Reviewed by Tom Lennie

As I shared in my review on the initial release of this album, 'Hymned' is without doubt one of the finest reworkings of old hymns (to original tunes) that I've ever heard - and boy, have I heard some good ones! The video part of this DualDisc (full audio CD on one side, DVD on the other) features the entire album in enhanced stereo (though with only a few selected video-clips), along with Bart's run-down on the making of the album and a brief personal video-docu of his childhood. Unfortunately, I found the video thoroughly dull (eg, who really wants to see the faceless back church room where Millard attended Sunday School, or the pastor's office next to it?). Any genuinely relevant information (such as the influence of his saintly grandmother, who Bart oft heard sing the 10 hymns he went on to record) could easily have been related by way of an additional page to the sleevenotes. Ultimately the DVD is an unnecessary add-on. Nonetheless, given its equal price, this is clearly the one to go for. It is, after all, a classic audio-disc.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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