Erin Hutchinson Out of the Box

Posted by Kevan Breitinger Jun 19, 2006

The pianist shares a lot of her own personal life in these eleven songs covering growth, loss, fear and hope, and her greatest gifting may lie in that area. Her capable vocals match well these spotless arrangements, but it is her songwriting that stands out. Producer Eric Copeland adds a big orchestral feel to "Without Your Love," an ode to her grandmother's steadfast love, but beneath the strings lays a simple and lovely tribute to the power of one. Quiet ballad "Even Though" reminds us that God's love for us continues despite our failures, and the moving "Hero" is a song of thanksgiving, told in honor of a childhood friend killed in Iraq. The title track serves as Hutchinson's theme, declaring her intention to follow God even through her fears, to head out of the box into newfound freedom through faith. Her soft vocals standout on gentle rocker "Why Did This Happen." Telling the story of a freak accident that changed the life of a friend, Hutchinson asks "God, are you listening?"

But my favorite track is probably the closer "How Big," which enumerates some of the amazing details of God's expansive love. Hutchinson is a talent, and I'd be interested in hearing a less dramatic, more intimate expression of her abilities, but this is a good start.