Sara Groves - The Other Side Of Something

Reviewed by Peter Bate

In an age where style triumphs too often over substance, it's refreshing to review an artist like Sara Groves. The US songwriter specialises in peering beneath the veneer of everyday life to find glimpses of redemption and grace. Groves teams up with producers Nate Sabin and Charlie Peacock for her third CD. Peacock's influence is evident in the crisp, bold production that pushes this beyond a simple songstress plus guitar/piano effort. But the sheen doesn't bury the recording's bedrock - Groves' insistent images of wrestling real issues to come out the other side stronger. Intensity is created by disarming first lines like: "And the clouds just parted on a corner of my life" on opener "The One Thing I Know" and "We just had Word War III here in our kitchen" from frank husband/wife conflict tune "Roll To The Middle". True, Groves doesn't push the boundaries too much and it seems her output is aimed mainly at a Christian audience. But fans of Susan Ashton, Shawn Colvin and quality songwriting in general will find this resonates nicely.