Rebecca St James - Gold

Reviewed by Brian Carr

"Just like prayer, worship isn't reserved for one or two days a week. It's a constant part of our lives." So says Rebecca St James. Worship is the golden thread that is woven through all the songs she writes and sings. 'Gold' is a special limited edition 2CD set of two of her early albums, the Grammy awarded 'Pray' and her 1996 album 'God', which is an enhanced CD featuring bonus videos "Reborn" and "Wait For Me". The two albums, the second and third of what was to become a string of highly acclaimed albums, blend together well as they both boast the edgy alternative rock style rather than the dance-tinged pop stylings of her debut album. Rebecca's songs are amazingly mature and have so much to appreciate. They are always adventurous switching moods two or three times in one song but still holding the listener's attention with subtle hooks, creative rhythms and acoustic interludes but most with the common ingredient of driving grungy guitars. This is a golden opportunity to catch up, if you haven't already, with the wealth of talent possessed by this young lady. She exhibits a passion for worshipping God and a desire to encourage as many people to faith as she possibly can.