CeCe Winans’ solo projects have run the gamut from light inspirational pop to funky urban styling and everything in between. Her fifth aims to please everyone and largely succeeds.
On the urban tip, Winans belts out the funky call to intercession for our country in "Anybody Wanna Pray." She’s assisted, as her voice bobs and weaves though the stompin’ jam, by Tommy Sims’ bass pops and Grits’ programming and rap. Her attempt at a Destiny’s Child-style cut, "Out My House," is far less successful. Its radical syncopation and too-heavy track are ill-suited to Winans’ sweet voice.
The too, too poppy "Say a Prayer" sounds like it was left off of an Avalon album. She also swings and miss
es with the syrup-heavy "More Than What I Wanted." The prettily orchestrated Diane Warren-ish big ballads, "No One" and "Looking Back at You," redeem those missteps, placing Winans’ creamy vocals in a setting best suited to showcase them.
She teams up with another famous brother—Marvin—who helps bring his "Let’s Bring Back the Days of Yea & Nay" to a boil. For straight-up pop tunes, Winans has included the upbeat "Better Place" and a shuffling version of Special Gift’s "More Than a Friend," which needed a little more oomph.
She returns to the praise & worship ground covered on Alone in His Presence and Alabaster Box with the breezy "Heavenly Father" and Babbie Mason’s lovely, reverent "Holy Spirit Come Fill This Place." The balance of the album deals in hopeful, encouraging—if rather generic—messages. Still, this is a broad offering with potential hits in several arenas that should appeal to Winans’ diverse musical following.