Add to the Beauty
| Add to the Beauty | ||||
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| Studio album by Sara Groves | ||||
| Released | October 4, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | May–October 2004 | |||
| Genre | Contemporary Christian music | |||
| Label | Sony BMG | |||
| Producer | Brown Bannister | |||
| Sara Groves chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| CCM Magazine | A |
| Christian Broadcasting Network |   |
| Christianity Today | |
| Cross Rhythms |  |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |  |
| New Release Tuesday | |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | |
| The Trades | B |
Add to the Beauty, a contemporary Christian album, is the fourth studio album and fifth album overall by Sara Groves. It was released in the United States on October 4, 2005 by Sony BMG. As a theme for her album, Christian singer-songwriter Sara Groves focused on the concept that "God has invited us, as mere human beings, to add to the beauty of his plan and creation." As a result, she has concocted a hopeful album that invites listeners to rise above the depravity of this world, and to contribute to its betterment.
The album released on October 4, 2005 by INO Records, and the producer is Brown Bannister. The album is the fourth studio album and the fifth album overall by Sara Groves.
The album starts off with "When It Was Over," an unblinkingly honest look at love's perseverance in the face of hurtful situations. "You Are The Sun" brings more of Sara's poignant songwriting into play, with thoughts about how Jesus is the sun, we are the moon, and in order to reflect His light, we've got to turn our faces to Him. "It's Going To Be Alright" is written as Sara speaking to a friend about a difficult experience in their life. The acoustic piano and guitar sound continue with the title track, and starts to really hit on the theme of this record: the building of the kingdom of God. "Something Changed" richly conveys the experience of a transformation of the heart, and was used in the movie The Ultimate Gift as a closing theme to represent the new person whom its main character had become through a difficult process of growth and experience. "To The Moon" is a short (barely a minute and a half long) track bearing the central message of leaving this earth, getting away from all of its nonsense and taking the church to the moon. "Kingdom Comes," a highlight track, she walks through different ways that the body of Christ can reach out and be "a little stone... a little mortar" in building up the church. Second to last, "Loving A Person" touches on themes of simply loving people "just the way they are... it's no small thing." Closing the album out is "When It Was Over (Reprise)," which stays loyal to the soft feel of this entire record. Mixing together lines from the different tracks, Groves effectively reminds us of all that we have learned through this journey she takes us on on Add To The Beauty.
Though Sara’s excelled as a go-it-alone songwriter for most of her recordings, this time around she collaborates in several instances with friends new and old. Joel Hanson (of PFR fame), Gordon Kennedy (Eric Clapton, Pierce Pettis), Matt Bronlewee (Jars of Clay) and the GMA’s current “Producer of the Year” Ed Cash each weigh in. While Sara’s thought-provoking lyrics remain the centerpiece of the songs she and her comrades paired on, and she composed most of the music in these instances, these four friends escort her into occasional new territory. A consistently pronounced sense of melody and more hook-driven choruses are the result. Thematically, the disc is pure Groves. The storyteller’s songs are relational, personal, hopeful and, of course, poetic. In a subtle departure for Sara, there are no mentions of biblical personalities by name except for that of Jesus in any of the lyrics.
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