By Surprise

1	New Day 4:09
2	I Wonder 3:46
3	Every Moment / Carl Marsh 3:12
4	By Surprise 3:49
5	Surrender 3:47
6	Desperate / Carl Marsh 4:12
7	Every Day 3:01
8	Wish 3:55
9	Beautiful Somehow 4:45
10	The Love of the Lord Endures 4:18

Barnes & Noble

Joy Williams, a 2001 Dove nominee for New Artist of the Year, shows a maturing vocal style and ambitious song choices with her sophomore release, By Surprise. Williams isn't a powerhouse diva-style singer along the lines of, say, Rachael Lampa, but she has a gift for nuance and phrasing that gives her pop material a depth some glossier productions lack. Williams shows she's evolving as an artist, too: She wrote a good chunk of By Surprise, and some of the strongest cuts are her own compositions. Williams finds her inner Sheryl Crow on the opening track, "New Day," a rocker with a message about leaving the past behind. But she saves most of her strongest performances for the ballads: the Williams-penned "Desperate" is at its core a love song to God, but it's got an engaging melodic line, and Williams sounds both vulnerable and convincing as she sings of yearning for her heavenly Father. Elsewhere, "Beautiful Somehow" is a sunny, lighthearted testimony of God's knack for making us all beautiful. Though just 19, Joy Williams already displays a mature musical sense. This is one artist who is here to stay. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

In the fall of 2002, California native Joy Williams released her sophomore project, By Surprise. The pop release builds on her debut project, offering both upbeat and reflective tracks. Songs include "I Wonder," "Surrender," and "Everyday." ~ Ashleigh Kittle, All Music Guide