Tye Tribbett & G A - Victory: Live!

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Apparently this isn't R&B and it isn't hip-hop - it's Kingdom music. So proclaims the inner sleeve of 'Victory Live'. Tye is not a well known name over here just yet but he is snapping at the heels of genre masters Israel Houghton, Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin with his blend of gospel, R&B and funk. Visually, it has to be said that he's doing a pretty good impression of Outkast's Andre 3000 and when it comes to the music he's not scared to mix it up. The CD opens and closes in fine fashion. The opening cut "Want It Back" is a stupendous slab of funky gospel with storming choir vocals and tight horns which demand attention. The closing funky synth-driven cut "Victory" wraps everything up nicely with soul inspiring praise and once again Tye's vocals weave in and out of a great choir performance from G A. In between however I'm not totally convinced because though there is some good stuff like the adventurous cover of Andrae Crouch's "Bless The Lord" and rock power balladry of "No Other Choice", too much of this just feels ordinary. "Seated At The Right Hand Of God" features a very poor vocal from DaMaria Tribbett which set my teeth on edge. I suspect if her surname wasn't Tribbett, she wouldn't have had the solo spotlight thrust on her. Tye Tribbett is close but no cigar on this one. Flashes of brilliance suggest that he is capable of recording a genre defying album but this isn't it.