Mandisa - True Beauty

Producer:  Brown Bannister, Double Dutch, Christopher Stevens
Label:  Sparrow Records
Website:  http://www.mandisaofficial.com

At this point, most Christian music listeners have already been introduced to Mandisa.  She’s already had a huge PR campaign rolled out for her and enjoyed a performance on the Dove Awards this year.  However, before that, most people knew her as the beautiful plus-sized contestant who put Simon Cowell in his place on the popular television show American Idol after hearing Simon’s remarks about the impressive vocalist’s weight.  Many people felt that Mandisa was ousted from the show too soon, but Mandisa took it all in stride and went on to enjoy success on the AI tour and sign with one of Christian music’s premier record label’s - Sparrow Records.  The question is how well does Mandisa’s debut album, True Beauty, hold up against all the fan fair that has already accompanied it.  That answer is a tricky one for sure.  On the one hand, Mandisa is definitely a talented vocalists, sounding like a cross between AC favorites like Natalie Grant or Avalon and the Black Gospel sounds of Yolanda Adams or Mary Mary.  The album does have some great moments - such as the first single “Only the World”, “Only You”, and “Love Somebody”.  In fact, Mandisa’s cover of the Mary Mary hit “Shackles (Praise You)” tops the original with more affective vocal arranging.  However, on the other hand, there’s not a lot here to separate Mandisa from those she sounds like, and at times, the album falls flat and dull at times.  “God Speaking”, while including especially strong songwriting from Ronnie Freeman, musically is a drag, and “True Beauty”, another lyrical highlight, fails to impact the listener on a musical level - lacking some of the musical hooks that someone like Nicole C. Mullen nails almost every time.  Overall, most of the songs end up lacking in either the lyrical or musical department, and the album just suffers from poor song selection - and that’s a hard statement to make seeing as the album features some amazing songwriters like Matthew West, Ronnie Freeman, Cindy Morgan, and Sam Mizell among others.  Hopefully, Mandisa can figure out who she is as an artist for the next release and can find songs that engage the listener.  True Beauty just doesn’t cut it.

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