After a few years of countless artists releasing praise and worship albums that unfortunately sounded just too much alike, Out of Eden steps outside of the box with their latest project Hymns. This is not the first time the female trio has broken the mold, for over ten years Out of Eden has worked to create music that does just that. So Hymns only continues to build on the girls' track record. By combining their signature R&B harmonies and rhythm with older hymns alongside some new material, Out of Eden created an album that once again makes them stand out against the crowd.

With the oldest Out of Eden sister Lisa Kimmey stepping up to the plate as producer, the trio's fingerprints are all over this project. While a title such as Hymns may lead many to believe the record is completely made up of the older church favorites, Out of Eden throws a couple of originals in the mix such as "Vision of Love" and "Have Mercy" to keep a good balance. But the creativity isn't only limited to the new material. "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" is given a church choir-based sound while "I Know Whom I Have Believed" is punched up with gospel and even funk skirmishes. The pleasant instrumental "Vibe Session" alongside "One Day" make for a nice intro into the worship hit "Better is One Day." Finally, the girls break from their R&B roots for one track in particular- "Praise to the Lord Almighty" which features a cool rock flavor and even the popular band Tree63 to put a spin on things.

While Hymns may not be for every music fan, it is most definitely worth your time to give it a listen. In a time when not many artists are breaking away from the mold that so many cling to, Out of Eden's latest release comes as a breath of fresh air. Even though the girls do hold tight to their well-known harmonies and sound, these elements are exactly what sets this record apart from the others that flood the music shelves.

- Review date: 3/26/05, written by Lauren Summerford