The Talleys “After All This Time” Album Review

Prime Cuts:  After All This Time, The People in Line, This Thing Called Grace

December 2015 marks a pertinent milestone for the Talleys. Exactly twenty years ago this month, the family team first took the plunge of faith by investing their lives in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their music.  Over these twenty years, they have had spiritually enriched our lives with such Gospel-saturated tunes such as "Jesus Saves," "His Life for Mine," "The Debt," "The Answer is Christ" and so many others. Together, the trio have enjoyed eleven number one songs, and they have received numerous Singing News Fan Awards and Dove Award nominations. They are frequently recognized for their appearances on the Gaither Homecoming video series and concert tour, as well as In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley and John Hagee Ministries. They have appeared on RFD-TV's "The Music City Show," and have toured overseas to Norway, Northern Ireland, Italy and South Africa. 

In the light of such a momentous occasion, they have released their brand new album appropriately entitled "After All This Time." Showing no sign of decelerating, the trio have worked extra hard to make sure "After All This Time" not only matches up to their impeccable standard they have had set, but it also demonstrates their ability to stretch themselves for the future.  Released on Horizon Records, the album finds some of Southern Gospel's best scribes such as Tony Wood, Kenna West, Lee Black, Dianne Wilkinson, and Rebecca Peck all adding their names onto the songs' credit roll call.  And the songs do not disappoint.  The title cut "After All This Time" finds the Trio coming out on full force on what is one of this year's catchiest songs. Undergirded by lush orchestrated sounds and some delightful banjo licks, the Talleys fill the next 3:11 with nothing but thanks and praise to God. 

Keeping the Gospel at their lyrical core just like they have always done is "This Thing Called Grace."  Featuring Debra gingerly opening up this gorgeous ballad before building up to the song's climax by Lauren, this melodious essay on grace is pure sublime. Our blessed hope of how Jesus will end all of our sufferings and pain is given a pristine exposition on "There Will Come A Day." On one hand, the bluesy-sounding "Naaman" does a good job in trying to articulate the Biblical story, but on the other hand, the melody is just too thin to support of the verbosity of this narrative-song. Much better is "People in Line," a sobering reminder not to immune ourselves from the Spirit's promptings to minister to the people God has placed in our paths.

Stretching out of their comfort zone is the trio's cover of the traditional Civil War melody "Aura Lee" or sometimes better known as Elvis Presley's "Love With Tender."  Entitled "But I Need You More," the song now features Christian lyrics written by Gloria Gaither.  However, due to the popularity of Elvis' version, it's somehow impossible to get "Love Me Tender" stamped out of our minds despite the Talleys trying to sing the Christian lyrics.  As far as covers are concerned, the Talleys really outdo themselves in delivering a soaring version of the hymns "I Love to Tell the Story/Blessed Assurance."  One certainly cannot think of a better way to end their 20^th Anniversary album than to hear them sing:  "This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long."

 

 

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