Group Name: Austin’s Bridge
Website: www.austinsbridge.com
Album Title: (self-titled)
Song Titles:
1. He Will Carry You
2. Dry Bones
3. His Burden’s Light
4. He’s In Control
5. I Am Free
6. This Is Love
7. I See Daylight
8. Life’s Too Short
9. Native American Prayer
10. History Turned The Page
11. What I Still Believe
12. Jesus, You Are
Austin’s Bridge is an up-and-coming new group in Southern Gospel Music. Based out of Nashville, TN, the trio consists of Mike Kofahl, Justin Rivers (formerly of the Crabb Family), and Jason Baird. The group was formed in early 2006, and they are already becoming very well-known in Southern Gospel circles.
This self-titled album is the first from the group. As you listen to it, you find that Austin’s Bridge is definitely on the contemporary side of Southern Gospel. It’s kind of a “bluegrass-meets-country-meets-blues-meets-rock” kind of feel. (If that makes any sense! LOL) I saw somewhere that their sound had been compared a bit to the country group Rascal Flatts, and I would have to say that I agree with that comparison. This is a group with some serious talent.
The cover of the album is clean, simple. The group name and a picture of the group appear on the front. The picture looks sort of like an old, wrinkled photograph- a pretty cool look for an album cover. Inside you find a listing of the songs and the production credits. However, Austin’s Bridge didn’t include the song lyrics inside the album cover for this CD.
Now, let’s take a look at each of the songs on the album.
Song #1 is the medium-tempo “He Will Carry You”. The lead singer has a very smooth voice, and his vocal runs sound very natural. The group’s blend is very tight and pleasant to listen to. This is followed by Song #2, “Dry Bones”. This is another medium-tempo song, but it is a little more “hard-driving” than the first song. Again, the blend is very tight. This is definitely one of my favorite cuts on the entire album.
The third song slows the tempo down just a bit. It’s not quite a “power ballad”, but it’s a more relaxed tempo that the first two songs. “His Burden’s Light” gives the group a chance to just sing in harmony together and show off the harmony they’ve developed. This is followed by the first true ballad on the album, a song entitled “He’s In Control”. This song gives the tenor singer a chance to show off a bit. He has a very high voice, but it doesn’t sound forced. It’s clear and solid.
Song #5 speeds the tempo back up some. “I Am Free” has a classic country beat and a very clear message. This is followed by the slower “This Is Love” in the seventh slot. This is another ballad-style song that the group performs to perfection. The seventh song goes back to a medium tempo. “I See Daylight” is another of my favorite cuts on this album. It has a catchy rhythm and smooth harmonies that can’t help but catch your attention.
“Life’s Too Short” is the eighth song. It’s another slower, ballad-type song with smooth vocals and a great story to tell. The next cut on the album is one that I originally thought was part of the introduction to the song that follows it. Instead, it was a separate cut in and of itself. (I personally would have just made it part of the following song’s introduction, since that’s what it was obviously what it was intended to be.) “Native American Prayer” is just that- a 17-second clip of an actual Mohican chant and prayer. The translation of the prayer is, “Thank you, my Creator… keep it holy.” It provides a nice lead-in to the tenth song, “History Turned The Page”. This medium-tempo song has chord progressions and rhythms that give it a feel kind of like the country song from my high school years called “Indian Outlaw”.
Song #11 is another medium-tempo number called “What I Still Believe”. This song has straightforward harmonies throughout that show how solid the group really is. Finally, the album concludes with a very worshipful song. “Jesus, You Are” has a “bluesy” feel to it, and I think that it is the perfect ending to this album.
As I said before, Austin’s Bridge is definitely on the contemporary side of Southern Gospel. However, they have an eclectic mix of styles throughout this album that should give virtually any listener something to enjoy- even those who classify themselves as “traditionalists” when it comes to SGM. Some would say that this eclectic mix of style might be too much and that the group should try to narrow it down to what “their style” is going to be. I would disagree. I think that their variety and versatility has pretty much created “their style”. This album is very much the essence of who Austin’s Bridge is, and I wouldn’t change a thing in that regard.
The group’s vocals were pretty much flawless. It is evident that they have put many hours of practice and preparation into their music. The mix of tempos and song styles is right on target. The arrangements fit the vocals, and vice versa. In closing, I really can’t find anything negative to point out. I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this album. Overall, I think that this album deserves my first perfect rating of the year 2007- 5 out of a possible 5 microphones!
Personal Favorites: “He Will Carry You”, “Dry Bones”, “He’s In Control”, and “I See Daylight”