Group Name: Crist Family
Website: www.cristfamilymusic.com
Album Title: “Livin’ With The Light On”
Song Titles:
1. There Is A Savior
2. If The Rocks Could Talk
3. Heaven To Me
4. Lift Up The Cross
5. Wonder Working Power
6. For Every Whosoever Will
7. He Gets Sweeter To Me
8. Livin’ With The Light On
9. We Have A Hope
10. Big Hallelujah

Crist Family Ministries was started in 1987 by Tami Crist and her parents.  Since then, the ministry has grown and flourished.  In 2004, the Lord called the Crist family into full-time ministry, and it has been that way ever since.  Current group personnel are as follows: Tami Crist Starkel (lead/soprano), Tami’s husband John Starkel (baritone), Tami’s brother Rich Crist Jr. (tenor), Rich’s wife Lisa Crist (alto), Rich and Lisa’s two daughters Breana (alto) and Jackie (soprano), and longtime friend Tom Joyce (bass).

“Livin’ With The Light On” is the family’s latest album.  It contains songs from some well-known songwriters, such as Wayne Haun, Rebecca Peck, Chris Binion, and Donna Beauvais.  Tami Crist Starkel even contributes one of her own songs to the project.  The cover of the album is very clever, showing all of the group members shining flashlights at each other.  Also, the group was kind enough to include the song lyrics inside.

Now, let’s take a look at each of the songs on the album.

Good, quality a cappella work is the mark of a strong group, and the first song shows the Crist Family to be just that.  Their a cappella rendition of the classic “There Is A Savior” is solid and beautiful.  I think it was an excellent way to start off the album.  This is also a perfect lead-in to the next song, an up-tempo number entitled “If The Rocks Could Talk”.  Tami is featured here, and she has a rich alto voice with enough power to handle the lead vocals.  This song quickly found its place on my list of favorites from this album.  Next, Rich Crist is featured on the slower ballad entitled “Heaven To Me”.  He has a smooth voice with good, solid tones, and the blend of vocals here is very tight.

Song #4 shows what the Crist Family can do with a classic power ballad.  “Lift Up The Cross” has probably one of the strongest messages of any song on the album, and it’s another one that makes my favorites list.  Next in line is an up-tempo song called “Wonder Working Power”.  Again, the blend of vocals is tight and pleasant to hear.  Rich and Tami are then featured on another slower song called “For Every Whosoever Will”.  The tempo then speeds back up a bit with the more traditional-sounding “He Gets Sweeter To Me”.  This song has a lighter feel than most of the others on this album, and I have to add it to my list of favorites.

The eighth song is the title cut, “Livin’ With The Light On”.  This is another upbeat song with a slight country feel to it.  Because of this, it stands out as being a bit different than the other songs.  However, I think this could be a nice way to accent the album’s title cut.  I, for one, very much enjoyed the sound of this particular song.  The tempo slows down for another ballad entitled “We Have A Hope”.  This is a beautifully-done song with a strong message.  Finally, the album ends with a song written by Tami Crist Starkel.  “Big Hallelujah” has an up-tempo feel with some brass in the accompaniment for good measure.  This is a fun song with which to end the album.

I have to say that I really enjoyed listening to this album.  I think that the Crist Family has a bright future ahead of them.  Their vocals are clean, on pitch, and tight.  They are not afraid to tackle a variety of song styles.  There are only a few things that I think could have improved this album.  First of all, if possible, it would be nice to briefly list who is featured on each song inside the cover.  With a group this size, it’s hard to tell who is singing when.  Next, I would try to get more of the members featured in the course of the album.  I think that there are some underrated voices in the group, especially that of bass singer Tom Joyce.  He is one whom I would like to hear featured on some solo work.  I would also like to hear just a bit more of his upper register.

I appreciate the Crist Family allowing me to review this album, and I know that we’re going to hear good things from them in the future.  Overall, I would give this album a rating of 9 out of a possible 10 microphones!

Favorites: “If The Rocks Could Talk”, “Lift Up The Cross”, “He Gets Sweeter To Me”, and “Livin’ With The Light On”