Gospel and CCM legend Amy Grant released her new album Be Still and Know...Hymns & Faith today, which contains some of the singer's most well known songs but with the added twist of her country star husband Vince Gill and some new arrangements.

"My new hymns album is here! 'Be Still And Know... Hymns & Faith' has some previously released hymns, with two brand new ones! I hope these songs impact you the way that they have, and continue to, me. http://smarturl.it/AGBeStillAndKnow?IQID=agstreet" she wrote on Facebook.

Grant begins the album with a sure fire church song, "Power in the Blood," which opens up nicely with an up tempo twangy version of the classic song. The guitars move together with fluidity, and Grant and Gill harmonize nicely.

Skipping ahead to track three, Grant performs a beautiful rendition of "Jesus, Take All of Me (Just As I Am)." This pseudo-piano guitar ballad exudes the singer's emotion as she pours out to God to take her "just as I am."

The performance of "Rock of Ages" is a big stand out on this album. This version of the song has a classic southern gospel feel to it. It features prominent double lead vocals as well as an on point baritone section and church organ. The song has an early Elvis type feel to it, and quite honestly is a piece worthy of that era.

Moving on to "El Shaddai," which is a Grant specialty, she updates the song with an inspiring performance. Her vocals sit so pretty over the stripped down track as she speaks about the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, and the power of his name - "Age to age, you're still the same, by the power of the name."

"Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" takes this classic tune and throws a country twist on it as well. With two acoustic guitars and a fiddle blazing, the Christmas song gets that laid back sitting on the porch feel to it.

"It is Well with My Soul/The River's Gonna Keep Rolling" is a tale of two songs blended together. The beginning showcases simple piano chords as Grant belts out the lyrics to the moving and powerful song. The piano keys then change a bit, and a few other light instruments are introduced as "The River's Gonna Keep Rolling" comes in. This portion has been "countrified" and serves as a wonderful counterpoint to the first part.

In a great welding of country voices, Grant enlists the help of Sheryl Crow and Eric Paslay as they sing "Deep as it is Wide." The three harmonize and alternate lead parts flawless as the trio really nails the passion needed for this song. The orchestral arrangement and choir filled background really make this song feel huge.

Grant tackles another classic arrangement of hymns of a three-part medley of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art." All three masterfully flow into each other as she exudes more power in her voice from transition to transition. The songs stay true to the originals in the sense of being a no flares hymnal, but still as that modern quality to it.

Taking a trip to the last track of the record, Grant closes out with "Holy, Holy, Holy" which is arranged in such a way that it sounds like an old time movie score. The strings and soft almost romantic sounding guitars give this song a diverse and distinct character. "Holy holy, holy" merciful and might, God in three persons blessed Trinity never sounded better on a recording.

(Photo : Breathecast (Jeannie Law)
Amy Grant

Overall Grant's Be Still and Know...Hymns & Faith is a great take on many hymn and gospel classics. Grant's voice remains as strong as ever after all of these years, and she still manages to reinvent herself with every release. While her last album In Motion the Remixes took some of her all-time best pop songs and gave them the dance treatment, this album takes her best gospel tracks and gives them new life. Whether the song is dissected or give the country treatment, the sound is uniquely and distinctly Amy Grant.

"Hymns were so much a part of my childhood," Grant said in a release, "We sang hymns like people sing the national anthem before a ballgame; it was hymns before everything. We sang hymns in our homes, in our church three times a week - there would be some Sunday nights where all we did was sing hymns. These songs are for people who grew up with the hymn tradition - to remind them how inspiring they are."

The album features several tracks from previously released projects Legacy...Hymns & Faith and Rock of Ages...Hymns & Faith, which have sold over 800,000 copies combined. The record has two newly-recorded songs produced by Gill: "Power In The Blood" and "Be Still And Know."

Be Still And Know...Hymns & Faith
1. Power In The Blood
2. Be Still And Know
3. Jesus Take All of Me (Just As I Am)
4. Rock Of Ages (Featuring Vince Gill)
5. Carry You
6. This Is My Father's World
7. El Shaddai
8. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
9. It Is Well With My Soul/The River's Gonna Keep On Rolling
10. My Jesus, I Love Thee
11. Deep As It Is Wide (Featuring Sheryl Crow and Eric Paslay)
12. What A Friend We Have In Jesus/Old Rugged Cross/How Great Thou Art
13. 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus
14. Softly And Tenderly
15. Holy, Holy, Holy