Newcomer Karthi is bounding onto the Christian music scene with an energetic release for the pop-dance arena. Several tracks are produced by Joe Hogue, while the balance are produced by Toby McKeehan, Todd Collins, Joey Elwood, and Ron Griffith. The influences from Toby Mac (McKeehan) can be easily felt with many smoothly flowing samples, ala D.C. Talk's Free at Last.
While the music is excellent, with great pop grooves and the production is superb, none of that is what grabbed me on this album (well... the music helped). What caught my ear (and mind) was the depth of the lyrics, penned mainly by Karthi, with some excellent help. In an impressively vertical album for a debut, Karthi hits some decent topics with such cuts as "Next to Ya" (the personal changes coming from prayer), "Are You There" (how God patiently permits us to question whether He is there or not), "Right Where You Want Me" (going where God wants us), and "You Got to Me" (the joy of an intimate relationship with the Lord). "Air You Breathe" is a highlight, talking about feeling inadequate and how God will satisfy those needs.
The only thing I found that turned me off to this album was the silly little "snippets" between songs, again ala Free at Last. They are fun the first time that they play, but after that they are very annoying. If I didn't have a programmable CD player, I wouldn't listen to the album.
But, except for that, it's an excellent release, one sure to get people up and dancing.
Similar sounding releases
1995GinaEternity
D.O.C.Pullin' No Punches
1994Crystal LewisThe Remix Collection
1994Lisa BevillAll Because of You
1991Lavine HudsonBetween Two Worlds
1996Joey GA Double Dose
