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Sunday, November 23, 2008

Review: Desmond Pringle - Be Still


Desmond Pringle - Be Still
2006, Magnum Opus Entertainment


Desmond Pringle’s reputation as a Gospel balladeer precedes him. Pringle is something of a “rock star” in the Gospel world. The ordained minister and former record executive gives live performances that leave audiences stunned, whether with rousing Gospel choir style barn burners or soulful, passionate ballads. Pringle’s latest release, Be Still, is a dynamic gospel and religious experience.

Be Still encompasses the worlds of Pop, R&B, Funk and Gospel in a CD of Praise music with strong commercial leanings. Pringle has an affable voice that is warm, welcoming and strong. His delivery is pure televangelism, relying as much on the sort of pop-psychology, feel good worship style that fills pews at Pentecostal churches everywhere as on musicianship. This is worship music you can dance to, or dance music you can worship with if you want. It's all a matter of perspective.

Pringle brings a real pop sensibility to Be Still, along with a top notch band. His reputation as a balladeer is not lost on this reviewer either. He turns in primo performances on Everything To Me and the title track. His is a voice that would sell CDs and downloads in the millions in the pop world. In the long run this CD is destined to be strongly pigeonholed in the Contemporary Christian Music category in an R&B/Soul subset, severely limited the commercial potential for Be Still. It's certainly not for a lack of talent, spirit or dedication on the part of Pringle. I personally feel that Pringle is at his best as a singer on the ballads and slower songs. What little he loses on the get up and dance worship songs he more than makes up for in charisma and showmanship.

Desmond Pringle is the sort of a performer who can touch an audience and bring them along for a musical adventure. Be Still is a dynamic worship disc that should cross all sorts of denominational barriers, but is so blatantly worship oriented that it likely won't spread much beyond religious communities.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Desmond Pringle at http://www.desmondpringle.com/. You can purchase a copy of Be Still at Amazon.com.

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