Keep the Faith

Toni Childs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 5, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 429 Records
• ASIN: B001MWM16Q
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,585 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Keep The Faith I Saw God in the Supermarket I'm Standing Here One Life Blind Heart That Matters Dream That We Dream Of Mama's In the Kitchen Revolution When All Is Said And Done Because You're Beautiful

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Extraordinary, but Extremely Pleasant, June 16, 2009

By 

John E. Temple "SoundMindNBody" (Manassas, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keep the Faith (Audio CD)

I wasn't sure what to expect from "Keep the Faith" after reading some less-than-glowing reviews. As usual, I'm glad in retrospect that I chose to ignore the opinions of the critics.

I think Toni's first three albums were terrific and unique efforts for their times. In particular, "House of Hope" was amazing, and remains in my all-time top ten albums. This release differs in tone. On the first three, she really seemed out to push the envelope and create a kind of music that was a void in the marketplace... sometimes with world music, sometimes highly conceptualized, but typically off the beaten path.

On "Keep the Faith", Toni sounds as though she really enjoyed making the music instead of having labored over creating it. The songs are, for the most part, upbeat and sometimes quite inspirational. There is a sincerity in her voice (still wonderful, by the way) that makes the lyrics really resonate. And as for the lyrics, I think some of the songs are among her best in that regard. I did not expect to enjoy a song entitled "I Saw God in the Supermarket", but it's a really great track. The title track is a terrific opener, and the closer, "Because You're Beautiful" (which she recorded a few years back for a TV documentary and for which she won an Emmy) is a great finish to a very satisfying listen. Frankly, it's rare that I enjoy every track on anyone's album, so this was a pleasant surprise.

I originally set out to rate this four stars, simply by comparison to "House of Hope", but after writing this and thinking how much I've enjoyed repeated listening the past couple of days, I think it ranks five in my book. Not groundbreaking, but extremely enjoyable.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Toni Childs is back., August 31, 2009

By 

A. Cifrino "artist and cyclist" (Tucson Az) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keep the Faith (Audio CD)

I think it's a safe bet that if you enjoyed her earlier music then you're in for a treat with this new album. The emotion is less raw than the earlier work, but nothing is missing. Her emotional force is now controlled by a stronger and more capable artist. As for the religious theme; she says, "believing is much harder than you think it is". This is hardly the smug ranting of somebody who has got religion. Toni Childs is too buzzy exploring her own spirituality to preach. I don't miss the synthesizers and the cello is beautiful. I really enjoyed the whole album!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw & Burning, May 25, 2009

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keep the Faith (Audio CD)

Toni Childs' new CD is a passionate tour de force. One might assume with the title "Keep the Faith" that this might be a religious album. While there is a spiritual theme repeated lyrically, it is not preachy in any conventional sense. Childs' voice is compelling, laden with pain & joy. Now located on Kauai, Childs' songwriting is raw & burning. Her website says that some of these songs were written in 1997 when she toured the West Coast. The opener churns with an anthem to friendship, "It's hard to keep the faith while all around you is falling; It's hard to keep the faith when all around you is scared." "I Saw God in the Supermarket" puts a smile on my face with its infectious rock beat and driving guitars, "I saw God on television, he had a ring in his nose, wearing Nike tennis shoes; Boy that boy could sing the blues." "Long before there were two fathers in the sky, words did not confuse & everything was just one lie," Toni sings on the lovely "One Life" that churns with dueling guitars. "Blind" boldly protests lack of communication, "You're squashing all the love out; It ain't what you need." The seven-minute "Heart That Matters" sits at the heart of the album and contains amazing vocals that brim with compassion and ache. "Dream that We Dream Of" has a simple melody with Childs' gorgeous passion breaking in her voice, "Broken wings and some broken dreams can keep me from seeing what love has to bring; So I'm burning the candle right here in my heart, I must believe." "Revolution" rocks joyfully, "Living with the poor man; Living out of trash cans." "When All Is Said & Done" is another amazing track that builds with Childs' vocals moving to high gear on full wail, "I hear you call in the middle of the night, in the middle of my fall*, and I know that you're the one that I'm running to." "Because You're Beautiful" concludes the CD with what could be a companion piece to Carole King's classic song "Beautiful." "Keep the Faith" is an excellent set that shows depth, passion and great talent. Welcome back, Toni! Bravo!

*according to my ear