From the first stentorian battle call of the shofar (ram's horn) to the excerpt from a famous Billy Graham speech and the standard it inspired--the Louvin Brothers' "Are You Afraid to Die"--it's obvious that Ricky Skaggs isn't just out to soothe souls, but to save them. Naturally the outspoken Christian fundamentalist delves deeply into his bluegrass roots for supernal inspiration on his first all-gospel album. He serves up fervent renditions of bluegrass-gospel favorites like Ralph Stanley's "The Darkest Hour," Bill Monroe's "Remember the Cross," and the Bill Carlisle-penned, Flatt & Scruggs-covered "Gone Home," but Skaggs also finds inspiration in contemporary gospel tunes like "The Joshua Generation," which features a soaring Crosby, Stills & Nash-style vocal finale. Yet the most amazing cut is "Seven Hillsides," a song that vividly chronicles an Appalachian preacher's overwhelming self-doubt and sense of inadequacy as he prepares to minister to his congregation's immense and tragic losses. Like much of this lovely and aggressively inspirational collection, "Seven Hillsides" speaks to the humanity and spirituality in just about all of us--hardcore Christian and closet agnostic alike. --Bob Allen Amazon.com
Soldier of the Cross is an album worth waiting for. Having seen Ricky Skaggs in Winnipeg years ago I didn't think it could get any better, but it has. Too bad he waited so many years to put out a pure gospel album. Can't wait for the next one; hopefully it won't be as long a wait as the first. Thanks, this one is well worth the price!
February 16, 2008 |  | Christian Country/Blugrass at its Finest |  |
Interesting blend of materials, featuring old & new songs. Great pickin', as you would expect from a Ricky Skaggs project. Plaintive, hearfelt blugrass singing throughout. Liked the mixture of songs in 3/4 time, songs in minor keys and of course, the blugrass toe tappers. The Billy Graham intro does well to set up "Are You Afraid to Die" as an eternal question humanity must face.
December 9, 2005 | | Shreds of his Soul in Every Musical Note | |
Par excellent! Skaggs has left bits and traces of his eternal soul in every lyrical note recorded on this very creamy CD recording. No matter his musical offerings in the past, he has thoroughly outdone himself this time. The strains of bluegrass mixed with Gospel tunes ring the bell of the heart of the listener, appealing to man's inner void that can only be filled by God the Father. The message of the cross has its own magical mystique ("anointing") that draws men and women, boys and girls to its base for life-giving strength. Yet, it matters who died on that cross--as Paul said, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. You set the crucifixion of the lamb of God into motion, and you won't have to worry about any resurrection. One follows the other. Jesus did an heroic work and authored a book to tell about it. He taught us that where we are weak, then we are strong. No one in his right mind would have ever concocted that a lamb would defeat a wolf! Jesus showed us that meekness and humility is the theme of life. We lose our lives--our pride, our machismo, our works and efforts to save--and we lay them at Jesus' feet. And guess what? Those things that we used to work to do (man-made morality) in order to please God and failed at miserably, turn up later to be fulfilled in real time through us as the Holy Spirit lives holiness and righteousness through us. Those habits that we could not shake fall when we come to Jesus, "all we who are weak and heavily burdened (trying to please God through works,etc.) and [he gives us] rest." Lose your life and you find it. Try to stop sinning before you get to the cross, and you can't. But, then put your faith in the Finished work of Christ, and amazingly, the sin stops because that root desire for the sin is itself gone.
This is the cross of which Ricky Skaggs sings. This cross makes you want to love everybody, even the unlovable. Whatever you do, challenge yourself to get this CD because each song will lift up Jesus, and after all, for you fellow Christians out there, isn't that what the Holy Spirit came to do. I highly recommend the song "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?"
May 18, 2004I bought this CD for my husband who really enjoys bluegrass, and now it is our absolute favorite. I can hardly keep myself from dancing when we turn it on! We listen to it all the time. ALL of the songs are great, which is unusual for any CD. It's a fun way to hear an important message.
February 24, 2004I have had this CD for several weeks, and I keep "discovering" new and wonderful songs on it. Another reviewer mentioned eclectic tastes - mine run from bluegrass and southern gospel to Jazz (especially Charley Parker, Ella, and Coltrane) and classical (especially Beethoven and Shostakovich - I love string quartets). However, I got it this album first for its traditional gospel songs, primarily "Hallelujah, I'm Ready to Go" (which I was working on for my own bluegrass group, where I play the string bass and sing). When it comes to gospel, I generally prefer the older songs.
Then, last weekend I "discovered" the lead song "Soldier of the Cross", which I had previously dismissed. This is what I mean: I am really starting to enjoy the range of different kinds of music on this CD, and you will too. I also really appreciate Ricky's obvious deep Christian convictions (of which I had not previously been aware); he writes a moving dedication to Christian warriors throughout the centuries that you've got to read. April 29, 2003
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