PLAIN AND SIMPLE

     The year was 1987 when Crystal Lewis released her debut album BEYOND THE CHARADE.  Since then she has blazed a noteworthy trail for Contemporary Christian female artists following in her footsteps.  Her latest album is 2011's PLAIN AND SIMPLE (Metro One) produced by her son, Solomon Ray.  Artwork and photography are capably handled by her daughter Izzi Ray, who also sings background vocals on the album with her mom.  In the CD insert Crystal Lewis quotes I Corinthians 2:1-2 from The Message: "...When I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy.  I deliberately kept it plain and simple;first Jesus and who He is;then Jesus and what He did..."  She adds: "The truth of the matter is Jesus is it.  The reason.  The point.  The truth.  The answer.  The why.  I pray that these songs convey that.  The extravagant simplicity of the Gospel..."
     The title track 'Plain and Simple' leads off the album and is smooth sounding.  It elaborates on Lewis' thoughts from the liner notes: "The plain and simple truth of it is Jesus loves me/Don't make the truth more complicated than it needs to be/Bought by blood, saved by grace, that's reality/That's the truth, it's plain and simple, anyone could see."  'Give me Jesus' written by Adam Watts has a modern sound to it.  It offers a path to healing for the soul: "It's easy to blame, it's hard to let grace wash away/The memories, all the words, the anger that braces the pain/But how long can you stay with your heart in the fire/With the hurt locked away, where nobody wins?/Fight through the wall, beat down the castle door/Brace for the fall, you don't need this anymore/Give it to Jesus."  'Revelation' is one of five songs solely penned by Crystal.  It is fresh sounding, ascribes worth to Jesus, and is based on Revelation 5:12: "Worthy is the Lamb...the spotless Lamb that was slain/Worthy is the Lamb...to receive power and riches and strength/Worthy is the Lamb...to receive honor and glory and praise."
     'Even the Rocks Cry Out', written with her husband Brian Ray, has a funky groove to it and speaks of the legacy she wants to leave: "Today as I live, even tomorrow when I'm gone/Let it be said of me/I opened my mouth, I let praise pour out/I lifted my voice above the crowd/From forgiven lips came, songs of endless praise/Loud and clear they rang/Even the rocks cry out/I will not be silent, I just have to praise Him."  'Name' is a song of gratitude to the Lord: "I love Your Name Savior/Freedom from chains Savior/You forgave my sin, delivered my soul/I love Your Name."  'I Don't Wanna Fall' is an easy rock number that confirms that she desires to please the Lord: "I have made mistakes/Fallen along the way/Made choices that I regret/Done things I'd like to forget/But I stand here now/Forgiven and free somehow/By the grace of God I see/Where I went wrong, where I want to be/I don't wanna fall again (4X)."
     'Daughter' is on the slower side and has God wanting to comfort His troubled and hurting child: "I want to hold your face in My hands/Remind you that I, I AM that I AM/Let My love wash away, the stains of the day/Don't fret or fear, I'm here/Daughter, I'm aware of your pain/I'm aware of your guilt and your shame/Daughter, the reason I came/To rescue, redeem and to save."  'All Day Long' testifies to the benefits of trusting in the Lord: "Evening approaches and darkens my door/With a fear, I admit it, I've felt before/But this time instead of dread forcing me to the floor/I sleep knowing peace through and through/For all day long, my hope was in You."  'I AM' is a wonderful song.  It is a strong reminder that God is never far from us: "In the midst of hardship, in the midst of pain/Don't you know that all you have to do is call My Name?/It may not be easy, the way may not be clear/Know my arm is not too short, my ear is quick to hear/Messiah, Savior, Son of Man/Provider, Protector, Redeemer, I AM."
     'Center of Gravity' written with her son Solomon, is the most experimental track musically.  It supports the account of creation in Genesis: "You spoke, the world began/All appeared at Your command/Your breath set the stars in place/You filled up sea and space/All things are held together/Not by cord or tether/Not by blood or bone/But by Your power alone."  'I Know You are the One' written by Brian and Izzi Ray is a great duet between Izzi and Crystal!  It speaks of a relentless pursuit of God: "With every step I move towards You/Everyday You make me new/I see You more clearly/I'll never stop until I see/You in all Your majesty/And I see You more clearly."
     PLAIN AND SIMPLE is plain and simply one of Crystal Lewis' best albums ever and certainly one of the best albums of 2011!  Vocally, the girl can still bring it, and musically, it is masterful, thanks to the playing of Solomon Ray, Jyro Xhan, Marc Ford, and Matt, Nic, and Jules Rodriguez.  This album should be getting much more airplay on today's Christian radio.  The Gospel message comes through in love loud and clear!  I'm recommending this album to fans of Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Rachael Lampa.  I'm rating PLAIN AND SIMPLE 95%.  For more info visit http://www.crystallewis.com/.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

     Crystal Lewis has been wowing Christian music fans for years now with her unique and powerful voice.  Over the years she has performed such classics as 'I Now Live', 'Shine Jesus Shine', and 'People Get Ready.'  Among her best work was 2000's HOLIDAY! A COLLECTION OF CHRISTMAS CLASSICS which was jazz infused.  With HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (2010, Metro One) Lewis has truly outdone herself.  I have nothing negative to say about this project.
     It begins with three mellow numbers.  'O Come O Come Emmanuel' is based on the following biblical prophecy from Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel."  The lyrics to the song include this plea: "O Come, Thou Key of David, come/And open wide our heavenly home;/Make safe the way that leads on high/And close the path to misery/Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel/Shall come to Thee, O Israel."  'White Christmas' was penned by Irving Berlin.  The first public performance of it was by Bing Crosby on his NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall on December 25/41.  The song finds Crystal reminiscing: "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas/Just like the ones I used to know/Where the treetops glisten and children listen/To hear sleigh bells in the snow/I'm dreaming of a white Christmas/With every Christmas card I write/May your days be merry and bright/And may all your Christmases be white."  'Grown Up Christmas List' is a David Foster and Linda Thompson-Jenner tune from 1990.  Other CCM artists such as Amy Grant and Bryan Duncan have recorded it.  It contains these utopian well wishes: "No more lives torn apart/That wars would never start/And time would heal all hearts/And everyone would have a friend/And right would always win/And love would never end/This is my grown up Christmas list."
     The title track 'Home for the Holidays' was recorded twice by Perry Como.  It picks up the pace musically and echoes the sentiments of many: "Oh there's no place like home for the holidays/'Cause no matter how far away you roam/When you long for the sunshine of a friendly gaze/For the holidays, you can't beat/Home, sweet home."  'I heard the Bells on Christmas Day' uses nice chime effects and is based on an 1864 poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  The song proclaims the victory of good over evil: "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep/'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;/The wrong shall fail, the right prevail/With peace on earth, good will to men.'"  'Mary, Did you Know?' uses playful piano playing and dates back to 1991.  The lyrics marvel at what the baby Jesus would grow up and accomplish:  "Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?/Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?/Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?/That this child that you've delivered will soon deliver you?"
     'Let it be to Me' is a beautiful ballad written by Michael and Stormie Omartian.  It imagines Mary's thoughts on carrying and giving birth to Jesus: "I'm just an ordinary girl with extraordinary chances/To give my body and my soul to serve my God and Lord/Holy Spirit come and bring forth/This gift of life/Let it be to me according to Your Word/Let it be, let it be/Let it be to me."  'We Three Kings' by Rev. John Henry Hopkins Jr. first appeared in print in 1863.  These words extol the Lord: "Frankincense to offer have I/Incense owns a Deity nigh/Prayer and praising all men raising/Worship Him, God on high."  'Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella' is a Christmas carol which originated from the Provence region of France in the 16th century.  Crystal partially sings it in French.  It is a wonderful acappella track that joyfully proclaims Christ's birth: "Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella!/Bring a torch to the cradle run/It is Jesus good folk of the village/Christ is born and Mary's calling/Ah! Ah! beautiful is the Mother!/Ah! Ah! beautiful is her Son!"  'Sleigh Ride' will take you back in time musically and is a seasonal love song about two love birds: "Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up/It's grand, just holding your hand/We're gliding along with a song/Of a wintry fairyland/Our cheeks are nice and rosy/And comfy cozy are we/Ooh, we're snuggled up together/Like two birds of a feather would be."  'Oh Come All Ye Faithful' features nice percussion and ascribes worth to the Lord: "Yea Lord we greet Thee/Born this happy morning/Jesus to Thee be glory given/Word of the Father/Now in flesh appearing/Oh come let us adore Him (3X)/Christ the Lord."  'I Wonder as I Wander' by John Jacob Niles, closes the album.  It tries to grasp the grandeur of the incarnation: "I wonder as I wander out under the sky/How Jesus, the Savior, did come for to die/For poor, ornery people like you and like I/I wonder as I wander/Out under the sky."
     HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS was produced by John Andrew Schreiner and Brian Ray, Lewis' husband.  Their daughter Izzi Ray, plays guitar, while Frank Lenz plays drums.  Schreiner is responsible for keyboards and programming.  Alan Pasqua skillfully handles piano duties.  I recommend this light pop, inspirational Christmas effort to those who appreciate the vocal talents of Christina Aguilera and Rachael Lampa.  It really is a flawless Christmas cd.  It is both soothing and mesmerizing.  The photos of Crystal with luggage at a train station are just beautiful!  For more info visit http://www.crystallewis.com/.  I'm rating this album 95%.