- Rock/Folk
- 2009
- Buy the CD
Reviewed by Lee Zimmerman
Ultimately, for a myriad of reasons both personal and professional, Childs opted to take her leave from the record biz and devote herself to personal pursuits. So it’s something of a surprise to find her suddenly resurfacing 10 years later and making music that’s still vibrant and tenacious. True to its title, Keep the Faith is a series of songs underscored by affirmation and determination. The title track sets the tone, its churning, determined melody bringing to mind Joan Osborne’s "One of Us" without the analogous circumstance. However, with track two, the raging, rallying "I Saw God in the Super Market," Childs echoes Osborne in evoking an omnipresent Almighty. Happily too, the material finds her singing as authoritatively as ever, investing each number with a conviction that can at times provide assurance ("Heart that Matters") and at others, a sharp rebuke ("Blind").
Mostly though, Keep the Faith is a thoroughly uplifting endeavor, with an unbridled optimism that threads its way from the spunky sound of "Mama’s in the Kitchen" to the caressing strings of "Dream That We Dream Of." And when the set wraps with its pair of longing ballads, "When All Is Said and Done" and "Because You’re Beautiful," there’s nothing to distract from that ultimate upward gaze. Consequently, Keep the Faith ought to be considered a much-needed antidote for these troubled times, a soothing yet stirring collection that’s destined to rank as one of the major comebacks of this still young year. That’s an accomplishment that goes far beyond mere Childs play.
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