It's not often an artist in the prime of her career takes six years to turn out an album. And if you've read anything at all about Grant's personal challenges during that period, the lapse is understandable.

After a half dozen years of anticipation, expectations are bound to be running very high. And when it comes to Amy's voice and performance on this album, her fans won't be disappointed. Grant sounds better than ever on this disc, which is a showcase of her ever-increasing vocal maturity and stylistic playfulness.

It has energy... emotion... and, of course, that girl-next-door charm that reminds us why, after 20 years, Amy is still reigning queen of the CCM music scene.

As with any artist of this magnitude, it goes without saying that the production values and arrangements on this album are top-notch. There's enough modern pop influence to keep the sound fresh, without losing sight of the fact that Amy is 42, not 21. Overall, there's not an unpleasant musical moment to be found on this album.

And yet...

As much as I wanted to like this record, the songs in this collection have, on first listen, left me a little flat. After the depth and melancholy of 1997's "Behind the Eyes" and the refreshing bluegrass/country flavor of "Legacy Hymns," I guess I was expecting something more profound... both lyricly and musically. I suppose the album's title should have been a warning to me: "Simple Things" is exactly what you get.

If you liked Amy's early-90s mega-hits like "Baby, Baby," "Every Heartbeat" and "That's what Love is For," this album is definitely for you. It's ripe with the latest pop sounds skillfully tailored to Grant's distinctive voice.

If you're a long-time fan like me, it's a must-have as well, simply because Amy sounds so good, and it's so nice to have her "back."

I just wish I liked it more.

It took me a little while, but learned to really enjoy Amy's last pop album "Behind the Eyes". Amy's new pop album "Simple Things" is written in that same vein - lots of guitar for a rock/pop sound. For me, however, the songs just aren't that good. I've now listened to it several times and it just doesn't do anything for me. One minor criticism is that it seems to be overproduced on a couple of songs - with special effects that you'd expect to hear on a Brittney album. I love Amy's voice and have liked her songwriting in the past, but found this cd to be a major dissapointment for me. I'll continue to listen and if I change my mind, I'll re-post and give it a higher rating.

First off, let me say that I've been a fan of Amy for many years, both before and after her "crossover" from Christian to mainstream pop. I've always found her voice to be strong, earnest and sweet. I saw the television promo ads for this newest album and I was terribly excited. They lauded it as a "comeback" (was she gone?) and stressed that the album was "three years in the making" (it took that long to write one long song?). Her last studio album, "Behind the Eyes," was a revelation to me, I thought she was really on the right road with her material. Unfortunately, while I don't view this release as a detour, it seems little more than a speed bump. It just doesn't go anywhere, it all sounds the same to me and it's way too A/C, MOR. In other words, bland and generic, at least to my ears. I haven't given up on Amy, though, I know she has a lot more to offer. Let's hope her next album is more, er, inspired.

As she did on her last album, "Behind the Eyes", Amy Grant has opened up her life and heart with her lyrics on "Simple Things". Amy Grant is honest -- sometimes almost painfully so -- and both of these albums present a snapshot of her life that is real, raw and emotional.

That comparison is where the similarity between these albums ends. "Simple Things" reflects not only a transition from tough times to happier times (the first track is appropriately titled "Happy"), it also reflects a leap in artistic expression. The lyrics fit the music, and most importantly, Amy's vocals are right on the mark.

She changes her inflection and tone to a light and happy mix as she sings of being a child in the single "Simple Things"; she takes a distinctly new approach on "Eye to Eye", mirroring the circling argument presented in the lyrics with looping music/backround vocals and a stair-step bridge; and, on "Innocence Lost", she strips down to her familiar velvet and soulful tone to reveal the power of simple honesty.

All but two of the songs were written by Grant, continuing her tradition of being a singer/songwriter/musician. As a result, this album is uniquely Amy. For her older fans, think of the energy of "Unguarded" mixed with the emotion of "Lead Me On" with just a hint of "Heart in Motion": that is "Simple Things".

For her newer fans, think of this album as the one you will replay many times when you first get it. There are plenty of good hooks and quotable lyrics, and you will certainly be hearing "Simple Things" and probably "Eye to Eye" and "Happy" on the radio for years to come.

This is classic Amy Grant: Honest, emotional, raw and spiritual. The Amy Grant who started singing Christian music 25 years ago has evolved into the complete musical package. It just doesn't get much better than this.

Get ready to smile, and believe in Simple Things.

I have been an Amy Grant fan for a long time and I was really looking forward to her first album of new material after Behind the Eyes. A lot of things in her life had changed in that time and I wanted to see how that would be reflected in her music. I was not disappointed in the least with this album. It has the mixture of secular love songs and more meaningful and spritiual songs that I have always loved about Amy's records. Songs like "Happy," "Looking for You," and "Touch" are great love songs and songs like "I Don't Know Why," "Out in the Open," and "Innocence Lost" are very meaningful and inspirational especially for those that have dealt with difficult times and doubt. However, my favorite songs on the album are "Simple Things," "Beautiful," and "After the Fire" This is because these songs are very hopeful and positive and can be taken as spiritual or secular, depending on one's mindset. Musically the music is not very complex or original. Instead they are simple melodies that are easy to sing along with and hum. I believe that is why Amy chose to title it Simple Things. The songs are just simple pretty songs that allow someone to hear the message in the songs and take simple enjoyment in them at the same time. It's a great album to listen to in order to relax or just enjoy some good music. I am very pleased with this album and will continue to the buy the music of this extremely talented and thoughtful musician.