CD Reviews

Rebecca Linda Smith - Renewed - Jesus’ Grace

Label – Renewed
Producer Gene Higgins
Website – http://www.rlsrenewed.com

Rebecca Linda Smith comes to us from El Paso, Texas. If you like Christian Country Music, then you will enjoy this new project. “Jesus’ Grace”, the title song of the project kicks it off. Rebecca was a co-writer on this song as well as three other songs.

“Redeemed” adds a little country swing to the album. This song is one of several songs from the pen of Rebecca’s husband, Robert Frank Smith. “Jesus, King of Glory” is a nice song written by Robert Frank Smith and moves from country on the chorus to more of a Middle Eastern style on the verses.

Song number 4 on the project, “I Need Forgiveness”, has a driving track. “What About Jesus?” is a nice ballad and better suits Rebecca’s voice. She has a heavy, deep tone that sounds really nice on the ballads from this project. “Jesus, Lord of My Life” has a little touch of an Everly Brothers style to it and picks up the tempo.

“Cleansed by His Blood” is a three quarter time song and more of a traditional Southern Gospel song. Rebecca follows this one up with a good hand clapper, “Victory Song”. This one has some hot harmonica and fiddle on it. “Master, Mend Me”, is another nice song by Robert. “Everlasting Love” is a good up tempo, country flavored song. This one reminds me of something that I would have heard Connie Smith sing a few years ago.

“I Need His Blood” gives us a taste of the fifties and then we progress to more of a driving song with a rocking guitar, “A Crown of Thorns”.

Rebecca has included a classic song from the pen of legendary songwriter, Dottie Rambo. Miss Dottie joins Rebecca on this one and is the highlight of the recording. Rebecca ends the album, with a nice song written by Lisa Brokop and Kim Patton Johnston. “Do You Know Me’ is a song about all the unsung heroes that we pass on the streets everyday.

Rebecca has produced a nice album. There were times that I felt that she was pushing her range a little. This was a long project with 14 songs and most of them 3 plus minutes long. I would invite you to check out Rebecca’s ministry on her website and listen to some of the sound bites.