- Worthy to Be Praised
- Sing
- War Cry
- Come Holy Spirit (Intro)
- Come Holy Spirit
- I Need Thee
- We Need the Glory
- He's Great
- The Well
- I Am Redeemed
- At Your Heart's Door
- Take My Life (Holiness)
When Bishop T.D. Jakes and rising gospel star Israel Houghton give you glowing recommendations, it's reason enough to stop and take notice. Such was the case with newcomer Micah Stampley, a vocally gifted artist who comes from Los Angeles, but who, in a way, came literally out of nowhere with his assertive debut,
The triumvirate of gospel fire that opens the record does a good of capturing this natural talent, displaying his impressive vocal range, his gift for leading worship, and the tightness of his backing band. He seamlessly channels funk, contemporary gospel, rock, and praise into a homogenous whole, particularly in the rhythmic "War Cry," a call-to-arms inspired by
Lamentably, this retouching didn't do away with a tiresome stretch of ballads ("Come Holy Spirit," "I Need Thee," "We Need the Glory"), which all too readily rely on charismatic sentiment and melodrama. Perhaps they would've been more effective had Stampley funneled them in a more logical manner, since the Sunday morning bliss of "I Am Redeemed" and the breezy pop of "The Well" sound like they could've been good transitional numbers leading to the more worshipful repertoire. These are minor quibbles about a record that's still impressive—his version of Scott Underwood's "Holiness" is breathtaking—a confident debut from a young voice crying out in the wilderness.