Search - Al Denson :: Extra Mile

The Sounds of My High School Years

Mark Baker | Santa Clarita, CA United States | 08/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to this disc always takes me back to my high school years. I got it just before my senior year. It's amazing how music can take you back like that, isn't it? The best news is, this disc is still great.



Even though the disc came out in 1992, it isn't nearly as dated as it could be. Yes, it uses keyboard quite a bit. But it isn't a synthesizer. Instead, Al goes with your traditional piano or keyboard, guitar, bass, and drums. Some of these tracks boarder on rock, like "I Still Believe in Forever" or "Stand Up," but there are also nice ballads like "I Choose to Follow" and "That's What My Father Would Do." And I can't leave out the anthem "Shine Out the Light."



And the lyrics still stand up well, too. "I Choose to Follow" is an honest song about the commitment to follow God. It acknowledges the distractions while reaffirming the commitment. I love the logic of the chorus to "If We Believe," and the reminder to turn to God of "Call Me." But some of my favorite moments on this disc are the slower songs like the promise of solid friendship of "Extra Mile" and the lesson on forgiveness that is "That's What My Father Would Do."



While this isn't my favorite Al Denson release, it is a very close second. If you can track it down, you'll find it well worth owning."