Released 15 years ago this past April, this is Sandra McCracken's sixth studio album and second album with lyrics pulled from old English hymnals from the last few hundred years. But even though this is hymn lyrics, it definitely does not sound like a church choir. Sandra's other albums around this time are folk-rock songs, and this album's music and production is very much the same. These songs sound much more like contemporary works, as the melodies and song structure are mostly brand new, though the lyrics are mostly taken from old hymns. Looking at the song titles, you might not think you recognize many of these, but the song titles do not seem to be the main chorus on this album. For example, "Faith's Review & Expectation" ends the album with a new melody for "Amazing Grace". There's something special about these old hymn texts and it's fun to hear them set to modern music. I like the appearances by Thad Cockrell and Derek Webb on the title track, adding beautiful harmonies and taking turns on the lead vocal. Sandra McCracken has spent the last 10 years of her musical career since then making modern music for hymns and psalms and this early hymn album was the start of things to come.

Release Year: 2010
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify