Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




Jaci Velasquez
Beauty Has Grace



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 10 tracks: 38 minutes, 54 seconds
Street Date: May 3, 2005


Jaci Velasquez may only be twenty five years old, but she's been the princess of Christian Latin music for nearly a decade. With Beauty Has Grace marking her tenth studio release in nine years (including her popular strictly-Spanish releases), Velasquez changes her musical direction entirely. Removing herself completely from the States, Jaci flew to London, England to work with British producer Martin Terefe (Cold Play, Ron Sexsmith). The album was written and recorded in four months out of England's own Kennsington Sessions studio. The end result is a complete rebirth for Jaci, incomparable with any of her previous ventures.

Beauty Has Grace opens with the pop/rock "I'm Not Looking Down," introducing a noticably more modest vocal performance from Velasquez. She presents the verses in a somewhat tired but passionate and tender way that compliments the songs on Beauty Has Grace quite nicely. "With All My Soul," co-written with City On A Hill writers Marc Byrd and Steve Hindalong (which clearly bears their signature songwriting style), is one of the album's first highlights. A surrendering of control to our Heavenly Father, "With All My Soul" is the perfect example of the honest fragility that permeats most of the album.

"Something Beautiful" is another album highlight, beginning as somewhat of a ballad before the chorus breaks out a bold electric guitar riff and crisp live drums that give the song a tasty pop/rock feel. "Tonight," a GlassByrd cover, features Birmingham, England native Michael Clarke on vocals, preceding the quirky "When You Hold Me." Blending electronic effects with a sonic guitar riff with Jaci's best Meredith Brook impression, "When You Hold Me" bends the worship genre in ways many will have to hear to believe. The album winds down nicely with the upbeat "Reason To Believe," the beautiful, piano-driven "Supernatural," and the slow-tempo and catchy "This Love."

Beauty Has Grace is a risky and bold stylistic shift for Jaci Velasquez. The Brit-influenced pop/rock flavor of the record makes Velasquez's songs much more accessible, but without a hint of Latin flavor to be found on the record, it may come as a shock to some long-time fans. Regardless, Beauty Has Grace is an intelligent and welcomed change for Velasquez and one that certainly makes me want to watch what this girl will be up to from now on much more closely.

- Review date: 4/30/05, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

Jaci Velasquez CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Word / Curb / Warner Bros.
. Album length: 10 tracks, 38 minutes and 54 seconds
. Street Date: May 3, 2005
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. I'm Not Looking Down
  2. With All My Soul
  3. Prayer To Love
  4. Lay It Down
  5. Something Beautiful
  6. Tonight
  7. When You Hold Me
  8. Reason To Believe
  9. Supernatural
  10. This Love
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH




This Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]

Next Friday, November 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Dolly Parton & Family Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables [Owepar Entertainment]
The Lore Family Faith Over Fear [Horizon]
Fernando Ortega For All the Saints - EP (independent)
Earnest Pugh Worth is the Lamb
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) - EP [Curb]
Paul Wright III Reverie [United Alliance]

SINGLES
Big Dismal Here In My Heart - Single (independent)
Hannah Kerr It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Single [Curb]
Olivia Lane Silent Night - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Wake Up It's Christmas - Single [BEC]
Jamie MacDonald A Million Chances - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ronnie Martin On Christmas Morning - Single [Velvet Blue]
Hunter Plake Daylight - Single [BEC]
Jordan St. Cyr Christ is Here - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Divine Discontent Vinyl [Word]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images