Hooked

A cappella, anyone? This is an upbeat group whose enthusiasm for music comes shining through in every track on the album. Most of the tunes are well-known songs, arranged by group members or by Jay Richards and performed with great vocal precision. One that deserves special recognition is the group's rendition of "Rainbow Connection." This is not because it is a great song (which it is, however over-done it has been since its debut with Kermit), but because of how well Voice Male performed this piece, in spite of the song's challenging intervals and key changes. Two original songs by group member Mike Bearden, "You Lift Me Up" and "Give Them a Vision," slow the pace down and give a deeper look into the heart of the group. It is a nice view. While the well-known songs are catchy, if not cheesy, and make you want to sing along, more original songs would be nice. All in all, though, if you enjoy a cappella music, this is a fun and easy-spirited recording to add to your collection.