REVIEW: The King James Boys’ — Walk on Faith (LP)
The King James Boys’ new album release Walk on Faith continues the fine traditional gospel bluegrass that they’ve been playing and singing since 1994. The band originally began as a church-only activity, but their outstanding talents together convinced the band’s membership that it was well worth pushing themselves further out there in order to deliver God’s word to music fans everywhere. The eight tracks included on the band’s new release do that with elegance, down to earth emotion, and a palpable sense of wonder over the positive effect God has and continues to have in their lives.
URL: https://www.thekingjamesboys.com/
Their confidence shines opening the album with its title song. “Walk on Faith” is an avowal of purpose without any figurative chest beating or even raising their voices. It is likely the vocal harmonies that listeners will return to again and again with this album and the band sets a familiar pattern here opening the track with its refrain before rounding back and delving into its verses. Not everything the King James Boys do unfolds in such a way, but it is their standard approach.
“The Devil’s Not Afraid of a Dust Covered Bible” is a wonderful title for a song and the King James Boys deliver a great lyric about the wages of not consulting God’s word on a regular basis. It does not lecture or hector listeners, there is a genuine feeling of concern coming from the track for those who don’t heed its advice, and the light touch they have keeps the bulk of the focus on the song’s musicality.
“I’m So Glad I Have a God I Can Call Upon” continues in the same tradition of the aforementioned song but from a different angle. The King James Boys’ primary focus as a musical unit seems to be on the vocal arrangement, but there are many moments on the album when the instrumental interplay leaves your mouth agape. This is one of the album’s more impressive moments and certainly inspired from its first note through last.
“He Broke the Chains” is one of Walk on Faith’s songs celebrating Christ’s triumph over the grave and the resurrection. It does a fine and understated job of conveying the band’s love for their God and how deeply his journey through crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension affects them as human beings. They make it every bit as moving for listeners, albeit in a different way. “The Lord Has Sure Been Good to Me” is one of the album’s more straight forward invocations of gratitude and has a spontaneous, off the cuff vibe that many will enjoy.
We’re back again with the crucifixion for the album’s finale “Nail-Pierced Hands”. This prime event in Christianity has been fodder for artists since before the Renaissance and its expression in the bluegrass musical style has been a hallmark of the genre for well over a century. It’s a rousing performance to close the King James Boys’ Walk on Faith and bodes well for any future releases from this band.
Colin Jordan
