Search - Toni Childs :: Keep the Faith

Toni Childs is back.

A. Cifrino | Tucson Az | 08/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think it's a safe bet that if you enjoyed her earlier music then you're in for a treat with this new album. The emotion is less raw than the earlier work, but nothing is missing. Her emotional force is now controlled by a stronger and more capable artist. As for the religious theme; she says, "believing is much harder than you think it is". This is hardly the smug ranting of somebody who has got religion. Toni Childs is too buzzy exploring her own spirituality to preach. I don't miss the synthesizers and the cello is beautiful. I really enjoyed the whole album!"

Strong, but different

Graphic Goddess | Olympic Peninsula, Washington | 03/31/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Toni's House of Hope and Union albums have taken up permanent residence in my cd player. I was surprised to learn that she was recording again - I'd just about lost all hope that she would put out another album. So I downloaded her latest with great anticipation.

Perhaps with multiple plays this one will grow on me, but there's something different in her sound, in her voice, in the production. She's still a strong singer, her lyrics are still emotionally charged and powerful. But the delivery has softened, the raw edge she promoted on her first two releases is what drew me in to love her work. Her throaty froggy voice.. is gone. Every now and then in this new release, I hear a shadow of it.. but it's just not there like it used to be. It's a disappointment, because I had high hopes for this new release. I'll keep listening, I'll keep following Toni's work. I'm glad she's healed and recovered from her illness with enough strength to record new works for her loyal audience. I consider myself one among them.. But from the prospective of one of her long time fans, this is not her best work.. To say she's aged to a finer quality like wine isn't true in this case.. Welcome back Toni.. keep writing. Keep sharing your causes to bring healing to the world. You're a powerful voice."

Raw & Burning

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 05/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Toni Childs' new CD is a passionate tour de force. One might assume with the title "Keep the Faith" that this might be a religious album. While there is a spiritual theme repeated lyrically, it is not preachy in any conventional sense. Childs' voice is compelling, laden with pain & joy. Now located on Kauai, Childs' songwriting is raw & burning. Her website says that some of these songs were written in 1997 when she toured the West Coast. The opener churns with an anthem to friendship, "It's hard to keep the faith while all around you is falling; It's hard to keep the faith when all around you is scared." "I Saw God in the Supermarket" puts a smile on my face with its infectious rock beat and driving guitars, "I saw God on television, he had a ring in his nose, wearing Nike tennis shoes; Boy that boy could sing the blues." "Long before there were two fathers in the sky, words did not confuse & everything was just one lie," Toni sings on the lovely "One Life" that churns with dueling guitars. "Blind" boldly protests lack of communication, "You're squashing all the love out; It ain't what you need." The seven-minute "Heart That Matters" sits at the heart of the album and contains amazing vocals that brim with compassion and ache. "Dream that We Dream Of" has a simple melody with Childs' gorgeous passion breaking in her voice, "Broken wings and some broken dreams can keep me from seeing what love has to bring; So I'm burning the candle right here in my heart, I must believe." "Revolution" rocks joyfully, "Living with the poor man; Living out of trash cans." "When All Is Said & Done" is another amazing track that builds with Childs' vocals moving to high gear on full wail, "I hear you call in the middle of the night, in the middle of my fall*, and I know that you're the one that I'm running to." "Because You're Beautiful" concludes the CD with what could be a companion piece to Carole King's classic song "Beautiful." "Keep the Faith" is an excellent set that shows depth, passion and great talent. Welcome back, Toni! Bravo!



*according to my ear"