Search - Kathy Troccoli :: Comfort

Troccoli Offers "Comfort" on New CD

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 11/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Morningstar, That's How Much I Love You, How Would I Know



Elegance and warmth inform the well-crafted songs on what might be Troccoli's most worshipful CD. Though this Dove Award winner has built for herself a contemporary Christian pop fan base with hits like "Go Like Your World," and "Love Has a Name," her recent role as an inspirational speaker has made her become more contemplative. Building upon her previous worship-centered CD "Draw Me Close," for her seventh Reunion record, she culls songs from her catalogue together with one cover and a brand new tune to create yet another ballad-hued album. Drawing upon just a pianist and a guitarist, Troccoli has fashioned an instrumentally scanty sound while allowing her passionate-filled, yet at times plaintive, alto accentuate the engaging power of the songs' lyrics. Aptly entitled "Comfort," the running theme of these twelve songs provide occasions (be it death, trials, emptiness, despair) for the Lord's comfort to be ministered in a way that is anodyne and serene.



Written at the time of her mother's passing, "Morningstar" is a brand new track coming from Troccoli's pen herself. While others may look to the stars for guidance in dire times, regardless of the bleakness of her situation, Troccoli's eyes are only on Jesus, the Morningstar. Making this track even more stellar is Troccoli's performance --- with just the right pauses and injecting just the right dose of emotions, this is not just a recording, but a testimony of a woman who has tasted the warmth of the Morningstar. Equally fetching is "That's Much I Love You," which depicts the greatest vignette of love by our Savior on the Cross, powerfully crafted by one of Contemporary Christian music's most underrated songwriter Constant Change.



Evident that Troccoli's music is more than just sanctified love songs, "Water into Wine," which first appeared on 1997's "Love and Mercy" is freighted with Biblical images unmasking a deeply sated piece of doxology to our Lord's sovereignty. Neither does Troccoli offers a rosy picture of the Christian life, in fact on "How Would I Know" she waxes praises to God for allowing us to see a greater side of His sovereignty in the midst of tribulations. Within the album's spiritual as well as God-centered canon, Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" sounds more than just a cursory sing-a-long, but it can be understood as celebratory to the Shepherd's friendship towards us. Read in such a light, this 70s pop cover is coded with an added spiritual heft that is worthy of deeper rumination.



However, despite being a warm and worshipful CD, a straight listen through the CD can induce a few snoozing moment. Not that the songs lack depth or melody, but the monotony of just piano and guitar spread throughout 12 tracks, can be a little taxing. Perhaps a lush orchestra, like what Troccoli did on her Christmas CD, may add texture, variety and color to these tunes. Nevertheless, this album lives up to its title; it's tepid, insightful and Spirit-filled."

Comforting? OVERWHELMING SO!

Carla J. Reeves | San Antonio | 09/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In July '08 my only child (36) had removal of a malignant brain tumor; by Christmas Eve '08, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, chemo and radiation became a daily reality in our lives, and overwhelming so for the last 14 months. For myself, chronic trigeminal neuralgia/anesthesia dolorosa for the past 12 years from a skull base tumor removal. But for Our God!

Kathy Troccoli's "Comfort" CD speaks exactly those times when nothing seems to make since but Our Father and His sacrifice and deep Love.

Thank you Kathy for sharing your love for The Father through His gift to you for so many hurting people.

"