Kim Hill

Item: So Far So Good
Author: Vanessa Crooks

So Far So Good

(1994)

Reviewed by Vanessa Crooks

Discogs YouTube

Label Reunion RecordsThe LighthouseSeptember 1994

adult contemporary ccm country

According to Francis Schaeffer, "Christian art is by no means always religious art, that is art which deals with religious themes. Consider God the creator. Is God's creation totally involved with religious subjects? What about the universe? the birds? the trees? What about the bird's song? and the sound of the wind in the trees?" Keeping that thought in mind, let's look at the current project from Kim Hill. Her last release, Brave Heart, came out in 1991 and, following what seems to be a trend (see the David Mullen review), during this hiatus she was married and had a baby. It's certainly encouraging to see Kim back with a new project, but what's even more exciting is that not only will So Good be released to Christian outlets through Reunion Records, but it will also be released to secular outlets through BMG, a major country label.

If you watch VH-1, TNN, or any of the other country stations, you may have already seen the video for So Good's first single, "Janie's Gone Fishin'." Like the vast majority of the songs on So Good, "Janie's Gone Fishin'" deals with a horizontal, earthly relationship as opposed to a vertical, spiritual relationship. However, don't take this shift in lyrical focus as an indicator that Kim Hill has "abandoned the faith." She states clearly in her credits that this album is dedicated to Jesus Christ. And, much like Amy Grant on Heart In Motion, Kim Hill uses So Good to share a wholesome, God-honoring perspective on relationships. The rousing final cut, "When We're Home" is a fitting capstone for this project as it points to the hope that believers have in heaven.

So Good's producer, Wayne Kirkpatrick, does an able job of joining Hill's husky voice with a variety of musical styles and infectious melodies. From a musical stand-point, So Good showcases Kim's ability to carry out any style of music from a country-flavor jazz and blues sound to a down-home traditional gospel romp. There's no question though, that So Good is geared towards today's pop country market, not unlike some of the tunes on Susan Ashton's most recent release.

Whether or not you agree with Christian artists singing "non-religious" songs, I challenge you to pray for Kim Hill as she widens her audience and her potential to be an example of God's grace in action for those who need to see it the most.