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

JFH Music Review




Rebecca St. James
Pray



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 11 tracks: 59 minutes, 59 seconds
Street Date: 1998


Rebecca St. James never ceases to amaze me. She's 21, she's beautiful, and she still loves God like someone who just came away from an amazing Spirit-filled youth retreat and is running on a Spiritual "high." Each song she's ever written and recorded has been in-your-face and bold with the Christian message, never looking anywhere but vertically to our loving God. Rebecca has become a young adult who all of us can look at and learn from.

Pray is Rebecca's newest project, the follow-up to 1996's Grammy-nominated God and 1997's seasonal project, Christmas. Much like God, Pray is a successful mix of her Aussie-accented vocals and pop/rock-driven tunes. However, Becca's had her musician pals turn up their amps a little bit for this one. Not too many of the tracks can really enter the "ballad" category while some do start out or just hover above that description.

The album kicks off with her new single/video and title cut from the album, which was inspired by 2 Chronicles 7:14. The song begins with some strings, including a violin, leading the listener to think, "Uh-oh! Has Reccas gone soft?" But before you can really finish the sinking feeling, the drums roll in and the electric guitars say "hello" with a catchy tune you'll more than likely want to hear over and over.

Rebecca decided to do a couple of pretty funky covers on this album. She reworked Rich Mullins' "Hold Me Jesus" into a slow, almost dark, but repentive cry out to God to draw near to us when we're in need of His comfort. Also, she redoes Keith Green's classic "Lord, You're Beautiful" with electronic drums and bass carrying her soft, melodic voice through the intro before a stronger beat jumps in. Before long, the guitars are more prominent, strings have been introduced, and Becca's voice has been layered to give the track a new identity.

Before I critique the whole thing for half a novel, I'll close with this: Miss St. James has made another successful recording and I highly recommend it for fans of her previous work and for those who may prefer a little edgy pop/rock now and then.

- Review date: 10/19/98, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

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

RSJ: Pray CD

Buy This CD Online


. Record Label: Forefront Records
. Album length: 11 tracks, 59 minutes and 59 seconds
. Street Date: 1998
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Pray
  2. OK
  3. Give Myself Away
  4. Hold Me Jesus
  5. I'll Carry You
  6. Come Quickly Lord
  7. Peace
  8. Mirror
  9. Lord You're Beautiful
  10. Love to Love You
  11. Omega
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
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