I just got finished listening to Encore by James Fortune & FIYA. After listening to the entire CD, my initial impression is WOW!
I love it when artists produce music that originates from God and flows through their heart. When you listen to Encore, you get that kind of music.
When a Gospel artist does more talking than singing, people have a tendency to label that person as a Kirk Franklin clone or wannabe. In case you haven’t realized it by now, James Fortune is not that type of guy. When he ministers on this album you can sense his authenticity and passion. It is clear to me that he is not faking or trying to be like anyone else. (If I am wrong, then he has done a good job of fooling me.)
This album features a ton of guest performances from artists like Kierra Sheard, Zacardi Cortez, Lowell Pyle, J. Drew Sheard, William Murphy, Canton Jones, Nikki Ross, Isaac Caree and Anaysha Figueroa. Each artist brings their own unique style to add some nice dimensions to the project.
Encore is full of energetic songs like It Was You, Bounce Back, and You’ve Been. I’m sure you will be hearing these songs at the next praise party you go to.
Some people view the song Encore as a copy of I Trust You. I’m not sure I agree with that, however, my initial thought is that I can’t really fault him. He has found a formula that works. I would keep it going too. Encore may have some elements that resemble I Trust You , but you need to listen to the words carefully . That song has a powerful message. I love how it reminds me of God’s faithfulness.
The Bottom Line
Encore is very good album. I highly recommend it! You will not be disappointed. There are 18 songs on this album. You rarely see an artist put that many songs on a CD. That is an incredible bargain.
Encore is available online and in stores now. Do yourself a favor. Go to either one of the sites below and grab a copy!
