Cherie Call's fourth full-length album, The Ocean in Me, delivers a variety of styles but in a consistent and friendly voice. Her songs all draw heavily on inspirational themes and melodiously reflect her membership to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Call's reputation in the Mormon music scene is strong - her music graces the 'God's Army' soundtrack, the soundtrack for Jack Weyland's 'Charly,' and a host of EFY albums.
The Ocean in Me generally resembles other albums in her genre, relying on sweeping background music and spiritually encouraging lyrics. But some of the tracks (for example 'One Good Woman,' 'More Than Enough Love,' and 'Somebody Else's Shoes') offer refreshing sounds and peppy tempos, contrasting with the traditionally richly orchestrated sounds of the rest of the album and Mormon pop music in general.
Clearly the message dominates and dictates Call's tunes. In the liner notes she explains her choice for the album's title:
'I've always been fascinated by the ocean. You can't see the other side of it from the shore. If you look as far as you can, it just seems to touch the sky. Someone would pretty much have to be watching from above to see the whole thing. Our lives are very much the same. These songs are about the times when our Father helps us to see the big picture - the ocean in us that we never knew existed.'
In different tracks she sings hopefully of reliance on God, the strength of womanhood and maternal ancestry, learning persistence from her family, and praying for broken-down cars. Her lyrics draw heavily from Mormon terms (ie., 'the great and spacious building'). But her songs carry a personal touch - she speaks intimately.
In 'More Than Enough,' she acknowledges, 'here I am with my foolish pride/Pointing my finger when I'm the one who/ Let that person pass me by, and I didn't smile/ Or look him in the eye/ It wouldn't have taken and time/ How could I be so blind?'
Her personal themes are matched nicely with a friendly and candid tone of voice. The lyrics and her comfortable voice give you the impression that you are engaged in private conversation with her.
But her easy voice should not be mistaken for underdeveloped. She powerfully expresses her tunes, overshadowing her competent guitar work and varying backup sounds.
Call's fans will not be disappointed by her latest batch of God-loving melodies. Her occasionally fresh approaches to the Mormon music scene blend nicely with the more traditional approaches and will be well received by Mormon pop music audiences. Whether or not she can appeal to the larger Christian music scene remains to be seen.