Beyond Measure

iTunes Review

It’s impossible to discuss Jeremy Camp’s music without touching upon his personal story: the loss of his first wife in 2001 (as well as his subsequent remarriage and fatherhood) have added deep shadows to the songs he writes and performs. Beyond Measure (2006) is a work of faith, healing and, ultimately, love. Camp is gifted with one of Christian rock’s most potent voices, rich with resonance and tinged with an underlying note of sorrow. He could easily re-launch himself as a secular performer, but this album makes it clear that his heart lies in proclaiming the Word. The cool veneers and austere contours of modern British rock (especially Coldplay) color tracks like “What It Means” and “When You Are Near.” Sparse arrangements set off the almost tactile power of Camp’s singing on “Take a Little Time” and “Let it Fade.” From the surging “Tonight” to the slightly countrified “Everything,” there’s an impressive degree of sonic variety here. In the end, though, Camp’s ability to convey both the burden of suffering and the sweetness of salvation is what makes Beyond Measure such a moving work.