Having been called the Christian Christina Aguilera in the past, CCM pop artist Jaci Velasquez moves on from such saccharine comparisons on the indie rock-inflected Beauty Has Grace. Sounding more like ex-Mazzy Star vocalist Hope Sandoval than any teen pop diva, Velasquez seems more influenced by such alternative rock acts as Ivy and the Cardigans on her sixth English-language release. As much of modern Christian rock has attempted to more closely mirror the aesthetics of the secular music world, one might cynically view Velasquez's move to a more rock-oriented sound as a play to score fans of such faux-punk-pop stars as Ashlee Simpson and Avril Lavigne. However, as Velasquez enters her twenties, it makes sense that her own taste in music would mature, and given the sheer quality of these songs -- the best of which were co-penned by Velasquez -- one can only assume that this was an organic and positive change. Similarly, the Christian themes running through the album prove Velasquez has stayed true to her CCM roots while making an album any fan of melodic alternative pop could enjoy regardless of his or her spiritual leanings. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
Jamie Kiner (Production Coordination), Jaci Velasquez (Vocals), Martin Terefe (Juno), Mark Lusk (Guitar (Acoustic)), Andreas Olsson (Engineer), Richard Dodd (Mastering), Martin Terefe (Guitar (Electric)), Martin Terefe (Engineer), Martin Terefe (Drums), Andreas Olsson (Guitar (Electric)), Ian Fitchuk (Vocals (Background)), Martin Terefe (Vocals (Background)), Joe Baldridge (Mixing), Mark Lusk (Guitar (Electric)), Andreas Olsson (Guitar), Andreas Olsson (Mellotron), David Davidson (Violin), Andreas Olsson (Programming), Katherine Petillo (Creative Director), George Tandero (Assistant), David Davidson (String Arrangements), Nathaniel Chan (Engineer), Christer Jansson (Percussion), Martin Terefe (Piano), Andy Hunt (Editing), Andreas Olsson (Synthesizer), Blair Berle (Creative Director), Martin Terefe (Percussion), Andreas Olsson (Beat Box), Kristin Barlowe (Photography), Christer Jansson (Drums), Wayne Brezinka (Design), Nathaniel Chan (Guitar (Electric)), Baeho Bobby Shin (String Engineer), Jaci Velasquez (Vocals (Background)), Abel Orta (Bass), Ian Fitchuk (Piano), Ian Fitchuk (Keyboards), Kelly Pribble (Engineer), Andreas Olsson (Wurlitzer), Jaci Velasquez (Stylist), Martin Terefe (Bass), Anthony LaMarchina (Cello), Kelly Pribble (Audio Engineer), Daewook Jung (Assistant), Martin Terefe (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jaci Velasquez (Producer), Jacquire King (Engineer), Andreas Olsson (Piano), Martin Terefe (Producer), Martin Terefe (Wurlitzer), Blaine Barcus (A&R), David Angell (Violin), Mark Lusk (Soloist), Andreas Olsson (Synthesizer Bass), Martin Terefe (Audio Production), Jaci Velasquez (Executive Producer), Andy Hunt (Vocal Engineer), Jaci Velasquez (Audio Production), Martin Terefe (Mixing), George Tandero (Engineer), Cheryl H. McTyre (A&R), Dionicio R. Lopez (Executive Producer), Claes Björklund (Programming), Andreas Olsson (Drum Programming), Andy Hunt (Assistant), Kristin Wilkinson (Viola), Dionicio R. Lopez (Producer), Claes Björklund (Synthesizer), Claes Björklund (Guitar (Electric)), Michael Clarke (Vocals (Background)), Nathaniel Chan (Assistant), Dion Lopez (Audio Production), Martin Terefe (Guitar (Bass)), Javier Solís (Drums), Nathan Watkins (Assistant)
Beauty Has Grace is Christian artist Jaci Velasquez's fifth studio album. It marks a departure from her previous albums in style, having been recorded in London, England with Martin Terefe (A-Ha, Ron Sexsmith, Leona Naess, KT Tunstall, etc). She co-wrote 6 of the 10 album tracks. Velasquez decided to name the album "Kensaltown", after the town and studio where she recorded and wrote the album, but the label was concerned that people would confuse "Kensaltown" with "Tinsel Town" so they changed the title to "Beauty Has Grace" which is a lyric in the song "This Love". The release date for the album was pushed back several times until it finally got to May 3rd as the final date.[1] The label also changed the track listing of the album which first featured the song "Hold On To This Moment", but it was replaced for "Reason To Believe" Critics for the album were favorable, calling Velasquez's musical change "the boldest, smartest Christian music artistic shift in recent memory.[2] A special edition of the album was released by Family Christian Stores which featured a bonus track, "Love Will Find You".
