Sistas in the Spirit: Review

Integrity Gospel

Dec 8, 2006 Kevan Breitinger

The all-female collection from Integrity Gospel, "Sistas in the Spirit," is an unusually satisfying compilation.

It covers a wide range of gospel performers, from the old-school standard-bearers (Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples) to the cutting edge sistas of the day (Rizen, Martha Munizzi, Lisa McClendon), to the strong-and-steady leaders of the genre (the amazing Vickie Winans, Juanita Bynum), “Sistas in the Spirit” leaves no stone unturned. Thirteen tracks of diverse artists that span the generations are offered up, and while some shine more brightly than others, there’s not a clunker in the bunch.

LaShun Pace sets a tone of fun and funk with high-energy opener “Glad About It,” backed by a full choir and a popping bass line, all the way to the false ending. Dottie Peoples’ track “He’ll Give You Everything” is the only spot that gave me pause, with its lyrical promise that God provides everything you need, including “that new house, that new car.” But things pick back up nicely with Martha Munizzi’s “Glorious,” hitting a sizzling groove with a salsa beat.

Virtue’s slick “Give Him the Praises” is a hook-rich neck-bobber, their vocal interplay as funky as always, sheer pleasure. Lisa McClendon’s hushed vocals and the laid-back instrumentation make “You Are Holy” a standout track. She builds to a brightly burning crescendo of praise on this high-impact song. Mary Mary add their usual tight vocals, spinning out their soulful sound like spun sugar, and Vickie Winans brings great authority and power to “What a Mighty God We Serve Medley.” Listening to the great Miss Winans is like having church, she is truly like no one else. Shirley Caesar sizzles her way, as always, through “Taking It Back.”

The album closes out powerfully with two back-to-back powerhouses. Juanita Bynum’s throaty acappella “I Worship You Almighty God” will give you goose-bumps, and the rich timbre of Nancey Jackson’s vocals wrings every ounce of life out of “You Are.” She weaves her way in, out, and all around the melody line, over a quietly humming organ; simply put, she tears it up.

“Sistas in the Spirit” represents well some of the best female talents in the gospel field today. Every compilation should be this definitive.

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