Stand Out

Album Review

Leave it to Tye Tribbett & G.A. to follow up their massive sophomore breakthrough, Victory Live!, with an even bigger monster, the highly anticipated Stand Out. The former propelled the New Jersey-based supergroup to the top ranks of contemporary gospel, so it's only appropriate that the latter would try to outperform its predecessor to meet heightened expectations. For the most part, Stand Out achieves that, as it continues to demonstrate that frontman Tye Tribbett is not one to take a lazy approach to modern gospel music. Instead, he makes sure he and his troupe sound as far removed from convention as possible, infusing the proceedings — recorded live at Rock Church International in Virginia Beach — with electro-pop ("Hold On"), rap-rock ("Prodigal Son"), Broadway ("I Made It Through"), futuristic techno-rock ("Stand Out"), and ska ("So Amazing"), plus other dabblings that are rarely, if ever, associated with gospel. More palpable still is the group's heart for worshipful expressions: Tribbett and company have never shied away from giving praise where praise is due, but this time their efforts are more deliberate, as evidenced by the several earnest ballads that pepper the set. Some of these are quite moving and effective in the thick of a high-powered live show, but on headphones they aren't necessarily up to par with the more adventurous picks. But those quibbles are minor: Stand Out is outstanding — yet another testament that Tye Tribbett & G.A. are the most exciting thing to happen to gospel music in the new millennium.