Gospel

The very first song reminded more of a Native American chant than anything. It was good, but without the driving beat behind most Native American stuff. Prayer for the Doomed by Chosen Gospel Singers was great. It was easy to see this as a predecessor to blues and then slower rock. Between Get Away Jordan and Prayer for the Doomed, one gets the feel for what most people stereotypically call gospel. Blind Baranbus also has the jazzish and blueish feel that most associate with gospel, but is a little more jazz like than most people think gospel is.
The newer song Church by Lyle Lovett, lacks the layering that most of the other gospel songs have. It sounds much more like something that could be played on the radio. It's not altogether bad, but doesn't seem to have the same feeling or truth as some of the other songs have. It also has many more instruments in the background, compared to the others.
Most the songs are a cappella with people singing the beats and background noise.
Moaner Let's Go Down in the Valley by the Delta Big Four sounds like a combination of two songs, one being let's go down in the valley recognizable from O Brother Where Art Thou.
Many of the older songs have singers with voices so high, or grating that they are almost painful to listen to.
Move on Up a Little Higher by Mahalia Jackson is definitely what one thinks of when they think of gospel. It has the strong singer who has a tremendous range and religious lyrics to boot.
The sermons remind me of what I have read about revivals during the early 20Th century with amening in the background and even singing over the sermon.
Overall, the gospel stuff was pretty cool, but I wish there was a way to get rid of the bad quality recordings from the early days.