Still Waiting (Audrey Gordon, 2004)

Gospel reggae has gained prominence since the late '90s, with artists like Sanchez and Richie Stephens releasing gospel-themed albums, plus the inclusion of acts like Glen Washington, Tony Curtis, Spanner Banner, and Singing Melody on the Reggae for Jesus compilation in 2001.  From what I've heard, there’s no real difference in sound between gospel reggae and quote-unquote normal reggae.  Even the pious tone and righteous messages are already staples of roots reggae; gospel reggae just replaces Rastafarian ideology with Christian (There's some overlap, of course.).  For those of you who are apprehensive because you fear that the gospel aspect will overpower the reggae should check out Audrey Gordon's Still Waiting.  It's one of the best examples of gospel reggae I've heard.  There's nothing about it being a gospel album that makes it less engaging than a more traditional reggae album.  The genuine reggae sound isn't sacrificed in the least.  The primary style here is lovers rock, although the smooth sound is occasionally pumped up with some edgy roots ("He's Worthy"), old school dancehall ("Radical One"), and even a soca track, "Eyes of the Lord," which brings to mind the recent hit "Hear My Cry Oh Lord" by Marvia Providence (see Reggae Hits 33).  A native of Jamaica who's now based in Canada, Gordon emits heartfelt vocals ranging from rich and guttural to a quivering, ethereal, almost elfin pitch.  I'd compare her voice to Rita Marley, with a pinch of Dezarie.  Impressively, Gordon wrote almost all of the songs on Still Waiting, displaying a gift for crafting timeless melodies that sound like they could’ve been written 20 years ago or 20 minutes ago.  The production likewise is tight; yet another lesson that you don’t have to be a major release to have a professional sound.  Standouts -- especially for lovers rock fans -- include "Rock Me," "Gentle Dove," "I Am Free," and "I Praise You."  "Lord You’re Good Hos," "HideAway," and "Radical One" meanwhile are exceptional dancehall-flavored tunes that hearken back to the fun early/mid-‘80s.  "My Jesus I Love Thee" and "Blood Medley" adapt traditional hymns inna reggae stylee for those who crave a more orthodox sound.  Available at cdbaby.com.