- You Are Mine
- Free
- Learn to Breathe
- Get Away
- I Can Only Imagine
- Man From Galilee
- Rise
- He's Coming Again
- This is Who I Am
- Faith (featuring Lee Griffin)
- Better Days
LaShell Griffin has a great story. The thirtysomething Detroit native was at home, nursing a broken foot and watching Oprah when she heard an announcement about Oprah's Pop Star Challenge, an American Idol-styled contest. She and husband Lee recorded a tape of Griffin singing "Amazing Grace" and sent it in. The whirlwind result: a trip to Chicago, competition in the contest, and a recording contract for this mom of five.
The next chapter of the story's up to Griffin, and she's off to a solid start with her debut,
Though well-written, beautifully produced and sung with excellence, the album seems to be missing, well, freedom. The feel is that Griffin is restrained—like she could really blow, if given the chance. In fact, it isn't until the second verse of the tenth track in the album—"Faith," which also features her husband Lee—that the listener really feels like she starts to hear the stylings that made Griffin a local celebrity. It's not just because that's a more gospel-tinged song, either. There are several points where everything is technically fine, but just seems to be at the "almost" level emotively. Still,