That's Why There's Grace

Kendall Payne’s first foray into the worship genre applies the highly personal atmosphere of her previous releases to larger themes of faith and forgiveness. With the exception of the stirring title track, the album features covers of tunes composed and popularized by other Christian artists. Payne’s vocal style — girlish at times, yet filled with great underlying strength — make these songs sound uniquely hers. “Child of God,” “How Great Is Our God,” and “You Never Let Go” convey messages of reverence and gratitude with an almost tangible passion. Payne’s ability to capture a sense of redemption through suffering in songs like “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” and “Wonderful Cross” is particularly moving. Her version of U2’s “One” strips the tune down to its acoustic core while taking a fresh approach to its lyric. Sparse, guitar-centered production keeps the focus squarely on Payne and the words she sings. In its own humble way, That’s Why There’s Grace is an artistic triumph, as well as a profound expression of reverence.