Her debut from Centricity Records contains 13 tracks, most of them co-written by Jamie, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. They lean strongly toward the pop side of the board, with a strong Scriptural orientation. The sparkling "My King, My God" is firmly rooted in Psalm 27, its chorus of desire offered up passionately. And offered "up" is very much the operative word on this project. Jaime leaves you with the feeling that she is so focused on singing these lyrics to her God, that the album is almost incidental. She has the heart of a worshipper, and many of these songs are Sunday morning-ready, including the joyous opener, "Love Rains Down."
"Hear My Worship" aims for the heart of God like a heat-seeking missile, in the process revealing a vulnerability that also rings true. The title track streams from Psalm 139, reminding us that God's presence surrounds us always and our worship should be equally constant. I especially enjoyed the lush sound of "Devoted," enhanced greatly by producer Gary Sadler's keyboards and programming. That track is followed by standout "Jesus, Light of the World," where Sadler's rich touch shows up in the delightful strings. The opening mandolin strains clear a gracious path for Jaime's soaring vocals; both contributions make the song one of the more significant ones.
"Lift Up the Name" offers a worshipful duet with Scott Krippayne, and the buzzy, hook-rich "Love Irresistible" declares the world's inferiority when compared to God. The quiet ballad "You" was a favorite of mine, especially refreshing for its change of tempo. If I had any complaint with "Reason to Live" it would be the lack of diversity in terms of tempo. Jaime's heart for God will supercede this for many listeners. But "You" burns with a genuine passion even as her pure vocals penetrate your spirit with these lyrics of surrender.
All in all, a pleasing debut from a very likable new artist, one I'm sure we'll be hearing a great deal more about.
