Let's dispel the rumor that Behind the Eyes is Amy Grant's return to the sound and caliber of Lead Me On. Not quite. That rumor was my motivation for acquiring her latest because Lead Me On is the one Amy Grant album that I find particularly worth owning (and The Collection, of course). I haven't been led too far astray, however, and I'm not bitter. Behind the Eyes is a pleasant enough album, with nice songs and an appealing sound. Overall it is more rooted emotionally and musically than either of her last two albums, yet it doesn't altogether reach the depth of Lead Me On. I applaud the honesty, and even the melancholy, but after repeated listens I'm not as infatuated as I'd like to be. She does a respectable job mixing both the joy of relationships and sadness in their hardship, yet she could've wrung her heart out a little harder. Still, she made a good choice to distance herself from that poppier sound of previous work. I hope she continues in this tradition. It's a solid release that is sure to please her die-hard fans even if it's not the "second coming" of Amy currently running the rumor mill.
3 tocks. Maybe a wee bit more.
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse November 1997Reviewed by Vanessa Crooks / Janis Flint-FergusonAmy Grant's latest release, Behind The Eyes, is a distinct departure from the buoyant, glossy snapshots that have been her signature. Culled from a self-confessed season of soul searching, this project exhibits a new level of honesty and a deepened awareness of the brokenness of our human condition. From the opening track, "Nobody Home," where everything is "broken up" or "broken down," Grant…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Lisa ReidSince this album came out, I've read and heard many opinions of it, ranging from "this is undoubtedly her best ever!" to "please don't waste your money." Not surprisingly, I fall somewhere in the middle. Though I'm a longtime fan of Ms. Grant's, I'm far less rabid a fan than many others. Having said that, I will have to say that this album will hold a special place in my collection. You see, Amy…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Linda T. Stonehocker"Nobody Home" starts off superstar Amy Grant's latest CD promisingly using an empty downtown retail community to depict a sense of abandonment. The title and chorus, "You can knock all you want; but ain't nobody home," sets the tone for the album--vague longing and regret for lost friendships and unfulfilled relationships interspersed with a few rays of hope. The project sounds great. The blend…Similar sounding releases
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