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Group Name: Liberty Quartet
Website: www.libertyquartet.com 
Album Title: “Amazed”
Song Titles:

1. Amazed At The Change
2. Keep Me
3. Broken But Blessed
4. Just Stand
5. Into The Water
6. Call It What It Is
7. Music At Midnight
8. He’s Been There Too
9. Why Wouldn’t I
10. He Will Quiet You
11. That’s What Love Does

Liberty Quartet is a group based out of the western state of Idaho.  They maintain a full-time concert schedule, traveling all over the United States and Canada.  In recent years, they have become well-known in parts of the country other than the western United States, and rightfully so.  Current members of the group include Royce Mitchell (bass), Dan Gilbert (lead), Doran Ritchey (baritone/piano), and Keith Waggoner (tenor).

“Amazed” is Liberty’s latest studio album.  Looking over the song list, you see songs from such writers as Rebecca Peck, Rodney Griffin, and Phil Cross.  However, you will also notice that 5 of the 11 songs on the album were written by group member Doran Ritchey.  The album cover will also get your attention with the green and yellow color scheme.  I like the facial shots of the group members in separate boxes across the front.

That having been said, let’s take a look at the songs on the album.

Rodney Griffin penned the first tune, the medium-to-up-tempo “Amazed At The Change”.  The album title was taken from this song, and the vocals are clean and tight.  Next in line is the up-tempo “Keep Me”.  This is the first Doran Ritchey song on the album, and it should be a definite candidate for a radio release at some point.  I do have to point out that there are times during this song where the vocals are just a bit overpowered by the accompaniment, but it’s nothing major.  The tempo slows down for the third song, “Broken But Blessed”.  Again, you get a taste of good quality quartet singing here.

Song #4 was also penned by Doran Ritchey.  “Just Stand” is an up-tempo song featuring bass vocalist Royce Mitchell.  The group does a good job on the song, but I think Royce could have benefited from the song being raised a half to a whole step.  The lowest notes of the bass vocals aren’t as strong as the rest of his vocals.  Still, this is a fun song to listen to.  This brings us to a medium-tempo song called “Into The Water”.  This song features no individual vocalist, choosing rather to feature the group as a whole.  This is a great-sounding song that has become one of my favorites from this album.  The sixth song is a slower ballad penned by Phil Cross called “Call It What It Is”.  After listening to this album, I can say that this is my favorite of all the songs.  It’s got a great message, and the group has a great sound on it.  Song #7 is a decidedly up-tempo number called “Music At Midnight”.  This is a country-sounding song that will have listeners tapping their feet from the beginning.  The tenor vocals are a bit strong in the mix on the choruses, but again it’s nothing major.

The eighth song is a slow, smooth ballad called “He’s Been There Too”.  These softer songs with depth of feeling seem to really fit Liberty’s vocals.  This leads into a driving, up-tempo song called “Why Wouldn’t I”.  This is a fun song to listen to, and I can only imagine how much fun it is to sing.  The tempo then slows down again for Song #11, “He Will Quiet You”.  This is a smooth song with a powerful message.  The album ends with a lighter, medium-tempo song called “That’s What Love Does”. 

This album is full of the classic Liberty Quartet sound.  I like the fact that they have branched out just a bit in their sound without sacrificing their identity or their quality.  As I’ve said before, this is a group that puts a lot work into their craft, and it shows.  If you have not had the chance to check out this group, then you are missing out on a great blessing.  Overall, I would give this album a 9 out of 10 microphones!

Favorites: “Keep Me”, “Into The Water”, “Call It What It Is”, and “Why Wouldn’t I”