Byron Cage (Faithful To Believe ) - Reviews

Byron Cage
Faithful To Believe

For nearly 15 years, Byron Cage has become synonymous with praise & worship, establishing himself as one of the industry's most prominent worship leaders. From his work in the mid-90s with his group Purpose, to his three solo albums, Cage is responsible for some of the most recognizable hits over the last decade. From "Shabach" to "The Presence of the Lord is Here" to "I Will Bless the Lord", Cage's vocals have provided the soundtrack to worship teams across the globe.

Now Cage returns with his fourth solo effort titled Faithful to Believe, an eleven-track body of work that can EASILY be deemed his best work to date.

Cage has been known to work with stellar producers in the past. This trend continues as he taps 2009 Stellar Award winning Producer of the Year Aaron Lindsey to head up production efforts. Lindsey serves as producer and musical director for this live offering while DeWayne Woods handles vocal arrangements. The combination is sheer musical genius as the partnership yields some of Cage's best recorded work.

Cage writes or contributes to six of the album's ten songs, demonstrating great diversity with each piece.

There are perhaps are two notable elements that differentiate this project from Cage's previous works. Not surprisingly, the album is very musical, reflecting Cage's vast musical background. However, the musical progressions for each song are unpredictable, which is intriguing for both the novice and the connoisseur.

Secondly, the album veers away from strictly worship and is birthed from more personal experience, making it more accessible to listeners. Songs like "Thankful" express thanks to God for making it through challenging periods. Similarly, the V. Michael McKay-penned "For My Good" recognizes life's challenges and acknowledges that things will work out for our good.

While the collaborations in the supporting roles are exciting, the vocal partnerships for Cage are equally stimulating and continue to showcase Cage's transparency. Cage teams with the energetic Tye Tribbett for the funky "In the Midst".

One of the album's most memorable moments is found on "Lord You Are Everything", featuring Karen Clark-Sheard and Pastor Marvin Winans. As exciting as this vocal partnership sounds, it exceeds the billing. All historians will want THIS song in their collection.

So much of this album has infectious tendencies. From the reggae-infused title track to the powerful "Simply Yes" to the uber-churchy "I Can't Hold It", this album has all of the elements for instant success. Again, the chord that resonates the loudest is the accessibility and transparency of this effort. Cage speaks to the challenge of believers while remind us all of Christ's dedication to His children.

Faithful to Believe is a major hit!!

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Production: Aaron Lindsey album release date: Oct, 2009
Verity Records

— review by Gerard Bonner —