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Group Name: Crist Family
Website: www.cristfamilymusic.com
Album Title: “Declaration”
Song Titles:

1. Declaration Of The Christ
2. Nothin’ But Good
3. My Heart Knows
4. Start With Me
5. He Knows The Way Home
6. Only What God Can Do
7. The Rock
8. There’s A Song In There Somewhere
9. I’ll Sing A New Song
10. There Is No Other Name
11. More Than Wonderful

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 (female lead/soprano), Tami’s husband John Starkel (baritone), Tami’s brother Rich Crist Jr. (male lead/tenor), Rich’s wife Lisa Crist (alto), Rich and Lisa’s two daughters Breana (alto) and Jackie (soprano), and longtime friend Tom Joyce (bass).

“Declaration” is the family’s latest album.  It contains songs from some well-known songwriters, such as Marty Funderburk, David Patillo, Joel Lindsey, Sue Smith, Joseph Habedank, Matthew Holt, and Rebecca Peck.  The cover of the album has a very modern design with a clear picture of the family.  The group was kind enough to include the song lyrics inside along with, as an added bonus for this reviewer, a listing of which group member(s) sing(s) which parts.  This is a great feature when your group consists of 7 vocalists!

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: THE SONGS!

The first song is an up-tempo number called “Declaration Of The Christ”.  This song is probably my absolute favorite from this album, and it’s an excellent way to start things off.  The verses feature a duet of Rich and Tami, with the rest of the group joining them on the choruses.  The lyrics of this song are straightforward and powerful, leaving no doubt about whom and for whom this family sings.  The tempo stays the same as Tami is featured on “Nothin’ But Good”.  This song is the initial single release from the album, and the arrangement and style make it one that listeners will catch onto quickly.  Song #3 is a slower ballad called “My Heart Knows”.  Jackie Crist, one of the younger members of the group, is featured on the verses, while her sister Breana and her dad Rich join her on the choruses.  This particular trio has a smooth, tight sound that is pure joy to listen to.  Jackie has a richness to her vocals that almost makes her sound like an alto even though she’s listed as a soprano.  The fourth song gives John Starkel and Tom Joyce a breather as the Crist ladies back up Rich on the medium-tempo “Start With Me”. 

Song #5 is a slower ballad called “He Knows The Way Home”.  This is a song that I first heard done by a group called “Embrace”, and the message was an encouragement to me.  This song features bass vocalist Tom Joyce on the verses and lead vocals, and it gives him an opportunity to show off his higher-range vocals.  It’s a smooth sound, and the trio work by him, John Starkel, and Rich Crist is very well done.  The tempo then picks back up with a more progressive number called “Only What God Can Do”.  Tami has the lead vocals throughout the song, and she is joined for parts of the first and last verses by Breana and Rich, respectively.  The seventh song is a medium-tempo power ballad called “The Rock”.  There are a couple of features here: Rich on the first verse, a trio of Rich, Lisa, and Tami on the second verse, and Tami on the last verse.  The whole group joins in on the choruses.  The tempo then slows down for a slower number called “There’s A Song In There Somewhere”.  This is mostly a solo by Rich, but the Crist ladies join him on the last verse.

The ninth song is an up-tempo, country-flavored number called “I’ll Sing A New Song”.  Baritone vocalist John Starkel is featured on the verses, and he is joined by his niece Breana Crist on the second verse.  This is another song that I think should be considered for a release to radio at some point.  Song #10 is a slower ballad called “There Is No Other Name”.  Tami is featured on the first verse, and the entire group sings the rest of the song.  The album closes out with an a cappella rendition of an older chorus, “More Than Wonderful”.  This is a beautifully-arranged song, and the a cappella work is spot-on.  I really like this choice to close out the album.

Any fan of good Gospel music needs to have this album.  There are a variety of styles represented throughout, and yet is still maintains the distinctive “Crist Family sound”.  Having 7 group members allows the group a measure of versatility and variety that most groups can’t match.  I was impressed with their last album, “Livin’ With The Light On”.  However, they have taken another step or two forward with this album, leaving me even more impressed.  Song selections, styles, vocals- everything here is top-notch.  Overall, I give this album a perfect rating of 10 out of 10 microphones!

Favorites: “Declaration Of The Christ”, “Nothin’ But Good”, “Only What God Can Do”, and “I’ll Sing A New Song”