Point of Grace

“I Choose You”

Word/Curb/Warner Brothers Records

12 tracks @ 44:25 TRT

This record marks a significant change for Point of Grace in more ways than one. First, after 13 years together, Terry Jones left the quartet to spend more time with her family. Jones is replaced by the more than capable Leigh Cappillino.

The group also makes some slight changes to its sound, with several songs that are more guitar-driven. POG's Shelly Breen, in an interview in the August issue of CCM magazine, says “We're just bored with what we've been doing-not that it's been bad, but after four or five albums you want to do something different.”

This is also one of the few POG records, “Life, Love and Other Mysteries” being the other that I'm aware of, that lists which of the members is singing lead. On “I Choose You,” only two tracks list the lead singer as “All.”

But before fans panic over the group going in an inaccessible direction, I say relax. “I Choose You” sounds fresh, yet familiar. Lyrically, the group still delivers Christ-centered songs.

The first single, the title track, is a good example of this new, yet comfortable, direction. The song has more of a rock ‘n' roll edge, while lyrically the song touches on false idols, “You alone deserve it, all of my worship.”

“Down” really rocks. However, “Make It Real” reminds me a little bit of an earlier POG song, “Steady On,” while “Do It Again” will remind listeners of the “old” POG. “Who Am I” is NOT a remake a of the Nathan Nockels song that appeared on the “Steady On” CD. Sonically, its 180-dgrees removed from that song and lyrically, closer to “I Choose You.”

The chorus of the Scott Krippayne-penned song “God Is In It,” almost strikes me as an anti-war song; “If it's got love, if it's got peace, that's the only way that I can believe it.” The final track, “This Is Your Land,” references Jesus' Beatitudes.

If you've liked POG's previous work, you should enjoy this record. I do.

- Rob S.