Reviewed by Chris Tozer

This is not a bargain collection of ancient hits and neither is it a sampler of the music of new artists - each offering a sample track from their first album. Instead, we have another full price, specially recorded 'thematic album' about "parenthood, growing up and being loved" as the advertising delightfully put it. (Previously there has been 'Our Hymns' and 'Our Christmas'.) By and large the contributing artists are America's Christian mega stars. Indeed, we've got all the ingredients for a great album. The singers include Kim Hill, Susan Ashton and BeBe Winans. A list of the musicians alone would read like a CCM hall of fame with the likes of Abraham Laboriel, Leland Sklar and Phil Keaggy. Big name producers and songwriters come in the shape of Brown Bannister, Wayne Kirkpatrick and our own Chris Eaton. Then to top it all there's the input from the world outside the Church of Nashville - with old songs from Elton John and James Taylor as well as performances from Roberta Flack and Tommy Sims, who currently plays bass on the Bruce Springsteen tour. The ingredients are great but the proof of the pudding's in the eating - this one is just too sugary for these shores, especially with a lyric like "Be my little tootsie pooh". I wonder if Delia Smith can sing.

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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