If you were asked to recall some of the conversations you have had with God, I wonder what theme would come out. In Joy Whitlock's debut album we hear the results of four years of her personal conversations with God. The album name is exactly what it says on the tin, conversations between God and a Girl.

Joy opens her debut album with "Cost of Being Free," a song written to friends who knew her as she once was - asking "whatcha think of me now?" The song, based on Romans 6:1-7, is a great reminder of how anybody can be reborn in Jesus Christ, while at the same time showing off a number of catchy riffs from the guitar and keyboard. The song's folk style sets the precedent for the album that follows.

God and a Girl succeeds in not making the Christian life sound easy, and this is one of its biggest selling points. The songs written by Joy are very down to earth and truthful. "Faith Don't Fail" is all about the struggles we go through, while the album's first single, "Holding On To Me," is a more rock guitar driven song where she talks of how God holds onto her through everything. It's a very catchy song, with lines such as, "I'm lifted up, I'm tumbling down, I touch the sky, I hit the ground, But every time I've found, You're holding on to me." Its sound may bring to mind the music of Sarah Kelly or Jennifer Knapp. The more rock style works very well for Joy, and I'd love to hear more like this on her future projects. Halfway through the album is the song "Beautiful," which is a powerful song about thanking God for saving us and the cost of it all. This song sums up the whole album, asking where we would be if the Son of God hadn't sacrificed His life for us.

God and a Girl is a topnotch effort from Joy, being an album that is fun to listen to and bears a strong and meaningful message. However, there are a few songs that should probably end slightly earlier than they do. The album is long enough (over an hour) without the need for the occasional additional repeat of the chorus.

Listening to the God and a Girl is an insight into Joy Whitlock's thoughts and this works wonderfully to make the album an uplifting and encouraging experience. So now begins the anticipation for her next project.

- Review date: 9/27/08, written by David Couch of Jesusfreakhideout.com