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Group Name: Paid In Full
Website: www.paidinfull.net
Album Title: “Sounds Of Faith”
Song Titles:
1. At Calvary
2. Living For Jesus
3. The Love Of God
4. Redeemed
5. Unclouded Day
6. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
7. Higher Ground
8. Old Rugged Cross
9. Are You Washed In The Blood
10. Blessed Assurance

Paid In Full got its start in 1991- while the founding members were still in high school.  The legendary Jake Hess took them under his wing and helped them get started in the industry, and they simply took it from there.  Two of the founding members of the trio still remain: baritone vocalist Bradley Littlejohn and lead vocalist Lance Moore.  Joining them in the current lineup is 18-year-old tenor vocalist Brock White.

“Sounds Of Faith” is the third installment in the group’s “Down Home Series” of albums, following “Sounds Of The Season” and “Sounds Of Home”.  It’s an album of timeless classics and favorites that most any fan of Gospel music will recognize and enjoy.  It’s also the first album with Brock White on the tenor vocals.  Let’s take a look at each of the songs on the album.

The album kicks off with and up-tempo rendition of “At Calvary”.  The first thing you notice is the smooth blend of the vocals as they’re backed up with just simple accompaniment.  The next song is a medium-tempo arrangement of the hymn “Living For Jesus”.  Halfway through the first verse, I realize that I like Paid In Full’s version of this song much better than the one I’ve heard sung in church for years.  It flows nicely, and the vocals are spot on.  The third song is the medium-tempo “The Love Of God”.  There were a couple of spots on this song where the violin/fiddle (whichever you choose to call it) in the background overpowered the vocals just a bit, but this is otherwise another very good number.  “Redeemed” is Song #4.  This song has a light feel to it, and there’s some nice spots of unison work that transitions smoothly into harmony vocals. 

Song #5 is the first truly up-tempo number on the album.  “Unclouded Day” has always been one of my favorites, and Paid In Full does nothing to change that feeling.  This is easily one of my favorite cuts from the album.  This is immediately followed by the slower, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”.  While the vocals are tight on this song, the arrangement starts to drag a bit about halfway through.  The seventh song, “Higher Ground”, has slightly more of a “driving” feel than the previous songs.  This medium-to-up-tempo arrangement catches the listener’s ear instantly, and I would say that this is probably the best cut on the entire album.

The eighth song is Paid In Full’s rendition of a beautiful old hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”.  The group’s vocals were very smooth and enjoyable here.  Song #9 is the up-tempo “Are You Washed In The Blood?”.  The country/bluegrass feel is slightly more prevalent here than in the other songs on the album, and the song is an overall fun one to listen to.  The album ends with a slower, yet powerful rendition of “Blessed Assurance”.  This was a fitting song with which to end this album.

This is honestly my first exposure to Paid In Full.  Now I’m wondering how I could have missed them for so long.  This album was simple and straightforward, and that’s exactly how it was intended to be.  There was nothing fancy in the vocals or arrangements- just good, solid Gospel singing.  I very much enjoyed the album, and I find myself wanting to see how this group will sound on a full studio album with new songs and some progressive arrangements.  Overall, I would give this album a 9 out of 10 microphones!

Favorites: “Living For Jesus”, “Unclouded Day”, and “Higher Ground”