Young singer/songwriter Bethany Dillon, known for her acoustic sound and hits like "Beautiful" and "All I Need" returns with a new album composed entirely of acoustic versions of some of her previous songs. This album, So Far: Acoustic Sessions, previously an iTunes-exclusive EP, may feel like a breath of fresh air for those dissatisfied with her third album; the somewhat overdone and predictable-sounding Waking Up.

While a good album overall, some listeners may be disappointed in the lack of any new songs, save for a pitchy cover of Paul McCartney's "We Can Work It Out." The remaining nine tracks, a mix of hits and favorites from her first three albums are sort of a mixed bag. Some songs, like "Hallelujah," "Let Your Light Shine," "Beautiful," and "When You Love Someone" sound great when performed acoustically; whereas others like "Dreamer," "Top of the World," and "Hero" sound breathy and off-key in places.

To be brief, So Far: Acoustic Sessions is good, but not spectacular. In fact, if the listener already owns Dillon's previous albums or the digital EP of this album, they may simply want to download the four added tracks on iTunes or Amazon.com instead of paying a few dollars more for the whole thing.

Review date: 1/31/10, written by Allyson Reed for Jesusfreakhideout.com