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Laurell Hubick’s second release, Into Your Love, is a collection of original songs directed toward God.  Some fall into the praise & worship category, with repeated choruses, while others are fully fleshed out three minute devotionals.  Hubick herself is a former Canadian Idol contestant, winning the Vancouver, British Columbia, portion of the competition.

Unlike many of her Idol counterparts, though, Hubick isn’t relying on a pleasant appearance and a savvy management team to grant her success.  She writes or co-writes every song on the album, sings, and adds piano and acoustic guitar.  Back by a five piece band, the songs here have a real feel to them, without studio tricks or programming involved.

Although trained in jazz, Hubick’s songs come across in the CCM vein.  “Great I Am” is in the range of Point of Grace or Sierra, and most of the other tracks are somewhat similar in sound.  “Worthy”, while filled with predictable rhymes, is a bit more edgy, and would draw a younger audience than most of the CD.   “He Is With Us” would be the radio single, and “Names of God” uses a steady build to reach its climax.
 
It is refreshing to see a young woman achieve some success by breaking out of the pre-packaged Idol mode.  I would rather listen to Laurell’s voice than any of the "American Idol" winners to date, but there isn’t much here to elevate her above the typical CCM radio fare.

Brian A. Smith
14 August 2004