Without Condition Artist: Ginny Owens Label: Rocketown Records Length: 11 Tracks/38:56 Minutes	I Wanna Be Moved (sample) Without Condition  (sample)

It is not often that we hear a glimpse of heaven while on earth, but angelic is exactly how to describe the fresh voice of Rocketown Records' newest family member, Ginny Owens. Owens' debut album, Without Condition, provides us with a celestial-sounding alternative to many pop female artists such as Point of Grace, Crystal Lewis, and CeCe Winans. Many of her lyrics are about everyday topics and life experiences, and tend to focus on scripture verses. For example, "I am Nothing" takes a popular theme in scripture of being nothing without God.

      I could live a flawless life,
      Never cheat or steal or lie,
      And always speak so kindly, smile warmly, and go about doing good.
      I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to do
      Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.
      I could show up every Sunday, lead the Choir and Bible Study
      And they might all come to know me as a leader and a friend.
      Oh, I could achieve successes on Earth, but success cannot define my worth.
      And all these actions, all these words will
            not matter in the end.

Even though Owens has been completely blind since the age of two, her talent on the piano has not suffered from her handicap. If anything, the loss of one sense has heightened others. It has enabled Owens to "look" beyond what we see and notice the human nature at a deeper level. In the song, "Land of the Grey," she sings about how humans see things differently than God does.

      What is wrong with this picture?
      We applaud this behavior.
      He's a hero if he makes mistakes.
      Oh, it's so clearly cloudy in the land of the grey.

Ginny Owens' music is soft and non-threatening. It includes several instruments, from her keyboard, to drums and other percussion instruments. The sound of her music does not put a fast-paced, be-bop in your step, you will not find her picture smiling from the cover of a teen magazine, and she cannot see what is in front of her. However, her music is soulful, typically slow or dreamy, her smile is genuine and reassuring, and she sees beyond what most of us get stuck on. God has gifted her with an ability to take you beyond her music to a familiar, safe place. The major problem with Owen's music is that most of it sounds similar to the rest of it, but the songs are quality and well worth listening to.

Cathy Courtwright 12/11/999