BORN TO ROCK
Sarah Kelly's latest effort
successfully combines familiar concepts with unexpected melodies, arrangements
and production, while maintaining a consistent focus on Kelly's raw, emotive
voice to produce an album that's energetic, uplifting and a worthy addition to
anyone's rock collection.
From the start,
Born to Worship treads a fine line between “just right” and “over
the top” production but manages to keep everything in the realm of good
musicianship and an accessible overall effect.
The star of this album, undeniably,
is Kelly’s voice. She is clearly a singer who knows how to style her phrases,
wrap her vocal chords around a melody and deliver an authentic performance
every time. There isn’t a single track that doesn’t sound convincing and
genuine. Add to that some cool surprises—a choir in the background,
perhaps?—and this album is a clear step forward in this developing artist’s
repertoire.
Kudos to Kelly for taking risks with
production, instrumentation and electronic effects. While those same effects
have the potential of diluting the message within the lyrics, in this instance,
everything comes together in a complimentary way. Instead of serving as a
distraction, every effect, counter melody and nuance seem to gel, leaving one
clear message behind—this is a girl who is genuinely, passionately in love with
God. Not only that, but she tries—and succeeds—in passing that love along to
her listeners…all with a unique melody and beat that just won't quit.
-- Caroline Lusk