Clay Crosse takes some risks on
Stained Glass. Some of them work, some of them don't, but at least he's trying something innovative, which is more than can be said of a lot of CCM artists.
Stained Glass has a complex, multi-layered sound, more akin to
Jars of Clay than the adult contemporary sound of his previous releases. "He Walked a Mile" is a moving ballad with a solid beat. "Sold Out Believer," a '70s funk-styled track, is
Crosse's biggest risk on the album, and one that pays off.
Crosse pulls off soul surprisingly well. Another '70s number, a rendition of "He Ain't Heavy," doesn't fare so well; it's meant to be sincere, but just feels hokey. "Wicked" is the most unfortunate choice on the album; it's oddly dark, both in style and lyrics: "For the wicked bend their bows/And they load their guns/And shoot from the shadows." It sounds like a bad case of paranoia.
Stained Glass is uneven, but it's a major stride for
Crosse. He's developing a style and a statement of his own. ~ Melinda Hill