Search - Darwin Hobbs :: Vertical

THE BOMB DIGGY Y'ALL!

angalique30 | 06/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just recently heard of this dynamite singer and I'm glad that I did because he can SAAAAANG! The first track EVERYDAY is so hot.Darwin is acomppanied on the song with former Doobie Brothers frontman Michael McDonald and it is one of the funkiest(I mean that in the holiest of ways!) songs that I've heard in a while.This is the song you will want to bump in your car and at this summer's church picnics and barbecues.Brother Hobbs sings his own Godly rendition of the Luther Vandross classic SO AMAZING and really makes it his own.I really love it because it is a love song to the Holy One and just really gets to the heart of what this christian walk is for and about.....the Lord's amazing love.The gospel girl group Virtue does an awesome job on background vocals on this soon to be classic.CAST ALL YOUR CARES is a gem of a song and is just a happy feel good song when you need some encouragement from the Lord.Towards the end of the song the background singers go to church on this and you will definitely feel blessed after hearing it. DEEPER is a very urban sounding song and very well be played at a club or better yet a youth social.The track is a copy cat of the new jack producer Timbaland's sound and should get some airplay on black gospel's urban stations. Also, Darwin duets with former disco diva Donna Summer on WHEN I LOOK UP , the chemistry on this song is very good and Ms. Summers does a fine job of holding her own.JUST SINGING OF YOU is a really traditional sounding song and the senior saints should enjoy that one.This is an excellent album that has someting for everyone on it to enjoy.Darwin Hobbs is singer's singer and shows it on every track...he just doesn't half step and gives one hundred percent on every song.This worth your money!"

When I look up!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 09/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must admit, I don't usually go for this type of music. I had to get this CD after discovering my all time favourite singer, Donna Summer, featured on a song. I thought that song, and maybe a couple others would be good, and the rest filler.



Was I wrong or what!! Darwin Hobbs is a gospel singer who sounds somewhat like Luther Vandross, and his style is straight R&B, very well produced.



Opening track `Everyday' is a great introduction to this CD. Featuring Michael McDonald (whose voice I love), it is a very happy, upbeat, groovy dance number, extolling God's goodness everyday.



The Luther connection is even more pronounced on the next track, a cover of Luther's beautiful ballad `So Amazing', which stays remarkably true to the original, but with God slipped in here and there. Great backing vocals from gospel girl group Virtue. Darwin sounds exactly like Luther on this song.



`Deeper' is another upbeat funky number. About wanting to go deeper with God.



Next up is the mid tempo `Cast all your cares', with lyrics about casting all our cares onto The Lord, done as a song from God to us. Some retro sounding organ on this one. The final 2 or so minutes take on a gospel choir fervor. Great!



`Just singing of you' is a beautiful ballad about how he loves just singing of You!!! Again, some great organ playing, and some Kirk Franklyn style choir on this one.



Then comes my reason for getting this CD. `When I look up' is a beautiful ballad with birds tweeting at the beginning, giving a feel of nature, and lyrics about how we need God to fill the hole inside of us. When I look up/I look to Christ/who fills my cup. Donna Summer is stunning on this song with her rich vocals, and Darwin more than holds his own too.



`My promise to you' is a deeply moving ballad. Again, done as a song from God to us. We can always count on God coming through, that's his promise to us. He'll never give us more than we can bear. Beautiful, and much needed hope for running this race on earth.



`A medley of worship' surprisingly turned out to be my favourite song. An absolutely stunning ballad which comprises `You are my hiding place', `Great is your mercy', `El Shaddai' and , `You are holy', with a powerful prayer spoken. Delicate instrumentation, lush strings, tender piano tinklings, an excellent backing choir, and a stellar performance from Darwin. A worthy offering to The Lord.



Closing the CD on an upbeat note is `Crown him lord' (song title says it all) a stomping horn laden dance song with a great joyous sounding choir.



Superb!

"

Awesome, Just Awesome

Andrea R. Williams | Washington, DC United States | 08/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Darwin, you are the man! You have really outdone yourself with this CD. "Vertical" is one those CDs that you can put on and just let it play. The first cut "Everyday" is a head-bobbing groove just makes you feel good. "Deeper", "Cast All Your Cares", and "When I Look Up" with former Disco queen Donna Summer are just a few of the really nice songs on this CD. I also like Darwin's rendition of Luther Vandross' "So Amazing". When I first heard it, I thought that Luther was doing gospel! The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is never lacking in the CD and Darwin has secured his place in gospel by blending a fresh urban sound with the message of Christianity. And he does it with such class and grace. Darwin is a beautiful Christian brother and is sincere about what he is singing about. God has given this man an awesome voice and the anointing comes through in his singing.Make sure to pick this one up!! Good going, Darwin!!"