Songs for the Journey

Early in her career, Sandi Patty was dubbed “The Voice” by virtue of her mighty set of pipes and flair for the dramatic. Whatever the standards of hipness might be today, she hasn’t abandoned her open-hearted, over-the-top approach to Christian music. The same qualities that have earned her a slew of Doves and Grammies (and sold millions of albums) can be found on 2008’s Songs for the Journey. Patty’s ability to deliver traditional hymns with grandeur comes through in the Celtic-styled “Be Thou My Vision,” the lushly-orchestrated “Joyful, Joyful,” and the Broadway-tinged “Praise to the Lord the Almighty.” The operatic authority she displays on “Panis Angelicus” contrasts with her smooth Celine Dion-like approach to “Were it Not for Grace.” As before, Patty mixes in some secular sweetening to leaven her weightier material — a harmony-filled cover of “Operator” and a polished rendition of “For Good” (a standout from the musical Wicked) offer a taste of her pop proclivities. If Patty never truly loosens up in these tracks, she comes close in the gospel pulpit-thumper “Through it All.” Songs for the Journey reaffirms everything that fans have admired in Patty’s music for decades.