New releases are plentiful this week. Luckily for us, we have been listening
to Ginny Owens' new disc, Beautiful, for over a month already, and it is
definitely a keeper. This week also finds a long-awaited new music from
Darrell Evans, plus the best-of collection for Christian folk legends
Caedmon's Call. It's a week of music not to miss.

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BEAUTIFUL - GINNY OWENS (2004)
by Scott Bush

Ginny's latest release marks a step forward in the evolution of her
artistry. In spite of her 2000 Dove award for Best New Artist, her previous
full-length ventures could best be described musically as the search for a
signature sound. The search ends with Beautiful. On her website, Ginny posts
an open letter to her fans in lieu of a bio. In it she describes the album
as "a comfortable pair of jeans," and its sound as "old soul." I'm inclined
to agree. This album is noticeably more relaxed than her prior work, and it
projects an air of comfort and confidence that was somewhat lacking before.
Gone are the abrupt course changes from R&B to hip-hop to Spiritual.
Instead, the listener is treated to a cohesive, more mature sound
reminiscent of Stevie Wonder, whom Ginny cites as a long-time influence.

The sound is not the only thing displaying a new maturity. Ginny's continued
ability to express her stories such that they become "our" stories is
accented by songwriting that delves into deeper, more personal areas of her
soul. Of overriding concern on this album are themes of trust, change, and
self-image. The title, Beautiful, refers to her struggles with
image-consciousness, and in focusing on how others perceive her. She
describes being drawn into the industry-wide fixation on make-up, hair, and
clothes; wrestling with the concepts due to feelings of self-doubt caused in
part by her blindness.

For the first time, she also feels comfortable writing about Heaven. Once
intimidated by the prospect of describing something so majestic and
mysterious, her lead song "Won't That Be Fine" has an easy-going, dreamy
feel that fits perfectly with the song's message that everything will be
fine "When the sun always shines, and there is love all the time." Since she
grew up without sight, Ginny claims that she was never very inquisitive
about the things that others could see. But in another tribute to her
newfound maturity, she has begun to explore this side of her personality and
"I Love the Way" is the result. It speaks of basking in the wonder of God's
creation, of lying in the sun, feeling the rain, and sensing the stillness
of midnight. "Call Me Beautiful" is the pseudo-title track, and it is a
sensitive look at how, while self-doubt can rob us of life's joys, God says
that we are all beautiful. Man's constant, fruitless quest to find
satisfaction in earthly treasures is the topic of "Bread," which has a
stripped-down blues melody reminiscent of certain songs by Lauryn Hill.

Fans of Ginny Owens remember her near-meteoric rise from "discovery" to
"star." With such a quick rise comes both increased expectation and
obligation. Near-constant production and touring over the past two years
drove her to withdraw for recuperation. She has returned rejuvenated and
refreshed. I feel comfortable saying that, Without Condition, she has given
her fans Something More. By far her best work yet, it is in a word,
Beautiful.

Find out more about Ginny Owens on cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/pop/ginnyowens


MORE NEW STUFF ON cMUSICWEB.COM

Feature: L.A. Symphony: The Beginning Is Now
http://cMusicWeb.com/features/lasymphony

Review: Open Wide This Window - GlassByrd
http://cMusicWeb.com/worship/glassbyrd/openwidethiswindow.shtml

Review: Achtung Baby - U2
http://cMusicWeb.com/modernrock/u2/achtungbaby.shtml


AVAILABLE TUESDAY, APRIL 6 (at cMusicWeb.com or your local music store)

PURCHASE THIS MUSIC AND MORE AT GRASSROOTSMUSIC.COM:
http://www.grassrootsmusic.com/?associateid=249

BEAUTIFUL - GINNY OWENS
See review above.

CHRONICLES - CAEDMON'S CALL
Since 1992 Caedmon's Call has been making heartfelt folk music. This
limited-edition release covers the past 12 years with 15 songs from their
past. Some of these tracks are extended versions or live recordings, plus
there are two new songs by the newer members of Caedmon's, Josh Moore and
Andrew Osenga. Get this PICK OF THE WEEK now, for they say it won't be
around forever and it includes an exclusive Enhanced CD look at their
upcoming disc.

CONSUMING FIRE - DARRELL EVANS
Known for such modern worship tunes as "Trading My Sorrows" and "Let The
River Flow", Darrell Evans is finally back with some new music. Frankly, I
have been more impressed with his studio offerings, but this live disc is
pretty good too. Listen hard and you might hear some help from other worship
names such as Charlie Hall, Paul Baloche Kevin Prosch, and Kate Miner.

GLORY DEFINED EP - BUILDING 429
The latest in the Worship/rcok craze, this 6-track EP just gives us a taste
of their full-length debut, which looks doomed to sound just like every
other Worship/rock hybrid of late.

MIX IT UP - JUMP5
If you listen to Radio Disney, you know who these kids are. And as a general
rule for this type of pop, remix discs are always more interesting than
regular watered-down pop discs, so this one might actually be worth checking
out... maybe.

SONGS INSPIRED BY THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST - VARIOUS
The Passion has become a mainstream phenomenon, and this disc definitely
shows it. While some might have hoped for a disc full of Christian artists
reflecting on the movie, such as a track on Kutless' latest disc, this disc
has spiritually-tinged music from big names such as Bob Dylan, Elvis, Ricky
Skaggs, and The Blind Boys of Alabama.


THE LATEST NEWS HEADLINES
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