Although it's not produced by the same team, it's best to view
Where No One Stands Alone
as part of the lineage that stretches back to 2016's
The Wonder of You
. That album, executive produced by
Priscilla Presley
, dressed original
Presley
recordings in overdubs by
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
. It was so successful -- it topped the U.K. charts -- that three sequels were commissioned before the formula was changed for 2018's
. This record follows the same principle as its predecessors, but the focus is shifted: this time, original
Elvis Presley
gospel recordings are given new instrumental overdubs. Same idea, but the intention is different:
records were purposeful schlock, but this attempts to modernize
Elvis
gospel sides, most of which were recorded in the late '60s or early '70s. The basic arrangements and many of the instruments remain in place, but the polish is slick and punchy, moving these tracks ever so slightly away from Southern gospel and into CCM. It's a subtle shift but it's a notable one, creating an uncanny valley effect: it seems like it's the real
but there's enough distance between the original elements and the new material to show it's not. Comparatively, it's better than the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
records, but there's also less reason to hear this, as it's so similar to the originals, why not put those on instead? ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine