Published in the CR Mag 35

Tuesday 1st October 1996

Crystal Lewis - Beauty For Ashes

STYLE: Pop
RATING

OUR PRODUCT CODE: 4116-5152
LABEL: Metro One 080688448325
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1
RRP: £4.99

Reviewed by Tim Holden

Crystal Lewis has been around for a long while - 10 albums worth - though as the blurb with the CD says, she is one of the best kept secrets in the Christian music business. Much as I hate describing one artist by comparing them with another, it helps to get the feel of this album over to describe Crystal Lewis as Whitney Houston meets Amy Grant. The album has a strong American gospel/pop feel to it and is wonderfully well produced. There really is not one bad track here at all. The only weakness to my taste is the very American rendition of "The Lion And The Lamb". However, the high points of this album far outweigh this. The wonderful pop song, "It's Heaven", could hold its own in the charts and the closing track, "Healing Oil", is one of the most haunting songs I've heard in years, dealing as it does with the feelings of a dying person. If you are looking for something to hold its own against chart material, this is the album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Don in state of Delaware @ 17:17 on Jul 23 2014

The first I ever heard of this CCM songstress was on
a mixed compilation of various artists. Her rendition
of the classic "Precious Lord" from her debut in 1987.
This her 10th release of music shines bright in the
ccm field. a decade later.
No doubt the cd title is the top stand out, beautifully written by Crystal. Well known worship leader Ron Kenoly duets; this song has its place in the halls of CCM. I love the cd opener "The Beauty Of The
Cross". It's a song much needed for the world we
live in today. "People Get Ready-Jesus Is Comin" another written by the talented songwriter Brian Ray.
A couple years prior,we heard a similar title by the
top ccm group Newsong "People Get Ready".
Do we hear the message in the songs that these
artists are singing? This is top notch ccm.
Hats off to the songwriters of "The Lion & The Lamb"
wtg Anne and Billy! A perfect song for Crystal to sing, it highlights her vocals.
The pace is stepped up with "God's Been Good To Me". Superb bgvs for the song, wtg all! top ccm.
"Seasons Change" a title also heard on pop radio
by trio Expose. Crystal co wrote this song with
a songwriter associated in the pop field, the very
talented Randy Goodrum. Former ccm artist Ray
Boltz, also had a well known song title of the same.
I love "Over Me" another great song for ccm.
There is a large population that can relate to the
words of the closer "Healing Oil". Thanks to the
songwriter Chris Lizotte, God bless you.
God Bless, Don

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Crystal Lewis - Beauty For Ashes

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