Leading man of Gospel music Earnest Pugh has much to essay about with regards to Christ's leadership on his new record "The W.I.N. (Worship in Nassau) Experience."  Instead of sugar coating the Christian life with a rose-patterned chambray, Pugh deals with life threadbare with all its warts and all.  Rather than wallow in self-despair, Pugh shows us through these 12 songs how Christ can triumphantly lead us life's storms.  Thus, the awesome benefit of listening to such Christ-exalting songs is that our hearts get bigger and bigger growing with deeper faith in Jesus Christ.   Pugh, for those unfamiliar, came to national fame when his dramatic ballad "Rain on Us" reigned at Billboard's Gospel's pole position in only eight weeks.  After which, he has serviced churches with more worship anthems such as "The Great I Am" and "Perfect Peace."  Then he scored another number one with "I Need Your Glory" taken from 2011's "Earnestly Yours."  His latest effort "The W.I.N. (Worship in Nassau) Experience" is again choked full of worship paeans ready to continue his successful streak.

Though this is not Pugh's first live record, the provenance of "The W.I.N. Experience" is most intriguing.  When was the last time have you heard of a live album being recorded in the Bahamas?  While most "live" albums are recorded in mega churches or convention halls, this record was recorded live on a cruise, specifically Radio One's annual One Love cruise. While many worship live albums are packed with regular worshipping church worshippers, this record is studded with an overflow audience of natives and tourists.  Produced by Grammy award winner Cedric Thompson (Queen Latifah, Jonny Lang, T.D. Jakes), this record also features guest appearances from Gospel legend Shirley Caesar to Rance Allen to LeJeune Thompson to Michelle Prather to Angel Davis to Vincent Tharpe & Kenosis.  Easily the pride of place belongs to the lead single "I Believe You Most" which features J Moss.  What is most rewarding about this ballad is that it doesn't try to hide the threatening voices of despair that come to us when times are tough. Rather, Pugh paints God in such glorious power that all the other voices silence in comparison.

Borrowing touches of some 90s sounding quiet storm balladry, "In Your Presence" finds Pugh at his most vulnerable as he lays his heart before God on this touching worship ballad.  While there are songs loaded with information about God, "More" brings us face to face with our Savior.  On this string-laden ballad Pugh pleads on our behalf for more of God in our lives.  Drenched with Holy Spirit power, this is what worship is all about. Using Philippians 4:13 as the song's building block, "All Things through Christ" finds Pugh not just singing, but he was ministering to our hearts like every good worship pastor needs to do.  Worshippers who like to get on their feet for some gregarious praise will love the spirited burners "I Praise Your Name" and "We Praise You."  The former "I Praise Your Name" is more traditionally Gospel tilted with the use of call and response between Pugh and his choir. "We Praise You," on the other hand, has a more island feel in honor of the album's Bahamas setting with Pugh telling us to "clap and stomp on the devil." 

One of the most personal touches is Pugh's tribute to his mentor O'landa Draper who died of renal failure in 1998.  Founder of the Associates Choir, Draper was known for his deft choir directing style.  Over the years, the choir has played for Presidents of the US including Bill Clinton & George H. W. Bush.   With his many chart topping records, Draper has also been a recipient of numerous Grammy, Dove and Stellar Awards.  Most touching therefore is Pugh's medley of five of Draper's songs culminating with a shout out by Shirley Caesar on the powerful "Never Stop Praising Him."  After listening to this album, it is no wonder why Pugh is touted with the marquee the "leading man of Gospel music."  Throughout this new album, not only is he a great Godly worship leader, but he constantly leads us to the Savior who loves us and died for us.