Candace Bellamy - A Thousand Shades Of Blue (2011)

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    Candace Bellamy

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    Candace Bellamy's A Thousand Shades of Blue is a record that moves in the opposite direction of much of mainstream gospel music. Whereas many artists have embraced the R&B/hip hop fusion sound of modern music with its auto tuned vocals and pop culture references, Bellamy's EP A Thousand Shades of Blue gets its voice and inspiration from a more traditional place. The six tracks on this excellent EP come brimming with the blues, folk, soul and a little jazz. The plainspoken lyrics belie the depth of thought contained within.

    Bellamy's background provides insight into her musical style. Bellamy, a physician who exchanged her white lab coat for a career in music and theater, was living in Bristol, Tennessee. when she took vocal lessons and got involved in musical theater.  Soon, Bellamy packed up and moved to the music hotbed of Austin, Texas.

    Candace Bellamy's A Thousand Shades of Blue is a record that moves in the opposite direction of much of mainstream gospel music. Whereas many artists have embraced the R&B/hip hop fusion sound of modern music with its auto tuned vocals and pop culture references, Bellamy's EP A Thousand Shades of Blue gets its voice and inspiration from a more traditional place. The six tracks on this excellent EP come brimming with the blues, folk, soul and a little jazz. The plainspoken lyrics belie the depth of thought contained within.

    Bellamy's background provides insight into her musical style. Bellamy, a physician who exchanged her white lab coat for a career in music and theater, was living in Bristol, Tennessee. when she took vocal lessons and got involved in musical theater.  Soon, Bellamy packed up and moved to the music hotbed of Austin, Texas.

    Let's see...combine the folk, country, gospel and blues of Tennessee with the rock, blues and Tex-Mex of Texas and you get Bellamy's sound. Then throw in a little jazz - which is what Bellamy does on the title track - and you have a different kind of gospel album. A Thousand Shades of Blue is a record in which Bellamy makes sure that listeners know where she stands. However, the EP sounds more inspirational and therapeutic than preachy.

    A Thousand Shades of Blue may be an analog record in a hi-def digital music world, but Bellamy knows how to use the old school to shake things up a little. Just listen to the straight up blues arrangement on "Only God Can," and you'll catch my drift. God is taking Bellamy in a different musical direction. Let's hope that enough listeners catch her vision and follow along.

    Notable tracks: Just One Girl, Same Old You, Nobody's Watching but God

    Vocals: 3.5
    Lyrics: 3.5
    Music: 3.5
    Production 3.5
    Soultracks call: Highly Recommended

    By Howard Dukes