BORN TO ROCK

Sarah Kelly's latest effort successfully combines familiar concepts with unexpected melodies, arrangements and production, while maintaining a consistent focus on Kelly's raw, emotive voice to produce an album that's energetic, uplifting and a worthy addition to anyone's rock collection.

From the start, Born to Worship treads a fine line between “just right” and “over the top” production but manages to keep everything in the realm of good musicianship and an accessible overall effect.

The star of this album, undeniably, is Kelly’s voice. She is clearly a singer who knows how to style her phrases, wrap her vocal chords around a melody and deliver an authentic performance every time. There isn’t a single track that doesn’t sound convincing and genuine. Add to that some cool surprises—a choir in the background, perhaps?—and this album is a clear step forward in this developing artist’s repertoire.

Kudos to Kelly for taking risks with production, instrumentation and electronic effects. While those same effects have the potential of diluting the message within the lyrics, in this instance, everything comes together in a complimentary way. Instead of serving as a distraction, every effect, counter melody and nuance seem to gel, leaving one clear message behind—this is a girl who is genuinely, passionately in love with God. Not only that, but she tries—and succeeds—in passing that love along to her listeners…all with a unique melody and beat that just won't quit.

-- Caroline Lusk