Bruce Carroll

Item: Walk On
Author: Kerry Stephenson

Walk On

(1993)

Reviewed by Kerry Stephenson

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Label Word RecordsThe LighthouseNovember 1993

bluegrass country southern gospel

Walk On demonstrates Carroll's versatility and proves that his win of the Southern Gospel Grammy last year was more than just a stroke of luck.

I don't find the opener, "Walk On," to be much of a stand-out-it's quiet and mellow. "Good Life," the second song, moves a bit more toward the Southern Gospel. The solid lyrics remind the listener of what the "good life" really consists of, as well as what the Christian has to look forward to, no matter how things may currently appear.

"Road Back Home" provides some nice, quiet guitar work to back up disturbing lyrics that bring us face to face with what so many of us come from before we come to Christ. "It Took You" is a standard snatched-from-the-jaws-of-misery love song set in an engaging bluegrass tune. "Answer to Prayer" is one of my favorites. It is a very mellow, gentle reminder that being a Christian means not only believing that He will answer your prayer-but also that He might well be calling you to be the answer to someone else's.

"Middle Ages" tells the story of the internal struggles of a 42-year-old man to come to terms with being of an age that's "neither young nor old." It has a nice, soft sound with just a hint of the Southern gospel fiddle to provide a bit of spice. An interesting African flavor comes through on "There is Prayer," telling the stories of hurting people whose only hope seems to be the power of prayer-and that it works.

The song "Sometimes When We Love" won't come as much of a surprise to those who remember "Sometimes Miracles Hide." This new effort is a strong pro-life statement, telling the story of a young girl's decision to give her unborn child life by choosing to put him up for adoption. "What We Were Fighting For" is a soft Southern rocker that speaks sadly of the futility of striving against one another in a life as short as the one we get on Earth. "Right at Home," closes the project with a finely orchestrated love song reminiscent of James Taylor.

Walk On is a fine effort, and one that should give Bruce Carroll another crack at a Grammy.