Customer Reviews

Remember This - Out of the Grey Collection 1991-98

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If you're not familiar with "Out of the Grey," this should be the album you buy first. It contains a great selection of the best tunes from their first five albums.

Scott and Christine Dente, the husband and wife team headlining the group, have produced a great body of work over the years. I would characterize it as soft rock with subtle, uplifting themes. Christine, the lead singer, has an amazingly pleasant and delicate voice that exudes a unique blend of both confidence and vulnerability. Scott is a master of the guitar and contributes great background and occasional solos. He also adds brief vocals in many of the songs.

If you buy this album and want to hear more, my recommendations would be, in this order: (1) Diamond Days (1994), (2) The Shape of Grace (1992), and (3) Gravity (1995). Virtually every song on these albums is both memorable and uplifting. Their original ablum, Out of the Grey (1991), and their fifth ablum, (See Inside) (1997), I found less appealing and would recommend only for collectors of their work.

"Remember This" is an outstanding collection of tracks from one of Christian music's most underrated acts. On this best-of CD, there are three new and/or previously unreleased songs, along with an updated re-working of a song from their first album. And, of course, a representative sampling from their previous five CD releases.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Out of the Grey is the working name for the husband and wife team of Christine and Scott Dente. What first attracted me to this duo's music was the silky smooth and hauntingly gentle vocals of Christine and the stellar guitar wizardry of Scott. Combine these talents with a repertoire of highly-accessible, hook-laden songs, outstanding supporting musicianship, introspective, yet inspirational lyrics, plus spectacular production from two of Christian music's best studio producers, and the results, here for the listening, are wonderful.

On the new tracks, the duo has reunited with producer Charlie Peacock who has manned the controls on all but one of their albums and is probably most responsible for the group's exceptional instrumentations. "Walk by Faith'" is an excellent example of the OOTG-Peacock working relationship; a crystal-clear, uptempo, guitar-driven, inspiring ballad that should climb the charts. "Wishes 98" is a contemporary remake of the first track on their debut album. A "techno" beat is overlayed onto the basic track, and even a flugelhorn and other jazz-oriented sounds are added in for effect. Too much "techno" for my tastes, but the results are intriguing nonetheless. "Way Late" is an instrumental that appears to be an extension of a song called "Eyes Wide Open" off of their "Diamond Days" CD. This track alone shows off Scott's guitar virtuosity.

My only concern about this release is that Greatest Hits albums often indicate a turning point in a band's chronology; i.e. changing direction, record companies, personnel or even a breakup. Hopefully none of this is on the horizon for OOTG.

If you're curious to sample Out of the Grey and are yearning for a CD with the qualities described above, check out "Remember This." You won't be disappointed!

"Remember This-The Out Of The Grey Collection" is a collection of Scott & Christine Dente's best songs from their first five releases. From the title song of their self-titled debut in 1991 to their remix version of "Wishes" in 1998, every song is like a story the Dentes are telling. The best songs on this collection includes the orginal 1991 "Wishes," which ends the album, plus "You're The One I've Been Waiting For," "If I Know You," "He Is Not Silent," "Nothing's Gonna Keep Me From You," and "All We Need." A majority of their album is from material from "Diamond Days" in 1994 and "Out Of The Grey" in 1991. "We May Never Get To Paris," from their '95 release "Gravity," is the only lone track to make it on this collection. It's a great song that you would hear at a cafe in Paris (if I were there, that is.) "When Love Comes To Life" and "Stay Close" (both from "Gravity") should have been added to the album. "Disappear" and "Not A Chance" are the two stand-out cuts from their last studio album, 1997's "See Inside." Two new songs are in the mix: "Walk By Faith" is a song that you would sing-a-long in the chorus to remember that "not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit." And "This Is What It Is" is another new cut about the steadfastness of God's love and forgiveness. An instrumental called "Way Late" is masterfully done by Scott Dente on guitar sounds like he and another guitar great Phil Keaggy should do more jam sessions. "Way Late" was recorded during the "Diamond Days" sessions but was never released. Portions of the track was heard at the end of a song called "Eyes Wide Open" and at the end of "Love Like Breathing." It's a great "best of" album of remembrances and memories of their songs when we heard them the first time around. Christine's vocals and Scott's guitar playing, as always, shine on and may God bless them for their efforts and continue on in their music.

I looked forward to the release of "Remember This" with excitement as I do anything that Out of the Grey produces. The first thing I noticed about the cd is the cover art. OOTG is pure class, both in their music and concert performance. The cover art for the new cd exhibits this class as well.

Inside the cd, cover notes by Douglas Kaine McKelvay reflect many of my own thoughts about Chris and Scott Dente. In OOTG, I see two people who are experiencing a very close relationship with our Lord, and have the talent to communicate that relationshio to us, the listeners.

Each song on the album is a gem - always on a collection album, one wishes that this or that song could should have been included - but alas, they cannot all be included. The choices for the cd I think relate a deep personal faith which has been opened up and exposed as a gift, in music.

The new material on the cd, in typical ootg fashion, is pure class. "This Is What It Is" is pure Christine Dente. I find it hard to put into words the feelings I have when listening to the simple and elegant lyrical mastery Christine Dente communicates with her voice. Her live performances are reflective of pure symmetry with her recorded lyric. Expressive of Flowing, Thoughtful, sometimes haunting, communication in a pure form. One can imagine understanding Christine's lyric even if it were without words (recall "Joy" from the (see inside) album).

In "Way Late", I see the evolution of Scott's playing style reflecting much of what I have seen and heard in recent live concert from him. Percussive wizardry, and intricate acoustical lyricism. Scott indeed uses music as a language.

Of course, the Charlie Peackock's production skills are paramount and remain so with these new works. Anything Charlie touches is beautiful. From OOTG to Sarah Masen, Charlie brings out the best.

In summary, "Remember This" is a refreshing compilation of some of the best work from the Dente's. Refreshing in it's entirety, exploring new territory among a landscape of memorable and touching favorites.

John Zyla

11/18/98

I have loved this couple ever since they started around 1992. Christine Dente has a unique voice that is lilting and powerful at the same time, and Scott Dente is an unbelievable guitarist and terrific songwriter. Together they are one of the top 5 artists in CCM in my book. This collection is a fine start to those not familiar with OOTG. As is almost always the case with "greatest hits" collections, there are songs you wish they had included that were left out; in my case, I wish they had included "Shape of Grace" from the album of the same name, and "Unfolding" from the "Diamond Days" album which both Scott and Christine have mentioned is one of their own favorites. Still, this is a great album and highly recommended to any fan of Contemporary Christian Music.

I picked up this CD after I saw Out Of The Grey in concert. It captures their almost 10 year history as an amazing musical duo. This is a worth while buy. Two things drew me into this CD. First, the amazing talents - guitar and voice. They are top notch, yet very under rated. Second, the lyrics. They are all thoughful and deep. One really gets pulled in by their meaning. Come on. What are you waiting for? Listen to some of the songs and buy it. You won't be sorry.

A gem for true Out of the Grey fans. They consistantly prove the talents given to them.

Uplifting, practical message for every wife and mother! It is just what I need to get me through a long day.

An "absolutely-must-have" for anyone who has enjoyed the music of Scott & Christine Dente through the years. All of these songs "shine like crazy"(!), and you will spend an enchanted hour in a wonderful world of inspirational imagery. "Satisfaction guaranteed!"

Christine Dente's voice is one of the purest I've ever heard, which immediately made me a big OOTG fan. This collection, showcasing hits from their first five albums, quickly became my favorite when I bought it years ago. It has something for everyone and the same great melodies and ethereal vocals that made OOTG so popular in 1990s Christian music.

Favorite cuts: The new ones, including a danceable (did I really just use that word to describe OOTG?) remix of Wishes. This is What it is, co-written by Joel Hanson of PFR fame, is a solid cut with a great guitar melody. Walk By Faith, the radio hit from this album, has beautiful lyrics (I particularly love "a vagabond with beautiful shoes") and great vocals. Way Late, an instrumental track left over from the Diamond Days sessions, gives Scott Dente a chance to shine and is one of my favorite cuts on the album.

Bottom line: if you are a fan of OOTG, this is an absolute must for your collection. If you have just discovered them, pick this CD up first to familiarize yourself with their artistry and talent. You won't regret it.