Feels Good (CD - 2006)

Take 6's first album in four years, 2006's FEELS GOOD finds the R&B/gospel vocal sextet remarkably reinvigorated and more passionate than ever. Boasting bold crystal-clear production by member Mark Kibble, this 12-song set masterfully showcases the ensemble's stunning doo-wop-influenced multi-part singing, drawing attention to both soaring, melodic highs and deep, percussive lows. While consisting largely of inspirational originals, the album also presents a vibrant rendition of Andrae Crouch's worship classic "This Is Another Day" and a soothing version of Twila Paris's "Lamb of God." For longtime Take 6 fans, this disc will be reason to rejoice, and for newcomers, it's the perfect starting point.

Four years after their last major-label release, inspirational a cappella group Take 6 returns with their first self-released album. Their last album for Warner Brothers, 2002's Beautiful World, was a muddle of pop covers and mild gospel with some ill-advised forays into smooth jazz instrumental backing that sounded well out of place with the sextet's trademark interlocking vocal parts. For Feels Good, the group get back to their roots both musically and spiritually, delivering straightforward inspirational tunes with nothing but their truly remarkable voices. Street-corner doo wop, the more sophisticated, jazzy vocal arrangements of the Ink Spots or the Four Freshmen, and the smooth R&B blend of the Four Tops or Boyz II Men are all present and accounted for, and the material is both perfectly arranged and delivered with passionate, devotional intensity. Feels Good is a welcome comeback for a group that had been unfairly marginalized during its major-label tenure. ~ Stewart Mason minimize