Phil
Keaggy's HYMNSONGS
-- by Stephanie Bargenquast
I've been listening to
this CD for quite a while now (thanks to Robin and Phil!)
and it continues to amaze me. I keep finding something
new and interesting. As far as PK releases go, I wasn't
really looking forward to this one as much as some of the
others. Instrumentals are always hard for me to swallow
and the fact that it was an album of hymns didn't help
either. But I was very pleased to find myself enjoying
this on first spin (rather than the 100th). I'm not
familiar with these hymns (with the exception of "Nothing
But The Blood", a PK standard) so I wasn't quite
sure what to expect musically. Now that I've heard this,
I'm anxious to go back and hear those old hymns with a
new perspective and see what I've been missing.
Some of the songs have a "March of the Clouds" and "Beyond this Day" type grandeour to them. Others have the simplicity of a more polished Acoustic Sketches or In The Quiet Hours. All are very well done and they compliment each other nicely. They aren't overproduced and inorganic but they aren't rough around the edges either.
There's something on this CD for both the acoustic guitarists and the electric rockers. It lies somewhere between Acoustic Sketches and 220 in it's range of styles. Anyone looking for some great guitar licks will not be disappointed here! Phil does some amazing fretwork!!! But this isn't just a great guitar album. And it isn't just background music either! The mood here ranges from one of self-reflection and humility to triumph and victory. There is even a hint of patriotism which is very appropriate considering the time around which this project was being done. I can hear some strains of Phil's "God Bless America" (download the mp3) in a few of the songs.
I like all fourteen songs, however like any album, certain tunes stand out. Favorites for me include a very well redone "Nothing But The Blood", "Jerusalem", "In The Bleak Midwinter" (I had hoped this CD would make it out before this was a reality in Iowa...) and the Todd Beamer tribute "Our Daily Bread". "Prelude" is an appropriate opener for an album that I think will please alot of people. The name HYMNSONGS may deter some of Phil's "secular" fans, however I think all will be pleasantly surprised. Whether you like hymns or not, this CD deserves a listen.
-- Stephanie Bargenquast
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Page Last Updated: October 25, 2002