‘Tis the season for hymn records, a wrinkle that injects some history into “modern” worship. Amy Grant’s first, Legacy, did well enough to warrant a second trip to the hymnal. It is, on the whole, a productive exercise.
Both Legacy and Rock Of Ages are co-produced by husband Vince Gill, and this one in particular bears his soulful country and Southern gospel stamp. A spare, acoustic re-make of “Carry You” features him on harmony, and the title track is a full-on duet — a pretty one at that. The pair (along with Grant’s long-time producer, Brown Bannister) cooks up an old-school gospel vibe on the latter. And “O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee” gets a sweet Appalachian groove going.
An ill-fitting cut-and-paste of “Jesus Loves Me,” “They’ll Know We Are Christians” and her own “Helping Hand,” and a few too-sleepy tracks (“Abide With Me” and “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” for starters) balance those out.
Rock is a nice — if very mellow — record but doesn’t quite get over the high bar set by Jars Of Clay’s wonderful Redemption Songs.
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