Review: The Dills – Uncommon

This is the latest release from the Dills. It actually has been out since last fall, and Crossroads picked it up for distribution back in December. I, however, just got a digital copy about a week or so ago. There are several styles present on this disc, but the majority is very progressive sounding. I will admit up front that I went to high school with LeeAnn Dill, but I don’t think that affects my objectivity in reviewing the disc. (She doesn’t have any dirt on me, at least that I know about!)

Tracks:

1. I Will Go The Distance – Uptempo track featuring Shawn Dill. This is a good album opener, and is very progressive in style. Shawn has a very strong solo voice in this style of music, and shows some impressive range toward the end of the song. Actually, stylistically, this song sounds very much like something you would have heard in CCM in the early or mid 90s. The Dills do this style very well. Good start to the album. 9/10
2. Fight To The Finish – Driving uptempo song that features Bridget Dill. This is the same song that the Kingsmen just recorded on When God Ran, but this version predates the Kingsmen by almost a year. This version doesn’t quite have the raw punch that the Kingsmen version has, but the Dills give it a clean smooth sound. It’s a decent rendition, but I think the more pop sounding style fits the group better. 6.5/10
3. I Carried His Cross – Inspirational ballad featuring Tim Dill. Tim doesn’t quite have the range of his brother, but is a good singer in his own right. This ballad fits his voice well. The first chorus features a trio sound from Tim, Shawn and LeeAnn. It’s a very smooth sound. There is some nice background harmony on the second verse before the chorus with background vocals that add Bridget into the mix, which makes for a nice contrast to the low trio harmony on the first chorus. Nice lyrics, and a commendable performance. 7.5/10
4. To Worship You – Midtempo song that features LeeAnn. This song is a bit of a cross between the first two styles. LeeAnn has a smooth alto voice and she does a good job on the verses. Tim actually sings a bass line on the chorus to this song. The harmony on the chorus is a bit awkward sounding. It isn’t that there are wrong notes, the vocals are fine, the harmony structure itself just sounds a bit strange. The song itself is decent enough, but the arrangement is a bit awkward. 6/10
5. The Closer I Get To The Cross – Another inspirational ballad, this time featuring Shawn. This is the highlight of the CD for me. Shawn does exceptionally well with this song. There is sparse background harmony through the first chorus that is very well done, and very pretty. It really supports Shawn’s lead vocal. There’s more substantial group harmony on the second chorus that again creates a nice contrast to the first chorus. Shawn definitely has the most powerful voice in the group. I like the way the intensity builds through the bridge of “Draw Me Nearer”, comes down for a couple solo lines then builds again through a round like tag with some really contemporary sounding harmony. Great song. 9.5/10
6. The Sound Of His Voice – Country tinged midtempo song. This is one of the two fairly traditional sounding songs on the CD. Tim takes the lead until the last chorus. It’s a solid song that really picks up after the key change before the last chorus when Bridget takes the lead. This was the most recent radio single from the disc. Solid song. 7.5/10
7. Uncommon – Inspirational ballad featuring Bridget Dill. Great lyric on this song by Kevin Stokes and Kevin Ward. Bridget’s voice really fits this song well. It almost makes me wonder if this song was written especially for The Dills, as Ward serves as producer on this album. This group has a prevailing smoothness to their blend.  8.5/10
8. Wonder Working Power – Mid to uptempo song featuring LeeAnn Dill. This song was recorded around the same time by The Crist Family. This is a more organic, stripped down arrangement than the Crist Family’s version. This is a good version, but I prefer the Crist Family’s more full arrangement. 6.5/10
9. God Will Go – Uptempo song featuring Tim Dill. This song is the other fairly traditional song on the disc, and is a good closing song. Tim carries the lead through the two verses, and two choruses. The key changes and LeeAnn takes the lead for another chorus. The intensity really ratchets up with the key change. I’m not sold on the tag to the song, I think it could have ended a little better, but still a good solid song to end the disc. 7/10

Overall: 7.5/10 This is a very solid CD from the Dills. I do believe they sound better doing the pop/inspirational style or even traditional style as opposed to the driving country sound. Several of these songs could have come from the contemporary days of 4Him, Point of Grace, Sierra, and the like. This is not a bad thing, I happen to really like that style, and it isn’t very popular in CCM anymore, so I’m glad to see The Dills bringing this sound to the Southern Gospel world. These four have been singing together now for quite a while and it really shows in their clean, smooth blend. The only real suggestion I would have for them is at times on the CD, the arrangements could have used a bit more of a power vocal sound than what you hear. This group is really built more for a finesse sound than a raw power sound, and songs like “Uncommon” and “I Will Go The Distance” really showcase their ability to blend. This is a really enjoyable CD, and while there isn’t really a reach out and grab you type song, all of the songs on the CD are worth a listen. You won’t find yourself hitting the skip button on your cd player at all. Pick up a copy of the CD, and go see them when they are in your area. You’ll definitely enjoy it!