Praise - Ann Nesby is one of my favorite artist and I love her music. It is a blessing to listen to
A bit disappointed - I am a huge fan of Ann Nesby. For me, this cd is average. I purchased it and played it a few times and then put it away. Ann Nesby being the great singer she is, I just expected more.
Good effort - This is mostly traditional gospel by the gifted missionary known as The Queen of Inspirational Soul. IN THE SPIRIT is one of those discs that you can leave on repeat for more than a few spins. Ann does a solid job in covering some old standards, providing us with some good church rarely heard nowadays. This project is worth the price for this fact alone.I agree that I have never heard Ann in bad voice ... but die-hard fans would agree that she has sounded better. In addition, she never really rips it like we all know she can. We may be able to chalk it up to the production that is a little uneven and low-budget sounding in some spots, so maybe she never quite felt it enough to catch the Nesby fiyah we love her for.To be sure: there are many bright moments and Ann has few vocal peers. She delivers some very strong vocals here and her versatility with the quieter numbers is showcased well. However, many fans will expect the super-powerhouse vocals that characterize her house gospel recordings and Sounds Of Blackness outings. They are not present on any of these cuts.(*Note: those kind of vocals are present on the 2006 gospel house release So Much Joy. Folks that like to hear Ann REALLY holler and squall will want to check that out. Make no mistake, folks: she still has it!)With that expectation, I ll say again that IN THE SPIRIT is still more than worth the money. In spite of some missed opportunities, there is a warm feeling that comes across in this recording ... not just the nostalgia and strength of embraceable, tried and true material, but the honest approach that Miss Nesby gives to each selection.And another reviewer is on point: the background vocalists (and musicians) are very genuine, authentic, and unprocessed. BGV s are obviously important in any recording on which they re present, but they can really make or break a gospel song. This crew is awesome.Let s hope that we can get a LIVE recording next time around -- with the same background vocalists and band, and a pumped audience/congregation. That combo may inspire Ann to even greater heights and give us the landmark gospel album she is capable of ... and deserves.
A Return To Real, Old Fashioned Gospel Singing. Hallelujah! - I really like this Ann Nesby project. She sings with a fervor that may remind some of vintage Aretha Franklin. My favorite aspect of this CD is the up-front, simple and effective background vocals. This trio is really rockin . Its refreshing to hear voices that don t sound canned or enhanced. They just sing and backup Ms. Nesby with zeal and spirit. The background singers reminded me of Danniebelle Hall in her hey-day.There are two songs on the project that sound a little out of place because they sound more mainstream in their contemporary sound but they don t spoil the Sunday morning effect this CD evokes. My personal fave is If It Had Not Been For The Lord On My Side. I t s just like church.Great singing and good feeling. A sure bet.
Always in great voice!! - I am currently listening to In The Spirit and all i can say is that I don t think I ve ever heard Ann Nesby in bad voice!! Her voice is in supreme shape and gospel is clearly the genre where she shines!! The production on this cd is good and the choir that is singing behind her is really good! Glad to hear Ms Nesby singin !!!!