Sharecropper's Seed, Vol. 1 CD

The ninth studio album from Cincinnati's own Nicole C. Mullen overflows with organic instrumentation and guitar-led melodies, combining inspirational praise and worship styles with rich percussion and funky urban rhythms. Sharecropper's Seed includes "Under the Shadow," "So In Love," "Baby Love," and more.

Few artists in any genre have the ability to continually re-imagine their sound in order to remain compellingly current, while maintaining a fluid connection to their musical roots. Nicole C. Mullen is one such artist, and her latest project, Sharecropper's Seed, perfectly illustrates that point. Flowing effortlessly between smooth, Celine Dion-esque pop to creaky, Alanis Morissette-meets-Patti LaBelle alt-R&B, Mullen struts, skips and meanders through 10 tracks that are at least as autobiographical and family-focused as her self-titled debut from way back at the turn of the century.

On the title track, a sparsely orchestrated, acoustic guitar-driven ballad, Mullen traces her roots back to her grandfather, a wise old sharecropper who was careful to pray for a bountiful harvest in both the natural and spiritual realms. Like her grandfather, Mullen reminds us that we are all merely sojourners on this earth, and that any good fruit that comes today is probably the result of careful planting from generations past. "Baby Love," the album's closer, finds Mullen reaching forward to the next generation as she croons a peace-filled lullaby to her children.

But lest you think she is too smooth to groove, "So in Love," finds Mullen drawing vocal inspiration from a rusty hinge, groaning, creaking, then slithering over a smoldering blues riff that would feel right at home on the Mississippi delta. "Under the Shadow" sports a light Caribbean flair, mercifully sans steel drums, while "Fall" uses well-placed fiddle to evoke a new-country vibe with an urban twist.

Mullen's greatest success has always come from her soaring, genre-defying ballads like "Redeemer," "Call on Jesus" and "On My Knees." While there are numerous candidates for radio success on this project, including "Touch," "I'm Convinced" and "I Wish," all of which contain some serious spiritual meat, there doesn't seem to be a blockbuster in the bunch.

CCMMagazine.com

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Reviewed by Angela Woliver (Stow, OH), August 08, 2008

i love this cd ..as a matter of fact i bought all of hers. i think we need more mixed families stepping up to the plate. my hubby also has enjoyed all of her music

Reviewed by Lisa (Missouri), December 09, 2007

I just love it when I can find an artist who can sing with beauty and depth far unlike what is typical on the radio. When I heard this CD, the words and music reached me in a way I have not been reached in a long, long time. It's the first cd my 2 year old daughter has sung to and insisted on listening to every time we get in the car. This album has been very healing for us all.

Reviewed by Christina (Ottumwa, IA), May 02, 2007

This is such an awesome cd! Nicole has such a heart for God and you can tell by the songs she sings.

Reviewed by Mariah (L-Ville, GA), April 21, 2007

One touch has got to be the most touching song I've heard in a looong time. It's so beautiful and it really makes you realize just how much Jesus loves us.

Reviewed by Marlena (Tucson, AZ), April 16, 2007

This is one of Nicole's best. She is amazing at being able to pull emotions right out of you. There is always at least 1 song on her albums that any woman can identify with, no matter what the color of her skin is or where she grew up.

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