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August 2002 Rock Pop Alternative

Written by Joe Hartlaub

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9.0

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Artist: Amy Grant
Title: Legacy: Hymns and Faith
Label: A&M Records

Amy Grant's career trajectory over the past 20 years has been extremely interesting. She originally became something of a household name as a best-selling contemporary Christian artist, even crossing over into the marketplace, if not the radio, to what is erroneously called a "mainstream" audience. She took the plunge into contemporary pop in the mid-'80s, even having videos on what was then a kinder, gentler, MTV, reaching her zenith, perhaps, with a duet with Chicago's Peter Cetera titled "The Next Time I Fall In Love." Grant also made forays into the country pop market in the 1980s, most notably on a duet with an up-and-coming vocalist named Vince Gill. The professional and personal chemistry between Gill and Grant was obvious in the video, even as both of them, married to others at the time, attempted to deny it not only to others but to themselves. While both attempted to stay faithful to their vows, the attraction was inexorable, made all the more so by the unenviable pre-existing domestic situations of the parties involved. When Gill and Grant's respective marriages ended in divorce, and (after a suitable interlude) they turned to each other, the Christian media turned its back on Grant, forgetting, apparently, that Christ hated sins but never stopped loving sinners.

Grant's LEGACY... is at once for all intents and purposes her love letter to the Christian market as well as a return to the roots which she never really left. Gill, a man of deep and abiding but quiet faith, is heavily involved in the project as a producer, arranger, and musician. His commercial success as a vocalist obscures the fact that he is a guitarist of incredible talent; he has recorded, and held his own, with such heavyweights as Chet Adkins and Mark Knoppler (the latter asked him to join Dire Straits at one point). LEGACY...spotlights this talent as Gill uses his tasteful, understated, but very strong guitar underpinnings to support Grant's vocals. Together, Grant and Gill make a formidable team. The focus, however, is on Grant, as she draws heavily on traditional Christian bluegrass hymns to create what is, if not the gospel equivalent of O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?, a work steeped in the traditional.

Most of the hymns on LEGACY...are in the public domain, some having their origins more than two centuries ago. "My Jesus, I Love Thee," is given a traditional arrangement as befits the hymn, with fiddle, pennywhistle, accordion, and fiddle in the mix. Anyone who has stepped into a traditional Christian church in the past half-century will recognize at least some of these hymns --- "Holy, Holy, Holy," "Fairest Lord Jesus," and a medley of "What a Friend We Have In Jesus"/ "Old Rugged Cross" / "How Great Thou Art." Grant also occasionally melds the traditional with the modern, such as on "It Is Well With My Soul" into a medley with Gill's original composition, "The River's Gonna Keep On Rollin,'" and her own "Sing the Wondrous Song of Jesus" with the traditional "Imagine." The standout track here, however, is "I Need Thee Every Hour" / "Nothing But the Blood, " which features Grant and Gill trading verses over a full gospel choir and a traditional New Orleans gospel instrumentation. Neither Grant nor Gill have ever sounded better.

LEGACY... is a surprisingly strong work from an artist who had apparently made her complete statement some time ago; this is by far her strongest work in either the religious or pop genres, and has a deepness to it which demonstrates that there is more to be said, and more to be heard, of equal worth. LEGACY..., regardless of one's faith, or lack thereof, is worth a listen

Amy Grant -- Legacy: Hymns and Faith
Official Artist Website: http://amygrant.com

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