The Walls Came Down (CD - 1998)

Collin Raye waited three years to deliver an official studio follow-up to his hit 1995 album I Think About You. That record was dominated by ballads, as is its successor, The Walls Came Down. Certainly, Raye's smooth country tenor is ideal for country-pop ballads like "In This Life," but he runs the risk of sounding a little too samey, which is what happens on The Walls Came Down. There are a number of very good songs here, including the ballad "I Can Still Feel You," but since the record offers no surprises, it winds up sounding a little like a holding pattern instead of a step forward, even with bold message songs like the anti-child abuse "The Eleventh Commandment" -- and after three years out of commission, it isn't unreasonable to expect a move forward. Nevertheless, the album is impeccably crafted and Raye's voice sounds as rich and smooth as ever, which makes The Walls Came Down a solid record, especially for fans. ~ Thom Owens

Collin Raye has built his reputation on romantic ballads ("Love, Me") and social commentary ("Little Rock," "I Think About You.") THE WALLS CAME DOWN serves up more of the same, and that's a good thing. The CD examines love in its many forms, from the pain of losing it ("I Can Still Feel You," "Someone You Used To Know"), to the triumph of keeping it alive ("Anyone Else," "Survivors.")

The highlight is the hard country ballad "Make Sure You've Got It All." It's among the most traditional songs Raye's ever done, and he sings the heck out of it. As for social commentary, the CD's final track, "The 11th Commandment," will literally make your hair stand on end. Raye brutally details the horrors that can befall kids (incest, abuse, drug addiction), and then hits the point home in the chorus: "Did God overlook it/What ought have been written/The 11th Commandment/Honor Thy Children." It's a truly chilling performance that few singers could pull off convincingly. Raye does. minimize