I, to be perfectly candid, am one of the latter.
When I was younger, in the days of vinyl and cassette tapes, I remember buying a whole album for just one favorite song. Occasionally there might be one filled with favorites, but they were few and far between. These days, most people don’t even use the word “album.” Songs are downloaded one at a time, play lists are created or we choose or create our own Pandora station and have songs presented to us online.
So when I recently pulled up the latest collection from Julie Kinscheck, entitled Let My Light Shine, I enjoyed a trip down memory lane. Except, of course, that I may not have listened to this kind of music back then. But I digress…
Overall, this is a great little gem as a backdrop for your day! While it’s described as “Christian Rock,” I found it to be more of a fusion of electronic-pop-easy listening-light jazz, with a tad of country thrown-in for good measure (how’s that for a genre?!). Honestly, tho, the blend and variety of styles is part of what makes the collection so interesting. Kind of an aural “melting pot”!
The opening lines of “Standing on the Rock” give a bluesy intro to the album, but the piece quickly segues into rhythmic pop-rock. “Love Life Like I Should” brings to mind the country sounds of the Marshall Tucker Band perhaps, but as the song progresses, she starts to sing scat with a smooth jazzy feel (which my 10-yr old liked and said made her think of “The Jungle Book”!). My definite fav in this collection is “You Are,” a tribute to the amazing qualities of God, presented in a distinctively jazzy sound, also with a light, fun section of scat-singing, a la Natalie Cole.
Which brings me to the themes of these songs, which vary from parenthood to faith, to relationships to…well, many themes that reverberate with women.
Another wonderful selection is entitled “I’m a Mess.” (And is there anyone out there who hasn’t felt that way at least once in the past week?)
I try hard – I fall flat. Diet pills just make my hungry!
I feel fat – I get mad: I’m a mess!
I talk fast, insert foot, try to fix it with an email.
Make it worse, we’re both hurt: I’m a mess!
I mean, really – isn’t this the kind of stuff that happens to women today? Or is it just me? Her humorous approach, however, helps us to laugh at ourselves rather than stew in our “misery”…
Both light-hearted and rich, Let My Light Shine offers both encouragement and inspiration…the perfect choice for our cherished readers <3!
You can purchase your own copy of Let My Light Shine on Amazon. Visit Julie Kinscheck’s website here.
Try listening to a sample…what do YOU think? And what are you listening to these days?