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She's come of age and her latest studio LP shows it. Amy Grant has arrived.
Age to Age is a stunning collection of direct, mature and inspiring material, delivered with emotion and skill. More than anything else, this album ministers to me in a way I've not been touched by Christian music before.
The secular quality of this recording everything from arrangements, production, delivery and package is boldly evident and unusual for contemporary Christian music, even in this enlightened age. Perhaps one of the reasons is because it was recorded high in the crisp mountain air surrounding Jim Guercios Caribou Ranch in Nederland, Colo. Maybe its because of the production excellence of the producer Brown Bannister, engineer Jack Joseph Puig and executive producers Michael Blanton and Dan Harrell. But then, it could be the caliber of songs contained within the grooves.
Although all of the ten songs shine brilliantly in their own light, listening to "El-Shaddai" (God Almighty), a worshipful song of praise to the powerful and yet gentle Creator, is a knee-bending experience. The song was written by Michael Card and John Thompson and contains the phrase, "Age to age, You're still the same," from which the album received its name. Maybe not so scripturally drenched, but equally worshipful is the single released off the album, "Sing Your Praise to the Lord." The lavish introduction, complete with Hebrew-like riffs builds to a full orchestral crescendo before the vocal begins.
While on the subject of vocals, its hard to imagine that the insecure 16-year-old singer, who caught the ears of contemporary Christian music listeners five years ago with her debut LP, has matured into the passionate vocalist of Age to Age. Hope I haven't given a mushy, MOR-like impression, for if I have, erase it immediately. Amy rocks on a couple of cuts ("I Have Decided" and "Don't Run Away") and mellows in various degrees for a thoroughly contemporary finish.
One often wonders how a simple piece of vinyl can inspire such feelings of love for God. But since that is the intention of this album, it doesn't surprise me, it ministers to me. -- C. A. Burns (c) 1982 CCM Communications, Inc.
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