Look Up Child

Not counting the 2016 holiday LP Behold, 2018's Look Up Child is the follow-up to Lauren Daigle's breakout debut, How Can It Be, an album that topped the Billboard Christian chart and crossed over to the Top 30 of the Billboard 200. More stylistically diverse and notably more soulful, Look Up Child not only lives up to the potential of her debut but ups the ante in terms of arrangements, production, and performances. (It also outperformed her debut on the charts, going all the way to number three on the Billboard 200.) As if to re-set expectations, it opens with a dramatic, orchestral glissando before settling into the urgent "Still Rolling Stones," a choral call to faith. In terms of rhythmic diversity, she ventures into reggae on "Your Wings," and the syncopated title track experiments with African-inspired beats and gospel. Seeming to embrace higher volumes -- vocally speaking -- on much of the record, there is plenty of dynamic balladry here, too, including tracks like the choir-backed "You Say" and poignant "Love Like This." Offering respite from the album's frequent swelling climaxes, she offers more delicate interpretations on tracks like "Rebel Heart" and "Inevitable," the only song with solo piano for accompaniment. After 12 original songs, the album closes on a carefree, six-and-a-half-minute version of the traditional hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." Throughout, Look Up Child's nuanced, soul-steeped vocal performances are bound to draw Daigle even more comparisons to Adele -- not the worst burden to have to endure. ~ Marcy Donelson