Crystal Lewis made waves in the Christian music industry back in the '90s with the hit, "People Get Ready, Jesus Is Coming," from the album, Beauty For Ashes. The album itself garnered four consecutive number one radio hits, each of which are featured here on More, a greatest hits album.
Each song blends a healthy dose of pop, pop/rock, and at times even dance pop. The first and newest song featured here is "More," a rather industrial pop song that's reminiscent of the early efforts of Plumb. However, at first listen, it comes off as somewhat redundant, due to the overall weak lyrics. At the same time, it's a genre she seems very confident in, and it's a genre that fits her well. "I Guess" pretty much lays down the foundation for which the rest of the tracks play out on this greatest hits project. It's the kind of mellow pop that blends a small, but generous amount of soothing rock into the mix, resulting in a strong collection of songs that truly highlight her talents. This is most evident in "People Get Ready, Jesus Is Coming," a song that embraces the return of our Lord and Savior. Other highlights include "Lord I Believe In You," "Only Fools," and "The Beauty Of The Cross."
It's also evident throughout More, that Lewis isn't afraid of experimenting with different sounds. Although each song selected for this particular project does highlight her diverse musical talents, there were a couple choices that seemed slightly out of place. The cover of Graham Kendrick's "Shine, Jesus, Shine" is her attempt at club/dance pop. It's a nice spin on the classic song, but it falls short in comparison with the other greater hits. Then there is "I Now Live." The song in general isn't bad at all, and it utilizes the electronic rock sound nicely, but the rap sequence halfway through is laughable at best and should have been left out.
For anyone who missed out on her first greatest hits project, or just want a taste of what Crystal Lewis has to offer, More should more than fulfill your need. Despite the minor setbacks, these are beautifully crafted pop songs that should not be overlooked by any fan of CCM.
JFH Reader Review: Review date: 7/8/10, written by Darius Sanchez for Jesusfreakhideout.comRecord Label: Sony
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