A Gaither Music ‘boy band’? Can that be even possible? Well that’s how EHSS (Ernie Haase and the Signature Sound) look without ties (mostly), shiny black suits and gelled up hair. Even the CD has a ‘we are the boys to watch’ look about it. But while it might not look immediately like a typical Southern Gospel album, how it sounds is more important that how it looks.
But fear not, ‘Glorious Day’ is as mainstream Gospel as a Gaither fan could hope for. Most of the tracks in this 10 track CD are traditional Southern Gospel gems while the others are new songs firmly in the Gospel groove and mainly co-written by Ernie Haase and the band’s producer Wayne Haun.
No Southern Gospel overthrow here, but the sound does come from the perspective of a younger generation, which they’ve managed to pull off time honoured tradition.
The album opens with a big band offering of 'When the Saints Go Marching In" – well how else would you serve it up? – before moving on to Bill Gaithers' own "When Jesus Breaks the Morning" from his stylish 50s/60s heydey.
New songs specifically include the ballad "That's Why I Loved Him So", a sort of country/waltz listing the reasons to do so. Title track "Glorious Day" is as joyous as they come, and "Sometimes I Wonder" is a live acoustic gem. written by Joel Lindsey, Wayne Haun and Ernie Haase.
Yep, there are the straight up fun songs too: the Sunday school favourite, "Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord" and "Shh, Be Still”. Traditional without sounding old fashioned, reverent without being pious, and adventurous without being anarchic, "Glorious Day" is a safe bet for Gaither fans looking to spread their wings a little – but not cause a flap!