Rebecca St James Transform CD

Personnel includes: Rebecca St. James (vocals); Bob Halligan (acoustic guitar); Brent Milligan (electric guitar, cello, bass); Matt Bronleewe (guitar, programming); Oran Thornton, Gary Burnette, Dan Huff, Jerry McPherson (guitar): John Catchings (cello); The Love Sponges, The London Sessions Orchestra (strings); Tim Akers (keyboards); Otto Price, Jackie Street (bass); Dale Baker, Dan Needham, Chris McHugh (drums); Tedd T. (programming); Tasia Tjornhom (background vocals).
Producers: Matt Bronleewe, Dan Huff, Tedd T., Pete Kipley.
Personnel: Rebecca St. James (vocals, background vocals); Matt Bronleewe, Pete Kipley (guitar, programming); Dann Huff, Gary Burnette, Jerry McPherson, Oran Thornton, Pete Stewart, Dave Larring (guitar); Bob Halligan (acoustic guitar); Brent Milligan (electric guitar, cello, bass guitar); John Catchings (cello); Love Sponge String Quartet, London Session Orchestra, Jacob Lawson (strings); Jeremy Bose, Tim Akers (keyboards); Chris McHugh, Joe Porter, Dale Baker, Dan Needham, Dennis Holt (drums); Ted T., Tedd Tjornholm, Tedd T., Damon Riley (programming); Tasia Tjornhom (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Salvo; Chad Brown; Tedd Tjornholm; Eric Bickel; J.R. McNeely; Jeff Balding; Shane D. Wilson; Tom Laune.
Recording information: Air Studios, London, England; Emerald Entertainment Studios; Indigo Room; Ivy park; Space&Time Studio.
Photographer: Kristin Barlowe.
Arrangers: Tedd Tjornholm; Damon Riley.
Recording her first album at age 16, Rebecca St. James is no stranger to contagious pop melodies. At 23, St. James released her fifth recording entitled Transform. The disc's opener is a monumental one courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra. "For the Love of God" boasts an immense string section that gradually gives way to a driving rock rhythm. "Reborn" is a techno, dance groove that's powered by a wall of churning synths. "One" is alterna-funk to the max. The tune's backbeat is akin to "Black Cat" by Janet Jackson, while the lyrics denote spiritual togetherness: "Don't make no difference, where were coming from, we believe in the Son, and that's what makes us one." The only difference in the two tunes is Jackson's has a hot, distorted lead guitar break while "One" utilizes a more subdued Spanish guitar riff. "Wait for Me" is a plea for sexual purity. St. James wrote the cut for her future husband whomever he may be. The song has a graceful hook that accentuates her truthful lyrics. "All Around Me" is the disc's most potent rocker. The cut was co-written by Pete Stewart, who also offers guitar contributions on the tune. The song harkens back to earlier St. James stylings from her God release. Transform has textured production, Top 40 resonance, and inspiring lyrics. ~ Steven Douglas Losey
While the previous Rebecca St. James album, 1998's PRAY, featured a fair amount of Nirvana-flavored rock guitar and Alanis-like vocalizing, TRANSFORM takes a bit of a stylistic detour. Much of the material here has more in common with RAY OF LIGHT-era Madonna, complete with sweeping choruses, skittering breakbeats, and a bed of joyously bubbling synths.
The important element that remains the same in St. James' work, however, is the lyrical content. However she chooses to frame her message, St. James is first and foremost a Christian artist, concentrating primarily on the subject of faith and deliverance. Those sentiments are effectively contrasted by the very contemporary arrangements of TRANSFORM. St. James' fans might be a bit surprised by the sudden switch in direction, but a closer listen will reveal that very little has changed in terms of what is intrinsic to the artist's personal vision.