I was going to do a "review" of the CD after I decided on my favorite song. Well, hell...each time I listened, I changed my mind. But...that's a good thing!

So...

This morning, I did the Google thing and a review done in February caught my attention. (Two albums were actually reviewed, but I only posted the one about Chris. Visit the Link to Original Story to view the entire column.)

The review is posted below.

An even greater indicator of the strength of this album (or my poor musical taste) is that the reviewer didn't even mention three of my "Top Five" songs from the album: "Blinded By The Lights"; "Be A Light"; and "Promises to Keep".

The hits just keep on comin'...

Bears repeating...

Shop! In the Name of Love

It's the Easter season...

This CD will get you hoppin' and your toes a-tappin'.

I guarantee...

From the talkinbroadway.com website...

Link to Original Story

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON
IN THE NAME OF LOVE
Yellow Sound Label

From In the Heights, with prior experience in the Broadway jungle in The Lion King, Christopher Jackson has an appealing pop-soul sound and ingratiating manner on his album (now available digitally, on disc in late March) called In the Name of Love. He comes across as a life-loving appreciator of the good things in life, emotionally open and sensitive, but with a confident air shooing away any "wimpy" factor.

Here he presents a baker's dozen of songs he either wrote or collaborated on. He wrote four on his own, including the catchy, smooth-grooved admission of feeling fearful and "so confused" called "Paralyzed," wherein he worries his affection may not be returned. Another of his solo writing efforts expressing contentment and vows of eternal bliss is more interesting to listen to than is suggested by its bland, simplistic title—"Our Love (Is So Good)"—and lyrics ("It's moments like this/ That make life worth living/ Moments like this that remind of us of the reasons why/ Our love is so good").

Throughout the album, lyrical ideas are hardly ground-breaking with few uniquely memorable turns of phrase or strong poetic images. They are straightforward, generally unmannered and may not be captivating to those weaned on rich theatre lyrics that build. Many of the songs make their point early and there's no surprise or twist or new realization/revelation to build to, so we're given repetition or embellishments. Rhyming is sometimes eschewed altogether for much of a song or is very basic (do/new; day/away; show/know) and occasionally settles for the pop world's more liberal policy of accepting near-rhymes (dime/line; plan/hand; attack/react). But the sweet soulfulness, ingratiating hooks and beat distract from this. So do the echoing or la-la-la back-up vocals often present (the voices are not identified by name, and I assume some are his own voice multi-tracked).

Most songs concern themselves with romance (as the album title would suggest) or positive attitudes and integrity. The more ambitious and literate "One More Day," another solo-written number bookended by the spoken poem written by Joshua Bennett, is an ode to his mother's strength in her successful battle with cancer ("And this is her reward/ Another test for her shield and sword"). "Change Your Mind," co-written by Mic Murphy and his sax player Bill Sherman, is the liveliest and funkiest on the set, and moves briskly and likeably. The band is snazzy and joyful, not harsh or overbearing, with Andy Ezrin on keys very strong, aided by a rhythm section and some horns and strings present, too.

The final track, "I Got You," is one written in collaboration with Christopher Jackson's colleague from In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the only song whose lyrics are not in the booklet. It's another unencumbered, sprightly expression of happiness ("Don't it feel good to know we share one heart ... Never gonna let you go as long as I got you ... I got you, I got you, I got you" and such, nothing sophisticated or new in the lyrics (which even use the phrase "like sunshine on a cloudy day," recalling the opening line of the old Motown hit "My Girl") but the energy is fresh and fizzy. "You know me, Mr. Heart-On-My-Sleeve," he crows amiably, and the Jackson heart-on-sleeve presentation is likeable pop sunshine. And sunshine is welcome in the winter listening days or any time.

- Rob Lester

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

UPDATE: