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 | Title : Legacy Hymns & Faith
Author : Grant, Amy
Release Date : 20020521
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $18.98
Amazon.com Price : $6.79
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Editorial Reviews :
With a career retrospective boxed set and a new CD reportedly full of new material scheduled for release later this year, Amy Grant certainly appears ready for new horizons. But first she pays tribute in fitting form to her earliest influences with Legacy... Hymns & Faith. There's a sprightly effervescence in tracks like 'This Is My Father's World' and 'My Jesus, I Love Thee,' mostly due to the strong country-folk influence of new hubby Vince Gill. 'Softly and Tenderly' is rendered nearly perfect by Grant as the age-old classic of redemption is laid down in a moody atmosphere. Transition seems like the motif of this release, as Grant deftly merges one classic into another, as with 'It Is Well with My Soul / The River's Gonna Keep on Rolling' and 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus / That Old Rugged Cross / How Great Thou Art.' All in all, Grant pays homage to the hymns that have carried many a church service for decades and the music that has carried her through some tough moments in life.
Buyer Reviews :
Like a previous reviewer, I am also a lifetime follower of Amy Grant's music. I remember singing 'Don't Run Away' as a kid before I even knew what the words meant. 'Lead Me On' is still one of my favorite albums, using 'Say Once More' at my wedding reception. While I haven't been pleased with some of the choices she's made over the past 10 years in her personal life, I have still enjoyed her music.
I listened to this CD on an emotionally draining day, so I was ready to be filled with the sounds and words of these great old hymns. 'Come Thou Fount' is one of my very favorite hymns; I hope it's used at my funeral one day. I was eager to hear her sing, but I knew that few of these songs were going to be anything new or innovative. Just some re-done classics for the most part. So I don't believe my expectations were too high. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be whipping this CD out on my next rough day.
The biggest problem I have with this album is the predominance of the country/bluegrass sound. I know Amy is from the south and is now married to Vince Gill, an accomplished country music artist, but this is not her usual sound. She has used this style from time to time to season her work, and has even hit the country music charts in the past, but I don't identify with her solely as a country artist. I don't enjoy twangy guitars and other techniques used in the country music world. The mandolin is about as country as I'll go. I don't even know if I'll enjoy listening to 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing' as she has offered it here. I have nothing against Vince Gill, but his fingerprint as producer is way too heavy. I hear very little of Brown Bannister's influence.
The liner notes mention that this album went from inception to final matering in 29 days. No surprise there. While the production values are just fine, they are not deep and rich, showing very little thought and germination. Like this album, Amy's Christmas albums take old standards and offer them up with a new twist. The difference is, you can hear the depth and effort that was put into them. I don't expect that the London Symphony orchestra perform on each track, but track 14 on this album... it sounds like they just set out a mike, hit record and burned it onto a CD right there. Not always a problem in the music world, but it doesn't work on track 14.
A previous reviewer mentioned that this could just be a marketing ploy, hoping to mend fences with the Christian community in preparation for her next pop album. Whether or not this is true is debatable. What is clear, however, is that while this album is clearly not one of Amy's best, it shows much of what is going on in her heart. She doesn't have to sing about Jesus if she doesn't want to. She has the money and the fame already in the bank. In a recent CCM magazine interview, she seems to just be a Christian woman just trying to live her life, dimly aware of how her actions affect the rest of us.
While that in and of itself may be a marketing ploy, I'm willing to go along with that idea. What I am not thrilled with is how these 14 songs were presented. I propose a do-over with a 24-month preparation period. And I'll be the first in line to purchase the do-over, and the first in line for the pop album as well!
(by lhartness)
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