Now that I’ve had ample time to listen to this summer’s music releases, it’s time for my “Music Hits and Misses of the Summer Season”. Check it out!

I realize that music reviews are really subjective. I think the only people that actually like the same exact music as me are my kids, and that’s because they have to listen to what I’m listening to. But my hope is that, at least with the musical hits of the season, you’ll give them a listen and see what you think of them.

[photopress:4981460.jpg,full,alignleft] My first hit of the season is Trek: A Nashville Tribute to the Pioneers. You may remember 2005’s hit album Joseph: A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet – yes, both albums are written and produced by the same guys (Dan Truman and Jason Deere), and yes, I love Trek almost as much as I loved Joseph. Almost.

As a whole, I enjoyed the songs from Joseph more than Trek. It seemed like there was a greater variety, and the songs had a good country feel to them. The songs on Trek were a little bit more hit and miss (no pun intended). I loved the songs by Mindy Gledhill (“One Who Understands” and “Sleep”). I’m a big fan of hers anyhow, but it’s great to see her evolving and changing as a musician, and her vocals are great on this album. Also noteworthy are “Crack of a Whip” (Jason Deere on vocals), “I Must Have Loved You Before”, and “Coming Home” (Tim Gates on vocals).

Even though I didn’t enjoy Trek as much as Joseph, that’s not to say I hated it. I still think these albums are 2 of the best LDS albums to have come out in a long time. I love how different they are from the traditional more spiritual fare. There was also one thing I enjoyed more on the Trek: the narrations. Wow. This time around, I actually listen to them instead of skipping over them. I especially enjoy “Laws or Rules of the Pioneer Company”.

You can find Trek: A Nashville Tribute to the Pioneers at your local Deseret Book store or on the web at www.deseretbook.com . As a side note, if you have the chance to see Jason Deere perform live, definitely take the opportunity. I saw him and his friends perform at the local Time Out for Women, and it was incredible.

[photopress:4987651.jpg,full,alignleft]My next hit of the summer is 2004-2006: The Best of EFY. I’ll be honest: I haven’t been to EFY in 10 years. For some, a session at EFY is their first introduction to the EFY CDs. Not me. I’ve been listening to EFY tapes since my brothers went to EFY in the early ’90s. And even though they still have a few of their trademark cheesy, too-much-keyboard songs, the majority of songs on the EFY albums are immensely uplifting and appropriate for all ages, not just teenagers. One of the biggest perks of the EFY albums are that you get songs from all types of artists, so if you don’t like one of the songs, you can just skip to the next.

You can find 2004-2006: The Best of EFY at a Deseret Book store near you or at www.deseretbook.com.

The next two albums are my list are my so-so albums. I have to be in the right mood for these ones, so they’re not constants in my CD player (or iPod).

[photopress:4964344.jpg,full,alignleft]Hilary Weeks has been around long enough to have finally released her best hits (so to speak). Her new album is entitled, Hilary Weeks: The Collection. It’s just what it says it is: a collection of her music, past and present (14 “old” songs and 3 original songs).

My love for Hilary waxes and wanes. I remember one of her first songs, “He Hears Me” on an early ’90s EFY tape. I loved the song and her voice, and it wasn’t too long before I rushed out to purchase her first solo album, He Hears Me. I listened to that album nonstop, but I wasn’t completely sold on her next album, Lead Me Home. I’ve been out of the Hilary loop since then, until this summer when she hosted our local Time Out for Women and sang a few of the original songs on her Collection album. I like the new songs, and of course, I like the songs from her earlier albums, but a part of me wishes that she’d use the original arrangements of the songs instead of jazzing them up or re-working the vocals.

I think that Hilary is a solid LDS performer. She’s great at what she does, but I would love it if her songs were more simple and true like her earlier albums.

You can find, Hilary Weeks: The Collection at a Deseret Book store near you, or on the web at www.deseretbook.com.

[photopress:4973811.jpg,full,alignleft]The next “take it or leave it” album is (and I hate to do this to a classic) Showtime! by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When I first heard they were releasing a Broadway classics album, I was thrilled. Come to find out I only recognize a handful of the songs because apparently, I’m a little too young (or perhaps I’m not as big on Broadway musicals as I thought – I’ve never seen “Sweeney Todd” or “Oliver!” before). But, the songs that I do know (in particular, “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Circle of Life”) were perfect for the Choir.

So, while it may not have been the album I’d hoped for, the good news is that my 55-year-old mother-in-law absolutely loves it. Deduce from that what you want…

You can find Showtime! at a Deseret Book store near you, or on the web at www.deseretbook.com.

[photopress:4972026.jpg,full,alignleft]The last album on my “Hit and Miss” list is a big “miss” for me: Prayer by Dallyn Vail Bayles. You probably recognize Bayles from Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration. Yes, he was the prophet Joseph Smith. He’s also been the lead in the Nauvoo pageant, and had roles in Les Miserables and The Secret Garden. As far as big names go in the LDS music world, he’s one of them.

This is his first foray into the world of solo albums, and while he has a good, distinctive voice, this album is just way too over the top for me. When I first listened to the whole thing, my first thought was, “He took every song and turned it into a Broadway ballad.” Yes, I love Broadway, but I don’t think that every song has to be loud, booming, and heart-wrenching. The album title, Prayer to me doesn’t say, “Passion, passion, passion”, but it’s quite clear that Bayles has put everything into this album.

So, while it was a miss for me, if you think you’ll like it, check it out at www.deseretbook.com.