Britt Nicole - Gold

Pop music has been non-exsisent in the Christian industry. I don't mean CCM/Adult Pop and I don't mean cheap, way too late groups like Plus One who finally made an appearance long after the boy band fad was a big deal. The closest thing to legitimate pop music in Christian music was Amy Grant's Heart in Motion, which was more or less blackballed.

So insert Britt Nicole. I liked her last record, The Lost Get Found, just fine. But the record... Just didn't have a fun vibe. Headphones was fun in a youthful way but overall the record just wasn't anything... extraordinary.

Gold is a great dance pop record. Think a third Katy Perry, a third Kesha, and a third Crystal Lewis. And while I know that doesn't sound very appealing to my average reader, there's a place and time for this music. And if Christian music at some level (whether we agree or disagree) supposed to provide an alternative to the mainstream music culture, don't we need artists and records that sound like what's popular? While I've argued for years about setting the trends and creating art not imitating it, I also see the need to provide alternatives. And Gold is the perfect record for that pop music fan in your life.

The title track kicks off the record and it's sure to get you out of your seat and dancing. The hook is infectious and it was more than enough to keep me listening. All This Time is a really great ballad that comes across with a genuine heartfelt honesty. Look Like Love is more upbeat but doesn't have the dance quality that Gold does. It's a nice balance between the first two tracks.Ready or Not features Lecrae and I was a little skeptical about this track because I'm not a Lecrae fan but the song really works. Amazing Life is my second favorite track on the record. It's a pure dance song that would work extremely well on any pop radio station in America.

There's a great balance on Gold. The songs flow well from one track to the next, each song different from the last. From dance hit, to ballad, to straight forward pop track, there's nothing that will bore you about Gold. It's just a good record and a shot in the arm that Christian pop music desperately needed.