There are many husband-and-wife duos in the CCM world: Vocal Few, Copperlily, Seth & Nirva, and Love & the Outcome, just to name a few. With all these solid duos in the scene, it's easy to wonder if anything new can be brought to the table. Thankfully, the newest addition to the "duo" list, Grayson | Reed (comprised of MIKESCHAIR lead vocalist Mike Grayson and his wife, Molly Reed, formerly of City Harbor), proves that there is certainly room for one more married couple pop duo, and their debut EP, Walk, demonstrates why.
The bouncy opening title track begins with posing some rhetorical questions to the listener: "What good is a drum without a beat? Lungs that don't breathe? A soldier that won't fight, a pen that just won't write...What good is my life if I don't do anything?" These questions drive home the message of the song, which challenges believers to not just speak about their beliefs but to actually live them out. The chorus has a fun country flair to it, without treading far from the album's core pop sound.
The melodies on this EP are solid (especially in "Be Revealed" and "How This Ends"), but the lyrics on Walk are where Grayson and Reed truly shine. The best example of this is album highlight "Fight for You," which stands out for its honest portrayal of the trials and joys of a committed relationship. The songs starts off with husband and wife trading lyrics addressing their own personal flaws: "I know how to push your buttons, I know what to say to break you down / I know how to give you nothing, I know how to turn and shut you out." They don't stay there, though--instead, they choose to persevere: "Our love is something I don't wanna lose, so every single day I'm gonna choose / I'm gonna fight for you...and if we keep God here at the center, there's nothing we can't get through." The timely message of "Fight for You" needs to be heard, especially in our day and age when many marriages end in divorce.
The album closer, "How This Ends," is the most unique and experimental track on this release, as it flirts with an EDM sound but still utilizes organic instruments like the piano and acoustic guitar. The changes in sound throughout the track complement the message of the song, which is a takedown of the enemy of our soul. Reed sings of our assured victory in the battle against Satan: "The battle's already won / Can't come back now, it's done / Go ahead and try to rip my heart out again and again / But we both know how this ends!"
Walk ends on an intriguing and encouraging note, leaving listeners wondering where Grayson | Reed will go next. This EP has shown that they're comfortable experimenting with different genres, and they're not afraid to step outside the box to serve the message of the song. In an industry where there are plenty of husband/wife duos, let alone pop artists, Grayson Reed has proved that there is still hope yet for sincere and original music in a tired genre. Listeners who take on Walk will not regret it.
- Review date: 1/24/17, written by Nicole Marie Vacca of Jesusfreakhideout.com
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