Danny Gokey is one of several Christian artists who was discovered through American Idol.
Finishing third in the 2008 season, Gokey went on to release a country album and, in 2012, released his EP “Love Again”. Since then Gokey has been best known for such songs as “More Than You Think I Am” and “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again”.
Gokey’s most recent release is “Haven’t Seen It Yet” from Capitol Music/Sparrow Records. Produced by a who’s who of Christian music, Gokey’s project includes the talents of Colby Wedgeworth, Chris Stevens, Ben Glover, Bernie Herms, Dan Muckala, Jeff Sojka, Jordan Sapp, Eric Ramey and Hank Bentley.
Several producers also contributed songwriting talents to the album. These include Glover, Wedgeworth, Herms and Stevens along with Gokey and others.
The 13-track project also features a couple of significant special guests. Michael W. Smith is featured on piano for “Love God Love People” while Mandisa lends her signature vocals to “Tell Somebody.”
“Haven’t Seen It Yet” opens with “New Day”, one of the first singles released from the album. This pop song is an unabashedly positive anthem of looking hopefully at a new day: “Everything bursting with hope….open your eyes…..this is a new day/ the old has gone away.”
“Love God Love People” is a modern take on two of the most important commands as spoken by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-38 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.
The general message of “Haven’t Seen it Yet” is encouragement. From the opening strains of “New Day”, through “Wanted”, “More Than I Could Be” and “Better Because of It,” the theme of the album is easy to discern. Gokey’s smooth vocals carry through the catchy pop/rock numbers suit the message of this release. Listeners who like new and edgy sounds may not appreciate this project, but if a positive message couched in easy listening pop appeals to your tastes, Gokey’s newest album will definitely fit the bill.
Tracey Evison, a musician and educator on P.E.I., writes this column for The Guardian every second Saturday. She can be contacted by email at [email protected].
