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It is impossible not to be moved by the courageous strength of Tammy Trent's new "I See Beautiful." Think Beyonce meets Crystal Lewis, with a side of raw gutsiness.
I'm sure that Tammy Trent doesn't want to be defined by the tragic death of her husband Trent Lenderink. But on this, her first album in six years, she bears him great honor. "Stop the World" attests to her calling to remember him with her life: "The gift that you were is now what I have to be." The brave "Rescue Me" does not shrink back from honestly sharing the enormous weight of her sorrow, and her desperate need for the Lord's help in bearing it. It is her candid vulnerability that enriches this project and will make it extremely helpful to others who labor under heavy burdens like Trent's. But "I See Beautiful" also puts forth an optimistic perspective of trust. Opener "Real Life" announces right from the get-go that she is ready to start over, proclaiming both her freedom and God's faithfulness. She's got an interesting combination of breathy vocals and urban-tinged dance pop. The title track puts it beautifully: "I choose to see things differently." Lots of wisdom, hard-won wisdom, on this album. One standout has to be the poppin' dance track "Pray," with guest rapper MJ Automatic. Together he and Trent make a solid case for mutual support and not incidentally, unity. As I mentioned earlier, I greatly appreciate the bold honesty of "Rescue Me." It is this level of straight-from-the-gut honesty that we need to see in Christian music, certainly if we hope to truly minister to listeners, as Trent clearly does. Kathryn Scott's "At the Foot of the Cross" is covered gently yet powerfully, Trent's sincere vocals creating an atmosphere of intimate peacefulness. The second half of "Run Into the Arms of Love" moves into a slight jam feel of free-flow worship that I enjoyed a great deal. And the closing remix of "Pray" brings back the funk to end the project on an upbeat groove, and I mean groove in the truest sense of the word. Tammy Trent's just-released "I See Beautiful" should be very well received, and I think that gives us all a little lift. Click here for Suite's recent interview with the faith-filled Tammy Trent.
The copyright of the article Tammy Trent: I See Beautiful in Christian Music is owned by Kevan Breitinger. Permission to republish Tammy Trent: I See Beautiful in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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