Main Review
For those who are familiar with the different Christian music labels out there in today’s market, you’ll
notice one small label that has been churning out very promising and ministering projects in recent
months. Kingsway, an imprint and indie label distributed by EMI-CMG has released a few albums
already in 2010 that are garnering critical acclaim. Projects from modern hymn writer Stuart Townend
(writer of “In Christ Alone”) and newcomer Chris McClarney have already proven to be successful. The
third such release comes from Nashville-based worship leader and accomplished author, Kelly Minter.
Her newest musical release Introducing Kelly Minter, introduces the Virginia-native to a wider and already
growing audience with her ability to draw in the listener with her powerful message and amazing voice.
When I took my first listen to Kelly’s new album, I was immediately captured by her beautiful voice. The
first thing I thought of when I heard the beginning of the first track “We Will Not Go” was Amy Grant. I
could compare her [Kelly] vocally to the ‘artist with the angelic voice’, the term I often times use to
describe Grant’s vocals. Right off the bat Kelly impressed me with her voice, which resonates powerfully
throughout the entire EP.
The album starts out with pop-rock song, “We Will Let Go”, a song that Kelly co-wrote with Steve Leiweke,
Henk Pool and John Hartley. The song centers on the message of Exodus 33, which talks of Moses’
decision not to enter into the Promised Land without God’s presence. To me the song was a reminder of
God’s decisions for our lives and the paths that He has predestined us to take, in which we must,
through faith, follow through with.
Minter’s arrangement of Charles Wesley’s “Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above” is probably one of the
best I have heard. These classic hymns are all but absent from a lot of today’s churches, so I love when
artists like Minter make it a point to highlight these timeless works. Along with “Praise the Lord…” Minter
also covers the Stuart Townend-penned hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” as well co-writing the
song, “Healing Streams” with Townend. “I grew up on the hymns, so the chance to write with someone
like Stuart Townend, who has written arguably the greatest modern hymn of our day, ‘In Christ Alone,’
was a wonderful opportunity” says Minter of her chance to co-write the song with Stuart.
Closing Thoughts
If you are a fan of female vocalists such as CCM veterans Amy Grant and Sandy Patti or perhaps newer
faces such as Brooke Fraser-Ligertwood (Hillsong United) and Laura Story, I think you will find Kelly
Minter’s new album a great addition to your CD collection and definitely an artist to keep your eye on. I
think it’s only a matter of time before her name becomes a house-hold name.
Review Written By: Jay Heilman [jay.heilman@christianmusicreview.org] on 3/16/2010
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