Sarah Kelly

Where the Past Meets Today

Gotee Records

This is an amazing CD, and from what I have read and know about Sarah Kelly, she too is amazing.  “Where the Past Meets Today” is a musical jump from her Rockford Choir days and it is so cool to have heard her sing on both sides of the equation.  The mind-blowing combination of a classic rock soundtrack and explosive vocals, reminiscent of 70’s icons like Grace Slick or Janis Joplin, paired with the CD’s spiritual side, make this the best album of the year in my opinion.

The soundtrack is amazing, and producer Mike Clink appears to have pulled some strings to get some non-traditional players on the album.  Including Slash on guitar and some more instrumentation by Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction.  Additionally, the album was recorded outside of the traditional CCM studios of Nashville and instead the work was done in L.A. where the musical environment has a different charge.  The changes were noticeable, and the soundtrack stands out in a very positive way.  However, the spiritual content of the album does not suffer from being away from the usual structure of CCM. 

As quoted in the press materials Kelly states, “A Song is a way to speak, a voice beyond what you can normally say in life.  This music gave me voice when I had none, and my prayer is to do the same for others.”  Additionally, “My music career is just a means to an end to teach kids how to allow the Lord to speak to them through song.  This is an all-consuming passion, and it’s why I have been placed here in this position.”

“Where the Past Meets Today” follows thematically with many of the artists that have influenced Kelly, as it is written deeply from the heart, expressing challenges, pain, exposing life’s most dark and dreadful secrets.  This was a new side of Sarah Kelly that I had not known before and there is a full interview from Christianity Today that covers the very personal and difficult topic of abuse in Sarah’s past. 

Where the Past Meets Today is a move forward for Sarah Kelly in many respects and a beckoning for further honesty in today’s church. I think you will be fully charged by the music and deeply moved by her spiritual strength in adversity.