Provident Label Group
Release Date: February 12th 2021
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Rhett Walker– Gospel Song (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Gospel Song
Releasing their debut album Come To The River in 2012, and featuring the smash hit “When Mercy Found Me”, and subsequent singles “All I Need” and “Come To The River”; Rhett Walker Band followed this release with their first Grammy nomination and first of several Grand El Opry appearance- Come To The River earned a special place in my heart as the album that was one of the first ‘country’ albums I had listened to from start to finish. Looking back though, sure, Rhett Walker Band wasn’t as country as artists like Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Maren Morris; yet it was still nonetheless foreign in terms of the music I was listening to back then. Yet for one reason or another, I found myself loving this brand of country/pop that Rhett was immersed in, more and more. This sentiment even increased when I listened to the band’s follow up album Here’s To The Ones in 2014. Rhett added rock to the mix and now this hybrid of genres was something that was unfamiliar yet also fresh to the overall Christian music genre. With “Broken Man” and the title track being the two singles, Rhett Walker Band continued to stretch my musical preferences in so many ways.
Though with the band’s sophomore album showcasing some of the most vulnerable writing I had heard in 2014, it was quite a surprise for me to hear that in early 2016, after more than a year of radio silence, the band broke up, and released a statement via Facebook. I’m not sure if that statement can still be accessed or read, but the fact of the matter is that perhaps Here’s To The Ones wasn’t as popular as the band would have liked, or maybe writing for a 3rd album became gruelling and a chore. Nevertheless, the band called it quits, and I never expected them to release anything new. In my mind, that chapter was done.
Yet in 2017, Rhett Walker Band resurfaced. He unveiled a new song “I Surrender”, as well as a self-titled EP in 2018 (of which you can read our reviews here and here!)- and I guess you could say that the ‘hiatus’ of sorts has led Rhett to come back to music, come back doing what he loves, and with a renewed focus that will hopefully propel him to greater heights than before, and more inspiring albums. Though I’m not sure if the band is getting back together again, or if it’s just Rhett on his own with his band moniker (there’s only a picture of him on the single cover!), I guess it hardly matters when you listen to the song and the profound, relatable and relevant lyrics. Whether it’s Rhett Walker Band or Rhett Walker makes no difference to me, and shouldn’t to everyone, especially when we understand that these new songs are special, and probably wouldn’t have been recorded and sung by someone else if Rhett didn’t want to step back into music again.
Which brings me to this new review of Rhett’s country/worship song “Gospel Song”. While you can read my review of Rhett’s 2019 single “Believer” here, as well as Rhett’s comeback album as a solo artist Good To Me; “Gospel Song” is a much more upbeat pop toe-tapper, as a gospel choir and country undertones anchor the track musically, with Rhett passionately crying out that there’s nothing like a worship song, like a song about Jesus, to get us inspired when we are feeling down. With Rhett ardently reminding us that there’s ‘…ain’t nothing like a gospel song, makes me want to sing it all day long, something ‘bout that amazing grace sound of praise, makes my troubles not seem so strong, let me hear a heart set free, Holy Bible to a melody, turn it up and then play it again, play it again, play it on and on and on…’; we are reminded of the power of Christian music and why CCM has its place in society regardless of how cheesy or cliché it is. You could almost call this song a shameless plug for Christian radio and the need for CCM in general. But Rhett’s track doesn’t feel forced or contrived and actually reminds us that God does move in songs like these. So as we sit back and dwell upon why there are gospel songs in the first place, let us marvel and Rhett Walker’s prowess as a singer and a songwriter, and hope for another brand new album someday- not just Good To Me, which is in all intents and purposes a ‘compilation’ album of solo stuff and band stuff!
Boy have I missed Rhett Walker Band and their music. Or is it just Rhett Walker now? Anyway, nitpicks and semantics aside, while releasing this vibrant and emotional single may or may not result in a full length all original 4th album for Rhett, “Gospel Song” is definitely a must listen, regardless if you love country or not. You’ll definitely be blessed and inspired! With similar musical and lyrical themes to Third Day, needtobreathe, Zach Williams, Jason Crabb and Building 429; Rhett has continued to turn my musical preferences on their head! This is one of the most memorable and enjoyable country/CCM songs since Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker”. Maybe I should buy more country albums in the future, thanks to the Rhett Walker Band…
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Lady A, needtobreathe, Switchfoot, Third Day, Rascal Flatts