Reviewed by Ian Martin

This is an ambitious debut from the young, LA-born singer/songwriter, with much time, effort and dedication going into its production, packaging and promotions. The final outcome is pleasing and uplifting gospel music with a modern edge. There clearly is talent on display here, and MaRee shows a depth of maturity in her intimate lyrics, often pleading with the listener to accept the faith which she holds so dear. As far as message and intentions are concerned, nothing negative can be said, however it is the production which often lets the listener down. Sharon seems to be trying to emulate the popular sound of Kelly Rowland or 'Kiki' Sheard, however the production is not in the same league. Some songs are smooth and catchy such as the standout track "Happily Ever After" where MaRee reflects on the Christian walk. However there are others which suffer from bad mixing such as "Stand Up!" and "Stop/Breathe". The most cringeworthy moment however is found in "Highest Praise" where the singer adopts an exceptionally bad Jamaican accent allowing for a stylistically awkward mess. All in all, although there are one or two good tracks here, it will probably need a better release than this to lift her to the next level.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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