Ginny Owens: Bring Us Peace CD Review

Ginny Owens' latest release isn't just different because it's a Christmas release. While many artists release holiday efforts that feature run-of-the-mill compositions even if they offer original tunes, Owens has used this disc to showcase different sides of her musical personality. That in itself makes this a rare Christmas treat.

The best example of this can be found from the very outset on the soulful "Christmas All The Time." While an acoustic guitar provides the only instrumentation, Owens' delivers a beautiful vocal arrangement that sounds more like Nelly Furtado than Ginny Owens, if you can believe it. The track is enough to make you check the cover to make sure you didn't receive the wrong CD. The track is wonderful and kicks off a fantastic effort.

"Miracle" is another highlight and Owens' does the tune justice, as it was originally penned by David Wilcox and serves as a great example why Wilcox is one of the best songwriters out there today. "In The Bleak Midwinter" is found here as a haunting a capella short and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" showcases a surprisingly mature vocal effort over minimal piano that sounds a bit like Karen Berquist of Over The Rhine fame.

The album also includes two other originals, although one is fairly out of place here. While I appreciate the originality and attempt to do something out of the box, "Nothin' for Christmas" is a bluesy, biting tune in which Owens sings to an ex-boyfriend that his stocking will be empty. It snaps the album from the holiday theme and the contrast is too much. However, "This is Christmas" is backed with a beautiful string arrangement and focuses the listener on the real reason of Christmas better than any other tune on the album.

Owens has saved the best for last, or at least her most recent. And it comes in the form of a present at the best time of year. This album is not to be missed.