Listen to Free MP3s - New Pop, Christian, and Country Music

ALBUM TITLE: True Beauty
ARTIST: Mandisa
RECORD LABEL: Sparrow/EMI-CMG
OVERALL RATING: Four stars (out of five)
MUST-HAVE DOWNLOADS: God Speaking, Unrestrained, Only The World, Shackles (Praise You), True Beauty, (Never Gonna) Steal My Joy
YOU CAN AFFORD TO MISS: Only You

American Idol finalist and now Sparrow recording artist Mandisa Hundley has much to be thankful for, as do her fans. With the record-breaking release of True Beauty, Mandisa becomes the first female artist in Billboard history to debut at #1 on the Billboard Christian and Gospel Albums charts with her debut album. With a #1 single (Only the World, Billboard Hot Singles Sales charts, 5 weeks) and more than 31,000 albums sold in three weeks, Mandisa proves herself one of American Idol Season Five’s more chartworthy contestants.

Sparrow Records certainly pulls out all the stops for True Beauty. With a list of who’s who producers, including Doubledutch, Christopher Stevens, Shaun Shankel, Drew & Shannon, and multiple Dove Award winner Brown Bannister, Mandisa finds herself in very capable hands, allowing her natural charisma and style to flow effortlessly through this 11-track stunner of an album. Mandisa’s vocal skills are highlighted flawlessly throughout the album, with her stellar pipes ranging from a soft and gentle whisper (channel: Most Holy Lord, You have my attention, from Unrestrained) to a blasting furnace (several sections of her kick-butt retouch of Mary Mary’s Shackles); the various song styles show Mandisa’s ability to adapt to a variety of musical genres, further cementing her skill as a singer and performer.

There is an adequate mix of fast and slow songs on True Beauty, and the fast ones do not disappoint. Album opener Only The World is an obvious first-single choice, and for good reason. The Matthew West-penned toe-tapper has “hit” written all over it, with its catchy guitars and feel-good rhythm. (West also contributes Voice of a Savior, a power ballad that speaks of unity and how people search for something to give meaning to their lives.) The track that follows it, True Beauty, is an ode to self-esteem and girl power, packaged in a head-bopping hiphop beat; Mandisa wrote the lyrics to the album’s title track. After featuring her on Lose My Soul, Christian rap-rock artist TobyMac returns the favor with his group DiverseCity in the dancefloor nugget Love Somebody, a catchy, disco-esque stomper of an album track if ever I’ve heard one.

Mary Mary’s Shackles (Praise You) gets a synth horns-drenched uptempo remix, courtesy of Christopher Stevens, who deserves all the props for the rearrangement of this definitive Christian hit; Mandisa lets herself go all out on this stunning revival that can definitely have you headed straight for the dance floor. The Every Heartbeat-esque (Never Gonna) Steal My Joy is a poppy joyful track, while Oh My Lord, which features the Fisk Jubilee Singers, of which Mandisa was once a member, channels old-school Afro-American church gospel rhythms.

True Beauty isn’t short of ballads, however. The jewels of True Beauty are two worshipful ballads: God Speaking and Unrestrained. God Speaking, written by Ronnie Freeman, is a contemplative ballad that speaks of how God can reach out to us in infinite ways; Unrestrained, on the other hand, is a truly worshipful song that takes its inspiration from the grace and forgiveness extended Mary Magdalene when she washed Jesus’ feet with her hair, tears, and perfume. (Luke 7:36-50) Written by Tony Sutherland and Calvin Nowell, both of whom have their own versions of Unrestrained on their respective websites, Unrestrained is taken to soaring new heights by Mandisa. Both must-have ballads are delivered, naturally, by the Clive Davis of the Christian music industry, Brown Bannister. Other ballads worth noticing include the aforementioned Voice of a Savior and album closer He Will Come. As a matter of fact, the only real hiccup on the album is the rather forced upbeat track Only You, a misstep for Shaun Shankel, who hit a home run with Only The World.

Note: if you purchase True Beauty off Amazon.com, you will receive a special enhanced CD that allows you to enter a special section of Mandisa’s website that gives you free downloads and behind the scenes videos. I got a remix of Only The World that was marginally good.

Click here to listen to Mandisa’s version of God Speaking or here to listen to Mandisa’s Only the World.

Listen to Mandisa Unrestrained mp3, with Unrestrained lyrics after the jump.

Read more

American Idol Season Five finalist Mandisa has debuted at #43 on the Billboard 200 with her debut album, True Beauty (Sparrow/EMI). By selling a little over 17,000 copies, 9th placer Mandisa bests 5th placer Paris Bennett, whose debut album, Princess P (306 Entertainment), debuted at #133 with a little over 6,400 units sold. True Beauty had the benefit, however, of a hit Contemporary Christian single, Only the World, which spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.

Actual tallies will be released on Billboard.com tomorrow, but unless BarlowGirl registers an increase in sales, which seems highly unlikely given the Christian group’s lack of a hit single on the Contemporary Christian singles charts, it seems apparent that Mandisa has debuted as well at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and the Billboard Top Christian and Gospel Albums charts. If this is, in fact, true, that means that Mandisa would have earned the 131st and 132nd and 133rd #1s for the American Idol franchise. (When Only the World topped the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart, she added to the initial 130.) It would also mean that the debut of Mandisa’s True Beauty at #43 on the Billboard 200 means American Idol’s Season Five has surpassed Season Three for having the highest number of chart-worthy singers with albums to their credit.

Update: It is true! Mandisa debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and Billboard Top Christian and Gospel albums charts. She is the first female solo artist in the history of the chart to debut at #1 with her debut album! Congratulations, ‘Disa!

Am I a Mandisa fan? Heck, yes. I can’t wait for my True Beauty album to get here, because it takes 4-6 weeks to ship to Manila from the USA. I wanted to add her up on MySpace, but apparently, I can’t get that add. *sigh* You know what I want? A Mandisa interview for LIVEtheLIFE. That’d rock my socks. Come on, Lord, make it happen in Jesus’ name.

(Listen to God Speaking by Mandisa, off the amazing Mandisa debut album True Beauty. GannsDeen.com does not offer Mandisa mp3’s for download, and encourages you to purchase God Speaking or the album, True Beauty, from your favorite online or offline record store. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box. Please come back to GannsDeen.com for the latest and best in Christian, country, and pop music.)

God Speaking is Track 3 on American Idol finalist and now Sparrow recording artist Mandisa’s debut album, True Beauty. Penned by Christian songwriter Ronnie Freeman, whose own recording is currently Top 5 at Inspo radio, God Speaking is an anointed song that will touch your heart, I virtually guarantee it.

God Speaking is definitely one of the best tracks on True Beauty, and possibly one of the best possible Contemporary Christian album tracks in 2007. Congratulations out to Mandisa for a spectacular recording.

Listen to Mandisa God Speaking mp3

Click after the jump to read the Mandisa God Speaking or Ronnie Freeman God Speaking lyrics. Read more

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains a stream of Every Nation/Victory Christian Fellowship’s To The Ends of the Earth, off the new Every Nation/Victory Christian Fellowship album Glorious. It also contains Every Nation’s To The Ends of the Earth lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Victory Christian Fellowship mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

From July 20-22, the Every Nation family of international churches will meet in Manila, Philippines. Over 16,000 people from all over the world are expected to attend the celebration at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. To the Ends of the Earth is the theme of this year’s conference, as the theme is… to the ends of the earth. Tadah!

God-inspired tunesmith Jose Villanueva penned this catchy Christian song, and worship leader Teri Sambajon leads the song. With an irrepressible hook and unabashed lyrics, To the Ends of the Earth is a guaranteed showstopper.

Copies of Glorious may be purchased at the Every Nation/Victory Christian Fellowship church in Fort Bonifacio or Robinson’s Galleria. The album also features other great Victory originals, including One and Only and Desperate.

Listen to Every Nation/Victory Christian Fellowship’s To the Ends of the Earth mp3

Lyrics to Every Nation/Victory Christian Fellowship’s To the Ends of the Earth after the jump. Read more

You’ll notice it’s 12 in the morning. I just had a doozy of a time trying to put Nicki to sleep. Oi vey, a one-month-old can sure be cranky.A few hours ago, I uploaded ‘Pastor Puppet Pals,’ my entry to the Every Nation Funniest Home Videos contest. It’s inspired by the ‘Potter Puppet Pals’ phenomenon on YouTube, but I put a spin on the lyrics, the melodies, even the look, so it looks fresh and everything.

The idea, of course, is a litany of various countries where we can share the gospel. It’s to the ends of the earth, with countries represented from every continent (except Antarctica; I imagine most penguins are most likely saved).

I truly enjoyed making this video. Recording and layering my voices for the ‘Pastor Puppet Pals’ theme and the a capella song, the searching for the right clothes to dress the puppets in, the countless takes so my sleeve or fingers wouldn’t show up on screen (at some point, I just gave up and acknowledged that it was bound to show, and there’s nothing wrong with that)… making this video blessed me more than anything.

It is my sincere hope that Pastors Steve, Joey, and Robert don’t bar me from entering the Araneta Coliseum if they ever get to see this video. I thought they were really cute, and I hope that Victory people will feel the same way.

The video is now included in the official list here, and hopefully, will receive enough votes to qualify for the Top 3 in the Creative category come July 21. If you’re registered and you like ‘Pastor Puppet Pals,’ you can vote for ‘Pastor Puppet Pals’ from July 18 to 19. (I imagine voting information will be made available well before then.)

See you on July 21, everybody! (Oh, wanna view the video? Sure, right after the jump.) Read more

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains streams of 33Miles’s What Could Be Better (The Days Ahead), off the 33Miles album 33Miles. It also contains 33Miles’ What Could Be Better (The Days Ahead) lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer 33Miles mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

33Miles, a new group consisting of Jason Barton, Chris Lockwood, and Collin Stoddard, has a surefire hit in the infectious What Could Be Better (The Days Ahead). (I personally am tickled to see Jason Barton, formerly of Christian boy band TrueVibe, back in fine form.) The country/rock flavored toe-tapper that is What Could Be Better (The Days Ahead) is pure pop/rock at its finest. If you like Rascal Flatts, you’ll enjoy 33Miles.

Listen to 33Miles What Could Be Better mp3
Lyrics to 33Miles’ What Could Be Better (The Days Ahead) after the jump. Read more

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains streams of Mandisa’s True Beauty, off the Mandisa album True Beauty. This version is taken from her live performance on American Idol Extra. It also contains Mandisa’s True Beauty lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Mandisa mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

American Idol Season 5 finalist Mandisa Hundley’s new single, Only The World, hit number one on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart this week, making Only the World the 126th #1 song for the American Idol franchise and Mandisa’s first chart topper. Mandisa’s debut album, True Beauty, follows on July 31.

A second airplay track, however, is the title track from Mandisa’s debut album. She sang True Beauty live on American Idol Extra. People are searching for Mandisa True Beauty mp3s, but we’ll be happy to stream it to you instead to protect copyright.

We also encourage you to purchase Mandisa’s True Beauty legally on iTunes or your favorite digital single store. Visit MandisaOfficial.com or www.myspace.com/mandisa for more information.

Listen to Mandisa True Beauty mp3

Lyrics to Mandisa True Beauty after the jump. Read more

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains a stream of Matt Redman’s Nothing But the Blood, off the Matt Redman album Facedown. It also contains Matt Redman’s Nothing But the Blood lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Matt Redman mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

Matt Redman, a British Christian worship leader and songwriter, is most well-known for his worship anthem Heart Of Worship. Personally, I’ve always felt Nothing But the Blood was more ministering than Heart of Worship, but that’s just me.

My favorite line: Your cross testifies in grace, tells of the Father’s heart to make a way for us. Now boldly we approach, not by earthly confidence. It’s only Your blood.” Hallelujah!

Listen to Matt Redman’s Nothing But the Blood mp3

Matt Redman Nothing But the Blood lyrics after the jump. Read more

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains a short stream of Martha Wash’s He’ll Understand and Say Well Done, off the Bishop Yvette Flunder’s album We Won’t Be Silent Anymore. It also contains Martha Wash’s He’ll Understand and Say Well Done lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Martha Wash mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

Martha Wash, the glorious bombastic voice behind many of the 90s triumphant dance anthems, including C&C Music Factory’s Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now!), Black Box’s Strike It Up, and her own Give It Up,  Carry On, and It’s Raining Men (The Sequel) with RuPaul, is featured on Bishop Yvette Flunder’s We Won’t Be Silent Anymore.

Wash tears down the walls of the church on He’ll Understand and Say Well Done. I was only able to get a snippet, but it is phenomenal. If you’re a fan of Afro-American gospel music, the type that has bodacious black women swinging on chandeliers across the church, you shouldn’t miss this. (Will try to get a full copy of this for you, but meanwhile, you’ll just have to deal with this, or listen to a two-minute version on CDBaby.)

Listen to Martha Wash’s He’ll Understand and Say Well Done mp3

Lyrics to Martha Wash He’ll Understand and Say Well Done after the jump. Read more

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains streams of Jaime Jamgochian’s Hear My Worship, off the Jaime Jamgochian album Hear My Worship. It also contains Jaime Jamgochian’s Hear My Worship lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Jaime Jamgochian mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

Christian singer/songwriter Jaime Jamgochian’s number one hit Hear My Worship, off her album of the same title, went to #1 last year on Radio & Records’ Inspo chart. She’s released an intimate acoustic EP of worship songs - just her and her piano - that are absolutely worshipful and truly inspiring. Among the songs Jaime sings are Draw Me Close To You, You Are My All and All, and a stunning new version of Hear My Worship that segues into Here I Am to Worship.

You can buy any and all of these Jaime Jamgochian songs on iTunes.

Listen to Jaime Jamgochian’s Hear My Worship mp3

Jaime Jamgochian lyrics Hear My Worship right after the jump. Read more