Phillips, Craig & Dean – ‘Hymns & Psalms’ album review

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It’s surprising to find out that the legendary vocal trio Phillips, Craig & Dean has never released a hymns project. For a group celebrating 25 years and 25 No. 1 singles this year, a hymns project seems like a safe assumption, but it’s not until the recent release of Hymns & Psalms (buy) they’ve added such an album to their catalog. Like any hymns release, the songs should be familiar to most, and PCD’s signature strong vocal work is front and center on most tracks. When the songs are straightforward (“I Surrender All,” “On Christ the Solid Rock”), the veterans’ vocal work does the heavy lifting and represents the album’s finest moments. In other places, awkward arrangements (“Blessed Assurance,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”) distract from the lasting power and vocal prowess found elsewhere.