,” Sheard’s flexible soprano covers genre nuances with fine musical scholarship. Enlisting support from famous family members like J. Moss and Kierra Sheard, Karen’s talent is impressively showcased throughout. And though her overactive vocalizing becomes shrill when pressed full steam song after song, Sheard is master of her craft, and these fresh cuts prove she’s still near the top of her game.
Copyright © 2010 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
