It is the prevailing currency now for music to be portrayed as positive and inspirational.  Thus, you have titles like Mariah Carey's "#Beautiful," Joe Nichols' "Sunny and 75" and Selena Gomez's "Like a Champion."  However, Mandisa's "Overcomer" is more than just a rakish marketing ploy.  Rather, the titular "Overcomer" is testimonial of her life.  With lots of persistence and by God's grace, recently Mandisa overcame her addition to food.  But the title "Overcomer" runs deeper.  Often we roister and rankle through the Christian life as if we are fighting a drowning battle.  But 1 John 4:4 teaches us that if we believe in Jesus Christ, we are already overcomers; overcomers not because we can weather all the stormy squalls ourselves but because Christ has already overcame them for us.  This is the theme this American Idol alumnus sets to expound on her brand new release "Overcomer."  Appearing on American Idol in 2006, Mandisa was never coy about two things: her faith in Jesus Christ and her ability to belt those Whitney Houston-high notes.  As a result she was signed to Sparrow Records, garnered a three GRAMMY nominations and six DOVE awards, sold over three quarter of a million records and her latest single "Overcomer" already peaked at number one on Itunes' Christian singles chart.

Helmed by Christopher Stevens and David Garcia, "Overcomer" is Mandisa's most ambitious record to date.  Here you find a red carpet of Contemporary Christian artists as co-writers such as Israel Houghton, Tiffany, aka Plumb, Chris August, Cindy Morgan, Britt Nicole and Matthew West.  The title cut "Overcomer," coming from the pens producers Christopher Stevens and David Garcia, bears all the imprints of a hit.  Punchy in its beats and lamming out with a newfound kinetic energy, Mandisa has a sure fire ball of a signature tune in her hands.  Creativity takes a front seat with "Face 2 Face," a song about the longing to see Jesus in heaven.  Normally songs that have to do with the heavenly city are slow and dirge-like but not so with "Face 2 Face."  With fresh club beats over a dance tune, "Face 2 Face" rightly celebrates rather than mourns at the thought of meeting our Savior.  Along the similar pop/dance track, though more non-descript is the worship mid-tempo "At All Times," a co-write by GRAMMY winner Israel Houghton.   

Lots of radio friendly singles abound:  the Matthew West co-write "The Distance" has an immediacy that grips you like a vice. Here Mandisa sings of how God often takes the initiative to draw us close to Him. Going back to her Gospel roots with some soaring church-y hollers, "What Scars Are For" speaks of the value of suffering in shaping us to greater holiness.  Chris August lends his pen to the tender "Praying for You." This song showcases Mandisa's versatility to be able to handle a country-leaning acoustic ballad.  Britt Nicole and Cindy Morgan's "Where You Begin" is one of those big ballads American Idol audiences love: the soft beginnings leading to a bombastic blast of emotions.  It's passable without being exceptional.

Adding a slice of autobiography is the Tiffany Lee, aka Plumb co-write "Dear John."  "Dear John" is actually Mandisa's desperate plea to her own brother John to give his life to Jesus.  You can hear Mandisa's heart pounding with love brimming underneath the beats and melody.  This song deserves to be heard; it is a prayer we all need to pray for our own brothers and sisters who do not know Jesus Christ.  Mandisa has returned with one of her most indispensable record of her career.  The songs are bold, fresh, heartfelt, encouraging and Christ's centered.  This isn't just a New Age positive record; it's positive because it testifies about Jesus who has overcome all sin and negativity.