Diamond

iTunes Review

Jaci Velasquez’s first album in four years is a multifaceted affair, touching on nearly all of this veteran Christian artist’s diverse strengths. From her career breakthrough as a teenager onward, Velasquez has bridged the pop and Latin music worlds, combining upfront faith with a festive spirit and sassy attitude. Diamond recalls her early work, with the buoyant “Girl” (a positive anthem for young women) and the lightly funky “Stay” (a romantic track sung in low, smoky tones). Balancing these are uplifting tracks like the socially conscious “Give Them Jesus” and the yearning “Tell Me Again.” “The Sound of Your Voice” and the title number are widescreen glimpses of God’s all-embracing majesty, while “Guilt” marries an edgy rock track with a message of hope and healing. Sung in Spanish, “Con El Viento a Mi Favor” sails high on a gorgeous piano-centered melody. “Good Morning Sunshine” is graced with a sensitive, life-affirming lyric that lets Jaci deliver a performance filled with reverence and wonder.