Feburary 2002

2002’s first week of Lent will probably be one of the weirdest cycles in a while. You have Fat Tuesday, where you eat yourself silly, then Ash Wednesday on the 13^th. This will be a day of fast and abstinence. The next day is February 14, Valentine’s Day. The general rule is dinner out, or boxes of candy. Then on Friday, it’s back to abstinence again. How about passing on the candies and dinners this time and giving a Valentine's gift that will share the meaning of the season--Catholic music?

With Lent we learn of Jesus being in the desert 40 days and how he stood up against all the temptations that Satan dished out to Him. We also are faced with temptations everyday and must remember to be like Jesus.  Greg Walton’s new CD is called I Won’t Back Down, and hits the nail on the head with songs about standing up for Jesus and turning against all our temptations. “Turn Me Around” is a killer track that takes this to heart. It is a song about how one would feel when looking at a scantly-clad girl. “She makes it easy for the mind to think what lies underneath”, but with the right mind Greg asks the Lord to “give me some ground so my eyes will hold on You.”  Greg Walton puts out a dynamite sound on this CD and it shines in this song. The entire CD has an alternative rock sound that any fan of Train, Collective Soul, or Green Day would love to have. I had a real hard time reviewing this CD, because I would find myself getting so much into the guitar, the vocal mixes, and the lyrics that I would forget to take notes.

I Won’t Back Down is an enjoyable CD, with great songs and great messages. It's no wonder why Greg's first album, "Stealing Moment" was awarded 2001 Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year from UCMVA. While Greg was looking into making this CD, he sought the coaching of his long-time manager Greg Menza, Polarboy’s band leader, Pol Buckingham, producer John Pisciotta and master songwriter Bob Halligan Jr. (Ceili Rain, Rebecca St. James, etc…). The end result is edgy rock ‘n roll with a message.  Take the song “Dear Dorothy” as an example. It’s a fantastic marriage of vocals and music in a song about our favorite Oz temporary resident. “...We’re not in Kansas anymore, clickin’ your heels won’t fix the deal, get with the Word of Life.”  It’s a great song for letting us know that Jesus has to be our yellow brick road.  “Despite” is a true love song for Jesus. Greg makes it clear that he doesn’t want to live or breathe without Him. Greg said about the CD, “This one is meant for the youth and all those who are into modern rock. The title track is the Tom Petty song and it really smokes.  It's a great song.  It's inspiring and it carries a message of importance to all Christians...stand up for what you believe and don't let the world intimidate you.”  

Step up for Jesus with songs of praise and worship is the latest message from The Hands. Their new CD, Step, is a follow-up to their best selling P&W CD, Jesus, I Believe.  Of course Joe and Jean Ann Hand will always be remembered for the song Life On The Rock, the theme of the EWTN youth series. This new CD will leave an imprint on you with Jean Ann’s sweet vocals and Joe’s crafty guitar licks (which are shared with fellow Catholic artist Scott Goudeau). Jean Ann sings with a child-like innocence on “Psalm 139 .“  It is much like a child at prayer, in the way that we should all approach our Father in heaven. Then on “El Shaddai” her vocals are powerful, in a beautiful song of praise written by Michael Card. The duo takes on the prayer “Soul of Christ (Anima Christi)” and makes it a song of praise.  Joe Hand shows his musical talents off in this CD as well. “May Your Kingdom Come” and “Surrender Prayer” are songs by him with a guitar sound very close to a Paul Simon/James Taylor style. (I eagerly await Joe's soon-to-be released solo CD.) But the jewel of the CD is the incredible title track "Step by Step/I Love You Lord." This song shows how tight Joe and Jean Ann are as a duo and as husband and wife. They trade out vocals and make the two different songs blend into one beautiful song of praise. Step is one CD that will cement it’s way into your heart as a favorite P&W CD.  

Julie Carrick’s latest recording, The Bridge, is a follow-up from her debut CD, Kateri. The album was written following her 2000 Holy Land concert tour. Julie has taken life experiences that we all have had and crafted them into powerful images. The opening track “The Apple To Eve” is a song with a mixture of orchestral music and Julie vocals. It weaves a tale about temptation and how we must call on the Lord to give us strength. What is our "apple”? “Whispers” is another quiet song with lots of meaning. It starts off with an ambient piano, like one you might hear on NPR’s "Echoes," and is mixed with soft vocals to tell us that the Lord talks to us is quiet ways as well. “…I thought you had to come as a roaring lion, but You simply came as love..”  Julie throws a surprise or two into this CD.  One is fun country-rock tune called “It’s A God Thing.”  Sounding like Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” the song tells of Jesus healing the blind, the lame and walking on the water, and asks how He can do this. The answer is: “It’s A God Thing.” The title track, “The Bridge,” is a most magnificent piece of work in song. It is a gentle tune that tells us about Jesus and how His blood was shed on the cross for us. Julie explains in the song that the cross is a bridge that is the link between Heaven and Earth. She makes a point in the song where she stops singing and turns to spoken word. With this Julie proclaims the stark truth that Jesus died for us and “washed away our sin and bought salvation to a world in need.”  With The Bridge Julie Carrick proves that she is a special find, not just for her music but for her insights as well.

Hope For Tomorrow, by Gretchen Harris, is one of those CD’s that gathered a new meaning after the attack on America. Gretchen was moved to create a soothing album for the hurting soul when her friend was discovered to have a brain tumor.  She felt called to put together a group of songs with lyrics that illustrate God's love for his suffering souls. It was to convey the message of peace in confusing, troubled times. Then September 11^th happened.  It’s times like these when you need to be held in the arms of your loving Father. To be a “Child Of God” in the hardest of times is what Gretchen sings about with beautiful vocals and accompaniment. The cello in this song is awesome.  Another song about our loving Father is the song “I Am”.  “Drop that heavy load...I know you through and through, no need to hide, I want to show you love that is deep…”  It is a song that has a folksy flavor to it, as Gretchen is joined by singer Bob Cowsill (of The Cowsills). It’s a "mooo’ving" song.  Following the theme of a loving God is Amy Grant’s song “Carry You.”  The song states you should “lay down your burden” and allow yourself to be carried by Jesus through the hard times. One song that really stands out on Hope For Tomorrow is "Life After Death." It was written by Gretchen and producer David Harris, as an appealing story of her mother's healing following the death of Gretchen's father. The sweet vocals tells of God’s grace and His peace to carry on after such as loss.  I was blown away by Gretchen's previous CD, Sing of Mary.  It was a beautiful collection of Marian songs giving praise for Our Blessed Mother.  I was worried that this new CD would not match it.  I was pleasantly wrong.  Hope For Tomorrow to me personally is the flip side of "Sing Of Mary," with songs about God the Father. These CDs should be side by side in your collection.

There is a tie that binds both Gretchen Harris and Julie Carrick together. They both perform on the Catholic Artists For Relief CD, You Are Not Alone. This is a benefit CD that helps the victims of the September 11^th attacks.