Kerrie Roberts

Kerrie Roberts possesses the sort of bravura voice that demands attention from the very first listen, but on her self-titled debut, Roberts makes the God-centered messages of the lyrics shine through by refraining from histrionic displays or melismatic excesses. Her sincerity as well as her vocal power brings out the emotional impact (as well as the spiritual import) of songs like “No Matter What,” “Unstoppable” and “Beautiful to Me.” Especially impressive is “This Love Doesn’t Run,” a majestic declaration of faith that wraps Roberts in an orchestral backdrop without obscuring her commanding vocal presence. Tracks like the compassionate “Keep Breathing” allow Kerrie to interpret a heartfelt lyric on a more intimate scale. While big melodic ballads predominate, the slinky, defiant “Outcast” and the almost industrial-sounding “Unstoppable” add a needed groove quotient to the album. Robert’s sense of personal authenticity makes confessions of weakness like “Maybe I’m Afraid” sound utterly natural. This is an outstanding first effort.