Some artists have imbued their recording with the latest bells and whistles hoping that such sonic trinkets would divert the average listener from the song's non-existent melody and she would still magically embrace the song as a viral hit.  But in reality if the melody and the lyrics of a song by themselves are not enough make an impact on a listener's heart then the song is only ready to be returned to the drawing board.  At the end of the day, what make a song memorable are not the extraneous dressings but the winsome combination of the song's message and melodic hook. One of the reasons why hymns such as "Amazing Grace," "Jesus Loves Me" and "Nothing But the Blood" have stood the test of time is that these paeans are not only crafted with the utmost finesse but they were birthed out of the agonizing tribulations of their song writers.  Holly Spears on her latest EP harkens back to tackle 5 of such historical musical gems of the church.

Just like her picture on the front of this EP which depicts a Bible and a hymn book casually placed on country styled cotton skirt without the faintest touch of sizzling glamour or Abode Photoshop, what you see is what you get.  Likewise such a veracious candor pervades right through these 5 songs.  You will not hear a polytechnic display of the latest beat. Neither will you hear Spears hiding behind the trendiest rap lines.  Rather, what you hear is a woman singing her heart out along a lighted dusted acoustic/country sounding backing of mandolin, piano, fiddles, guitars and all the rustic greats.  "Audience of One" is Spears' worship album and it is also her anticipated follow-up to her 2012 "Heartache to Hope" record.  Taking the adage that less is more to heart, Spears' take of "Amazing Grace" reverberates with a warm guitar sound that accompanies her breathy Jewel-esque vulnerability. Such an execution certainly and rightly places the spotlight on Christ's grace alone. 

On "How Great Thou Art" Spears uses her crystal clear pure vocals to sing: "When through the woods, and forest glades I wander/And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees/When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur/And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze." And beautifully her voice resonates with every nuance of God's created beauty.  With a jangly guitar that notching up the tempo of "Jesus Loves Me," Spears saves this song from being caricatured as a children's song. Also, instead of just singing about how Jesus loves us, she responds to the "So what" question by professing back her love to Jesus that is just a noteworthy augmentation.  Most moving is Spears' take of "This Light of Mine," a song that was inspired after a friend of Spears, Sydney Rush who had passed away on a road accident.  And to have Spears film the video at her home church adds a further serene touch.  The only faults "Audience of One" suffer is that there are far few songs and one would love to see Spears tackle the little lesser known hymns next time.  Nevertheless, these songs are not the easily disposable types. Rather, these are songs focused on our VIP audience Jesus himself and by the way Spears croons her way through they sparkle with a afresh appreciation for our King of kings.