print: BlackGospel.com: Stronger (Myron Butler & Levi) | ABOUT | August, 2007 on BlackGospel.com

Stronger / Myron Butler & Levi
(EMI Gospel)

August, 2007 on BlackGospel.com - Review by Jennifer Belot

Now that he’s ‘free’ MYRON BUTLER is most certainly STRONGER. The Dallas native who crafted his own musical signature by combining elements of 70s soul, classic Gospel, and contemporary urban hip-hop on his award-winning debut CD SET ME FREE, returns to the scene with a even more powerful statement of faith, with the release of his sophomore CD STRONGER.

All the things that Butler used to make his mark with SET ME FREE are the same things he uses to solidify his position with STRONGER. He proves more than ever his ability to write meaningful & life-changing songs; to produce tracks that grab you, to present impressive vocal arrangements and to give you unrivaled performances.

Butler’s history is well documented, an integral part of the gospel trailblazing God’s Property, he spent years collaborating with Kirk Franklin. Today, as much as his predecessors, Butler now continues to skillfully combine rock with soul and hip-hop with pop and relevant tracks with Godly lyrics.

The album as a whole has a certain cadence that flows from one level of worship and praise to another. Kicking things off is the title track, “Stronger” an absolute soul-shaking, roof-raising jam. Adeptly backed by a tight band and the powerful vocals of Levi, Butler proffers a song that both encourages and reveals the potential of someone newly equipped with Divine resources. Listeners are bolstered to press through, to succeed and to move forward.

“The majority of Levi, like myself came out of God’s Property and while we were going through the song in the studio, it occurred to me that it had been 10 years since the beginning of God’s Property,” recalled Butler. “All the things we had been through … the ups & downs – walking through doors just to get them shut in our faces, the struggles … I realized that the sum total of all of those things made us (ME) stronger, better and wiser.”

“Opposing forces are what make us stronger,” explained Butler. “By living through the trying times and handling the pressure, THAT is what makes us stronger people. Then we can look back and say ‘all those things were not for my destruction but rather for my construction’.”

STRONGER maintains the diversity that is quickly becoming Butler’s signature. However, it is more about the Gospel of Jesus and the messages of freedom, liberation, purpose and empowerment that are at the forefront for Butler, not the genre classification.

From the Christian contemporary vibe of “Unrestrained” to the conventional Gospel groove of “Jesus Saves!” STRONGER speaks to all situations. The groove of “Jesus Saves!” is a conceptual 70’s funk throwback sound perfectly blended with classic choir vocals, modulation and harmonic rhythm that is the genre’s foundation, while “Unrestrained” is a stand-out ballad that comes directly from the heart. Butler drives home the themes of freedom and purpose on this perfect song that is all about being free to give Him everything profusely and completely, and in doing so that freedom allows people to release things that hinder them from living and reaching their purpose.

Butler gives us so much to gravitate to such as the awesome interpretation of “Above All” a softly yet powerfully delivered rendition of the song that no matter what causes a reaction propelling listeners into immediate worship. “There is a so much power in that song, and I wanted to bring it to the forefront in our churches,” he said.

Glimpses of Butler’s extensive musical range are obvious throughout the 10-track project, from the rocked out “I Live” a musical force that is serious head-banging music to the fluidity and poignancy of “Here With Me,” both positioned to emphasize the theme of His Presence and our total dependence on Him.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I am not living because of God … His Power … Him in me … its total dependence,” said Butler. “The song, ‘Here With Me,’ is one that is very close to me. There are so many times where you find yourselves asking, ‘Lord are You here?’ … as people we have a habit of looking at things through our own eyes but there is never a time … a minute or an hour when He is not with us.”

Rounding out STRONGER is the up-tempo “God Of All,” a blend of feel-good and praise that perfectly continues the atmosphere of praise and finally, Butler’s benediction-in-song the awesome prayer-inspired Edwin Hawkins-penned ballad, “Give Us This Day.” “The album is a little bit of everything,” Butler said. “I really try to cover all the bases … GOD is not just one thing and our music shouldn’t be either. Everybody is at a different place and they may need something different to propel them into their destiny.”

“Church and Gospel music must become all things to all people and as artists we’ve got to adapt to the audiences we are ministering to and trying to reach. So I do things that will get their attention to bring them the priority message of the Gospel of Jesus and I think by my diverse nature He is arming me and Levi with all the ammunition to be an effective witness to a mass population.”

The messages and the spectrum is wide for Butler & Levi on STRONGER. They tackle different issues and the varied facets of Christian life and faith. Butler continues to touch the saints “to re-ignite the zeal of the church and to rouse the unbeliever, to grab their attention and create interest” in the God he’s singing about.

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