You don't have to know much about Southern Gospel to recognize true talent. The vocals of Mercy's Mark are as tight as the proverbial drum on "Something's Happening."
I don’t know a whole lot about this genre, but I enjoy being stretched musically, especially when the lyrics are as God-honoring as those on Mercy’s Mark’s “Something’s Happening.” I know enough to know that the opener, the up-tempo “When It All Starts Happening I Want to Be There,” featuring bass singer Christian Davis, is pure Southern Gospel style. And the solid guitar picking doesn’t hurt either.
“Something’s Happening” is a ten-song collection of upbeat, and often dramatic, songs of hope, very ministry-oriented in terms of packing a wallop of a message. Founder/producer/baritone Garry Jones began Mercy’s Mark with a vision to minister to the hurting, and that drive simmers beneath these ten well-arranged songs.
There’s a lot of bounce in these upbeat tracks (“Prayer Will Take Heaven By Storm” and the encouraging “He’s the God of Second Chances”) as well as some pristine instrumental arrangements (the warm horns on “Prayer,” the way the quiet harmonica adds to the down-home feel of “Anytime”). Garry Jones’ eye for detail pays off in the stylistic elements of “Something’s Happening,” from its big finishes to its sharply executed vocal arrangements, especially noticeable on “Living in the Arms of Mercy” and on “Jesus Said Love,” where the rich tenor of Brent Mitchell soars over the lush instrumentation. The ambitious a cappella closer “He Was There All the Time” wraps the project up with dramatically. If you’re a fan of Southern Gospel, you will love “Something’s Happening,” from Mercy’s Mark. If you’re not already a fan, this project will provide a great introduction.
