Fresh

Album Review

The title to Tye Tribbett’s 2010 album refers to the singer’s belief that gospel music can be as contemporary as any genre, but it also refers to fresh starts. This is Tye’s first album without the group Greater Anointing, and his first since his relationship with a G.A. group member made headlines. The latter issue may be the reason for the album’s numerous heartfelt cuts concerning a recommitment to God’s teachings, but it’s the smaller, more organic band that backs Tribbett’s testifying that truly makes Fresh a fitting title. The synthetic title track may have been entirely concocted on computer, but from the hard-hitting “Good” to the Lenny Kravitz-like rocker “Free to Worship,” this is Tribbett delivered all-the-way-live and with an extra punch. His voice is as strong as ever, and with the usual high-caliber songwriting coming from Tribbett and his collaborators Tyler Logan and Devaughn Murphy, Fresh is a worthy addition to his discography.