Josh Turner’s I Serve A Savior: A Gospel Gut-Punch You Didn’t Know You Needed
Alright, buckle up. Josh Turner’s 2018 album I Serve A Savior isn’t just another religious country record—it’s a full-on spiritual haymaker that’ll knock the wind outta you if you’re not ready for it. Produced by Kenny Greenberg, this sucker dives deep into gospel, hymns, and neo-traditionalist vibes with enough twang to make your boots tap but also enough soul to make your heart ache. And let me tell ya, it ain’t all sunshine and rainbows; some tracks hit hard like a Sunday sermon from an old-school preacher.
Let’s talk about two songs that stuck in my craw—and I mean that in the best way possible. First off, “Long Black Train.” Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard this one before (it was on his earlier stuff), but holy cow, hearing it live from Gaither Studios? That version slaps harder than ever. It’s haunting, man. The lyrics are simple—just a train rolling through town—but damn if they don’t feel like a freight train barreling straight at your soul. Turner’s voice is so rich and low it feels like molasses pouring over gravel. When he sings, “Don’t listen to the whistle / Don’t look back,” you better believe I got chills. Like, whoa. This ain’t just music—it’s a warning shot fired straight at your conscience.
Then there’s “The River (Of Happiness)” featuring The Turner Family. Oh man, this tune hits different. It’s upbeat, joyful as hell, and packed with harmonies that sound like church pews creaking under the weight of pure praise. What makes it stick? Maybe it’s how raw it feels. You can tell these folks aren’t faking it—they’re singing their guts out because they mean it. There’s no auto-tune, no slick production tricks—just real voices lifting each other up. By the time the chorus kicks in, you’ll wanna grab someone’s hand and start swaying, even if you’re alone in your car looking like a weirdo.
Now, here’s the kicker: while most albums in this genre lean heavy on polish and perfection, I Serve A Savior keeps things messy and human. Tracks like “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace” might seem predictable, but when Turner belts them out alongside Sonya Isaacs or Bobby Osborne, something shifts. These aren’t just covers—they’re conversations between believers, passing down truths older than dirt itself.
So yeah, I Serve A Savior punches above its weight class. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel—it’s reminding us why the wheel exists in the first place. If you’re looking for flashy pop-country nonsense, keep scrolling. But if you want music that grabs you by the collar and shakes loose whatever junk you’ve been carrying around, give this album a spin. Just don’t say I didn’t warn ya—it’ll mess you up good.
And hey, here’s the wild part: listening to this record made me realize something kinda messed up. We spend so much time chasing happiness, money, success—all that crap—but maybe what we really need is right here in these songs. Simple faith, family ties, and a little humility go a long way. Who knew a country gospel album could teach me life lessons? Guess that’s why they call it timeless.
