Awaken

The light, cross-genre of 's 2003 LP, , wore its Christian and inspirational themes well, and gave her powerful vocals plenty of big-note opportunities. A lot of people noticed -- had some mainstream success on the for 's , and garnered a Dove Award nod for /Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. herself was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. Though she released a straightforward album in 2004, the singer revisits the sound of with the vibrant, heartfelt . Bright, Crayola-style primary colors burst from its lyric book, and the extensive photography features smiling comfortably in contemporary fashions akin to a diva. (The look befits her duet with on the modernist ) The prayer quoted in its liners points to 's Christian heart, and the title track speaks to the Lord directly while showcasing her soaring vocal. But is happy to praise Jesus over sparkling -derived , as or the -style prove. It also takes the non-specific approach -- lyrics like "Everywhere your love surrounds me" can be as romantic as they are reverent. is a tribute to family, while is an ambitious complete with soaring strings. returns to referencing the Lord directly over slick, reverby acoustic guitar, and is another confidence booster/ song defined by its rousing chorus. Though strong, the melodies on sometimes feel recycled, and its manicured instrumentation lessens the power of 's singing voice. But the album is still a capable blend of Christian themes with mainstream texture, meaning it deserves the same accolades received. ~ Johnny Loftus