Deeper Life

1	Deeper Life 4:22
2	Days Like These 3:26
3	Love Without Limits 3:43
4	Within Me 4:09
5	I Will Be 4:10
6	Always Be Your Baby 4:14
7	That's When I'll Give Up (On Loving You) 4:11
8	Salvation 3:06
9	I Desire 4:12
10	Live for Today 4:23
11	I Am Not Alone 4:52
12	No Sign of It Bonus Track / From View from the Top / Mix 4:02

Barnes & Noble

Natalie Grant has had one of those careers that recording artists dread. Her 1999 debut built her up as Christian music's Next Big Diva; instead, the project vanished, and Grant's record label imploded. Undaunted, she landed at Curb Records and released Stronger, a full-blown pop collection that failed to ignite the sparks that had been promised. Will the third time be the charm? Perhaps: Deeper Life shows some truly great moments, but there's also plenty of sugary fluff and melodramatic syrup that point out her vocal limitations instead of using her talent to its best advantage. The title track sets the tone with lush backing vocals and production gimmicks that beef up Grant's limited voice. There are quite a few tracks like "Deeper Life" here, big-voice ballads such as "I Desire," "Within Me" and "I Am Not Alone," (which also appeared on her debut) that find the would-be diva straining. The revelation comes with the delightful "I'll Always Be Your Baby" and the funky "Salvation" -- these upbeat little numbers steal the show. Grant's performance is flawless: without oversinging, she allows real emotion and her bubbly personality to shine through. Because her vocals are better, she's not shrouded in production gewgaws, either. With this kind of promise, we can't wait for the real Natalie Grant to ditch the diva aspirations and just be her own talented self. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

It's too early in her career to know whether this powerhouse singer/songwriter will ever reach the heights of Contemporary Christian Music's other Grant (Amy), but a bevy of top producers come on board this sparkling debut to launch Natalie Grant towards this goal. All of these studio wizards (Eric Foster White, Tommy Sims, and Michael Lloyd) are better-known for their secular pop music, and the variety of atmospheres they create poise Grant for crossover pop success. It also helps that the lyrics Grant sings are designed as inspirational, rather than preachy. Torchy tracks like "I Am Not Alone" and rock-driven anthems like "I Will Be" could definitely lead both teenagers looking for substance, and adult contemporary audiences, to a deeper examination of important spiritual issues. Grant's wide-ranging pipes (yes, think potential diva) would surely sound great without all the production energy, but nearly every up-tempo tune here is an irresistible mix of pop/rock and modern soul flavors. The title track is all thump and hook, and some of the vocal texturing will remind fans of Point of Grace. Another POG-like tune, "Days Like These," is driven by jangly alternative pop guitars. A few tracks touch on simple exotica, most notably "Love Without Limits" with its swirling flamenco strings. Amidst the playful spirit is Grant's most heartfelt tune, a lush and teary, almost breathless tribute to her father, "Always Be Her Baby." This tune alone indicates that we're dealing with a major new talent whose deeper life extends from the spiritual into the musical. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide