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Sarah Kelly returns to the studio with gutsy, honest vocal delivery and deeply expressive music, evoking an acoustic AC folkpop sound on eleven original tracks. Where the Past Meets Today includes "Hold On Love," "Fall Into You," "Still Breathing," and more.

SHE’LL TAKE YOU AWAY

Not since Jennifer Knapp has a woman rocked with as much conviction on the Christian music scene as Sarah Kelly. With blistering guitar licks, a larger-than-life stage presence and her Janis Joplin howl, listeners couldn’t help but believe every word she sang on her Grammy-nominated debut, Take Me Away. And, while the majority of the songs on her previous effort were more worshipful in scope, Kelly stakes a more personal claim with Where the Past Meets Today.

After falling prey to a cycle of physical abuse as a teenager, Kelly uses the songs on Where the Past Meets Today as a creative outlet for peace and continued healing. For anyone who has experienced a similar situation, there’s also a genuine sense of hope to be found in God’s unconditional love, something she articulates so poignantly on the piano-driven “At About Midnight.”

With the constant theme of living without regrets throughout, Kelly’s gritty vocal delivery—that’s part Janis and part Alanis—particularly shines on the memorable, mid-tempo opener, “The Beauty of It All.” But, before one assumes she’s going for a softer sound this time around, “Still Breathing” squelches those thoughts in a hurry with its full-on guitar assault that’ll probably remind many fans of the hair-band era when Axl Rose was king. And, while this may cause a few to wonder why she chose that direction, it really comes as no surprise since Kelly teamed up with Mike Clink, the producer behind Guns N’ Roses’ multi-platinum Appetite for Destruction. And that guitar assault? Courtesy of GNR’s own lead guitarist, Slash, who also contributes his chops to “Out of Reach.”

While the moments where Kelly most heartily embraces her inner rock chick are certainly memorable and well-executed, the disc’s best tracks are usually the quieter ones because Kelly’s personal lyrics steal the spotlight, instead of the guitars. The best examples are the moody strains of “Hold On Love” and the lilting, nostalgic feel of closing track, “Remember Me Well.” But, whether she’s rocking out or getting introspective, there’s still plenty to enjoy here, either way, on what’s ultimately a stellar sophomore offering.

CHRISTA A. BANISTER – CCMMagazine.com

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• Genre >> Alternative/Modern
• Music >> Full-Album CD
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