Fresher than this morning's latte, Group 1 Crew's self-titled Fervent Records debut will knock you out, their hearts shining through as fiercely as their bangin' sound.
Coming on strong from the get-go with the previously discussed single “Love is a Beautiful Thing,” the album quickly moves into the clap-happy sizzling second track, “Let It Roll,” its melodic chord movements positively mesmerizing under the nimble tongue-lashing of Manwell Reyes, Blanca Reyes (no relation), and Pablo Villatoro. Group 1 Crew got its start when Manwell, a former solo artist and veteran emcee, started a Bible study that ended up drawing in friends and fellow musicians Pablo and Blanca. Their intriguing and similar testimonies formed a strong link between the three, giving them a unique platform to reach those they’d left behind. The tight band brings solid cred and heart to their role as testifiers, in the vein of the sorely-missed Souljahz.
Group 1 Crew can do it all, from rocking the party (pop-flavored “A Lot in Common” and the pounding “Clap Ya Hands”) to teaching (the wildly hooky “Come Back Home,” Blanca’s winsome vocals inviting listeners to consider God’s purpose), to encouraging (the ebullient, upbeat [“Everybody’s Gotta] Song to Sing”). When it’s time to get serious, they bring it home with the piano-driven “Forgive Me.” Moving from the quiet intro, the Crew rips out a fiercely melodic Lord’s Prayer over throbbing strings, their desperate need for the Lord’s Presence laid out with a willing nakedness. Manwell, Blanca and Pablo consistently complement one another vocally, their unity a solid illustration of God’s redemptive powers. By the time you hit the beat-driven closer, “Put Like That,” you’re putty in the hands of this sizzling, richly-talented trio. When Fervent Records drops the self-titled Group 1 Crew album on February 20, you wanna be first in line, telling you true.
