Give It Up sounds like a good Billy Squire song.   The song has some nice production surprises along with some pretty tight backups incorporated throughout.   Scarlet Rose must consider this their best song as they are the only lyrics provided on their cassette sleeve.   911, call Jesus is just plain clever.   It sounds like a great in-concert song and has some very good guitar work, but the hook got old fast.   Next.....

The Hammer has a mellow edge and an overall great feel to it.   Believing in our loving Father is the topic and the lyricist of this band is exceptional!   Born Again is a cross between Rap and Rock.   Rap is not my personal favorite, but I found this song well done (again, probably a great in-concert tune) and it kept my attention all the way through, when normally I would have hit the fast forward button in a rap song within the first 5 seconds.   The only phrase that comes to mind is, "cleverly done song Scarlet Rose!"

Let Him In reminded me of an old Led Zeppelin song.   You gotta "Let Him in, one way out" are the words.   Its theme repeats a few too many times, but if I were in a crowd singing along it wouldn't bother me quite as much.

Give a Little Love is a bouncy, catchy number.   The melody and vocals on this number are the very best this cassette has to offer!   This was literally a groovin' song with a nice lead guitar part.   I liked this song the best of the twelve.   Anyone for REO Speedwagon, Doors, Imperials with some early 70's Maranatha sounds?   You have this in one song, no kidding!   70's rock gospel I guess.   Oh yeah, the song is called Walkin with the Lord.   Interesting cut and it seems to me we have enough variety in this project to keep a wide age group interested (like 16-45!).

Durango is a mellow Dire Straits sounding song and I really enjoyed this.   Great guitar work, vocals and lyrics keep you literally entranced every minute.   A young child speaks and joins in singing in at the end.   Much thought and heart was put into this 1993 album.   Prayin' for a Miracle has a Cars feel to it and the final cut, Stand has the right message to end this project with "stand on His word till He returns".   There were many well written songs on Give It Up and Stand certainly followed suit.

This band is one professional producer away from lots and lots of radio play.   I would recommend some of these songs as they stand, but there were a handfull of open areas in some of these songs just begging for additional instrumentation production.   Did it matter to this listener?   No, as I am old enough to appreciate the way they went about recording and producing this project.   But I would venture to guess a large radio station manager would throw this tape into the daily submission bin, thinking, "wow they were close to what I'm looking for, maybe their next album" :)   I bet that next album (just now getting out) is great, five years can only strengthen their talents!   Scarlet Rose wants to minister and yet provide a quality product to its listeners, they certainly did that.   They are a very talented band and I really liked their sound.   I was pleased they offered such a wide variety as most indies can't accomplish that.   Check out their web site and strongly consider purchasing their CD!

Paul Gentry, CMCA Staff