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Certainly each of us at The Phantom Tollbooth has his or her favorite local artist who shows promise for breaking into the mainstream music media realm via an international music flair. Here's one more. Her name is Anne MacCallum, who hails from Columbia, South Carolina.

The title track to Anne's Live Through Me, including sweet guitars and an accordion, is a neat kick-off to this project, but Anne really gets the ball rolling with "My Eyes," incredibly reminiscent of Rich Mullins, with a hammered dulcimer and Gaelic lyrics courtesy of Máire Brennan, culled from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Give a listen to this particular track, and if you like it, you'll want to get a copy of this project, which flows very smoothly into "This Brother of Mine," built on scripture from Matthew 13:54-57 and John 7:5.

MacCallum serves song lyrics that are sorely missing from most recent contemporary Christian music. Every song from Live Through Me is credited to at least one specific piece of scripture, and there are incredibly beautiful praise and worship songs here, specifically with "Refuge," "You Alone," "Altar," and "A Psalm."

MacCallum sports a sturdy alto voice which mixes with each song with ease, including music arrangements that complement her message. The simplicity of the piano and Anne's treatment of Luke 7:38 for "You Alone" is incredibly beautiful.

"Grace Undeserved" reminds me just a bit of Paul Simon, perhaps a toned down version of "The Obvious Child," if that song could subtract all the drums and a harp.

The bottom line: do you enjoy Iona or Eden's Bridge? If you do, give Anne MacCallum's Live Through Me a serious listen, and you won't be disappointed. It's well worth the listen, and I have no doubt this project will be her first in a series of many of her recordings.

Olin Jenkins   July 10, 2001