It’s been three years since we lost Erin O'Donnell's brand of folksy pop to a collapsed label and ensuing contractual hassles.
No Place So Far is a fine return for O'Donnell. She seems to have put her enforced hiatus to good use and is vocally stronger than ever, enabling producer Glenn Rosenstein (
Jars of Clay) to find mature nuances to her lower range and a refreshing expressiveness to her girlish upper register.
No Place So Far is a more aggressive pop collection that still manages to maintain O'Donnell's trademark sunny qualities. While the songs, written with her husband, Brad, carry a fairly standard-issue Christian message ("God loves you, God will be there for you"), there are still some standouts. Noteworthy are the tender "Hold On to Jesus," a song penned by Brad after the birth of the O'Donnells' first baby; the encouraging "Damaged Goods"; and the uplifting "Bigger." A strong release from one of the industry's best performers,
No Place should take Erin O'Donnell very far, indeed.
