2004 marks the debut of L. Spenser Smith & TESTAMENT's freshman project, "ASSIGNMENT No. 1". This anointed group from Tuscaloosa, Alabama have put together a stellar musical feature that is sure to reach the church and the secular arena with a fresh new sound that they call "NEO-SOUL" gospel.
The Tracks L. Spenser Smith & TESTAMENT - 'ASSIGNMENT No. 1'
- Out of the Box
- Under My Feet - featuring BB Jay
- He's All That I Need
- God Will
- Because of You
- What A Friend
- That's Our Praise
- Nobody Like Ya
- Focus
- Interlude - Thank You
- Give Thanks
- Heaven
- Covenant God
- Covenant God (Reprise)
The Bottom Line about L. Spenser Smith & TESTAMENT's 'ASSIGNMENT No. 1'
What happens when you take an urban choir, add in liberal doses of funk, hip-hop, jazz, praise, rap and soul, lyrics that really speak to your heart and a sound that is over the top? You get L. Spenser Smith & TESTAMENT. This is not your typical urban gospel choir. This is a something new, something different and something exciting. Each song on the CD takes you in a new direction and you find yourself looking at the journey rather than the destination and loving every minute of it.The Highlights of L. Spenser Smith & TESTAMENT's 'ASSIGNMENT No. 1'
The first two tracks on the CD set a fast pace, but don't think for a minute that the entire CD is all fast and in your face. Out of the Box has a high energy sound and the lyrics let you know right up front where this group is at in their ministry..."out of the box". Under My Feet opens up with BB Jay doing what he does best, but then slides right into some of the strongest vocals on the market today. That's Our Praise, another stellar cut on the release and the first radio release, gives you some of that "choir sound" that urban gospel are famous for over a strong showing of horns and organs. God Will is both soulful and smooth as L. Spenser Smith and Q. Bailey trade lines over acoustic guitar and soft background vocals. While those are my four personal favorites, the rest of the CD is just as good and just as varied. So if you are looking to step away from the routine, then you owe it to yourself to give this CD a try. But be forewarned ... if you share it with the rest of your family, you may find yourself constantly looking for it. It seems to pull regular disappearing acts from my CD case here at home and usually has found its way to my husband's car or my oldest daughter's room.
