REVIEWS

January 2005

The death toll from the recent Tsunami is now over 160,000 people. More are expected to die as a result of diseases associated with the lack of clean water and the inability to remove corpses from some of the worse hit areas. Several NGOs in the various countries affected by the disaster responded immediately, including our own Catholic Relief Services. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops pledged 25 million to go toward relief efforts via CRS.

We all want to do our part in helping these suffering people.

Karen Peris, lead vocals of the band The Innocence Mission, felt the pain of those suffering while listening to a speech on the impoverished children in South Africa. This encouraged The Innocence Mission to donate a portion of their new CD’s proceeds to Catholic Relief Services. That album is Now the Day is Over and it is one of the most touching collections of treasured songs ever. The gentle, haunting vocals of Karen Peris have turned songs like these into soothing lullabies for the soul.

The classic “What a Wonderful World” is sung without a hint of regret, but complete sincerity. When Peris sings the lyrics from the song, “I see babies cry and watch them grow,” you can smile knowingly because we heard the sadness and longing for children in their earlier CD called "Birds of My Neighborhood". With “Now the Day is Over” we know that the Karen's and husband guitarist Don's prayer has been answered. The familiar Wizard of Oz tune, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” is sung in a voice both cheerful and lonely, yet in a way that reassures our own feelings of longing. Peris' waiflike voice really soars on “Moon River,” the song from the film "Breakfast at Tiffany’s", giving it a timeless sound that no one has come close to since Andy Williams made it popular. Many will remember the song “Edelweiss” from the "Sound of Music". It is considered one of the most beautiful songs from the film, and The Innocence Mission has definitely kept it as inspirational as the original. A few years ago a collection of Disney songs included the song from Dumbo called “Stay Awake,” sung by Suzanne Vega. It was a little frightening and disturbing. Peris has recaptured the childlike nature of the song and turned it back into a proper lullaby. There is also classical music, from Chopin's "Prelude in A" to Beethoven's "Sonata Number 8" on the CD, done by the quiet acoustic guitar of Don Peris. Turning toward a more sacred sound for the CD, Karen Peris sings “It Is Well With My Soul,” a song they cover on Christ Is My Hope. This slightly different version has the remaining members backing Karen up in a gospel music fashion. The one original song from “Now the Day is Over” is “My Love Goes With You ." The song is sung through the eyes of a loving parent who sees her child rise in the morning and play throughout the day and then back to her dreams again. Although we do this with our children isn’t this what God does for us each and everyday? Songs from Now the Day is Over may be directed towards children but the album is truly enchanting and inspiring for adults as we remember that we are all God's children.