Published on Jan 11, 2001
I am not the biggest Amy Grant fan in the world. Aside from “El
Shaddai” (which had great meaning for me thanks to a retreat I went
on in high school), I could appreciate her crossover from the world
of Christian music to secular pop, but it didn’t mean I went out of
my way to find her music. My wife, on the other hand, happens to
like Grant’s pop side, and occasionally still dusts off her
cassette of
Heart In Motion.
All of this said, I like the spin that is put on Grant’s music
on
How The Years Go By. Ten of Grant’s songs (including a few
I’m not familiar with) are given the electronic treatment, with
occasional acoustic guitars thrown in. Sounds like it’s not the
greatest mix? That’s what I thought when I heard the first minute
of this collection, but as you get used to the gentleness and break
free of the song patterns you’re used to, it becomes an alluring
collection.
If I had to compare the style to anyone, it would probably be
either Enigma or Delerium – not that it clones their sounds, but
that these songs would fit right in if this disc were slipped
between them in your CD changer. (Strangely, only the vocalists are
identified in this project. I’d like to have given full credit
where it’s due… so even though the musicians aren’t named, their
contributions are greatly appreciated.)
Some of these tracks work incredibly well. Vocalist Shelonda is
hypnotizing on “Oh How The Years Go By,” while Deena Norolan shines
on “Nobody Home”. ANd as for possibly one of the best-known tracks
on this collection, “Baby Baby,” vocalist Lisa Shimmin comes close
to turning this track into her own. (This is one of only two tracks
where any musicians are named – in this case, Mitchell Sigman
providing guitar work.)
The one track I was concerned about was “El Shaddai” – a deeply
moving religious piece which has charm even if you’re not heavily
into the God scene. Fortunately, this track is given the respect it
deserves, and vocalist Mike Moore (the only male vocalist on this
project) does a wonderful job. Regrets? Actually, I still would
have liked to have heard this sung by one of the ladies who took
part in this disc. No offense to Moore, but it’s just so ingrained
in my head.
Only two tracks on
How The Years Go By don’t live up to standards. The first,
“Every Heartbeat,” just finds itself lopping along to its own
rhythm, completely ignoring the beat that the producers tried to
create for the song to fit into. (With all due respect to vocalist
Carina Norlund, this one is possibly the one Grant track I hate the
most, so no one, not even Norlund, could raise my expectations.)
The other, “It Takes A Little Time,” just doesn’t fit into the
electronica groove, possibly because of its goofily trippy lyrics.
Otherwise, Julie Moon does a respectable job.
How The Years Go By is an interesting body of work, and one
which should pique the interest of Grant’s fans. I didn’t get a
chance to let my wife listen to this disc (even I have deadlines to
meet), but something tells me she’d be open to hearing what this
disc has to offer – and she hates almost everything I listen to.
That would be a high mark of praise if she liked this disc –
and I think she will. I think you will, too.