(Photo : Paul Brandt)

Like ice hockey, maple syrup and Anne Murray, Paul Brandt is rapidly becoming a Canadian icon.  Arguably he is the most recognisable voice in Canada on this side of the Millennium.  Ever since his 2002's "Small Towns and Big Dreams," every album he has had released has been awarded "Album of the Year" by Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA) and/or by the Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys).  And it is easily to lose count of the accolades he has had received in the land north of the 49^th parallel.  Songs like "Alberta Bound" and "Canadian Man" are now intricately inked to the nation's identity.  Not only that, Brandt did ride on the crest of the Shania Twain explosion in the 90s and he landed himself a couple of top country 5 US hits such as 'My Heart Has a History" and "I Do."  But underneath all the success, Brandt is a Christian and the first song he ever sung in High School was "Amazing Grace."  And over the years, Brandt has been heavily involved with humanitarian work that he was recently awarded two honorary doctorate degrees.  Now, this Alberta native has come full circle coming back to his roots with his first Gospel album "Just as I Am."

Following in the trail recently blazed by Steven Curtis Chapman and Alan Jackson, Brandt has now released his first acoustic Gospel album "Just as I Am." Unlike Brandt's previous outings, this disc is reverently sparse provided by the warm peddling of unplugged instruments such as banjo, guitar and steel.  Two things need to be said about the record before we delve to dissect the songs:  first, the choice of material is split between traditional hymns of the church as well as classic country gospel.  Second, seventy five percent of the songs find Brandt joining voices with the stalwarts of country music (Jon Randall Stewart, John Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Dan Tyminski and Patty Loveless), vocal pop (High Valley), family (Liz Brandt) and country gospel (the Isaacs).     

Brandt retains a small church authenticity to his solemn reading of Anna B. Warner's 19^th century children's hymn "Jesus Loves Me." Clocking in at only over a minute, somehow one would wish Brandt had written an addition verse or bridge to it.  Patty Loveless adds her patented soaring alto to "Amazing Grace."  Loveless takes what is a sleepy take of an over exposed hymn to a different level through her emotionally packed nuances.  While many of Brandt's singing partners just barely add harmonies, John Anderson almost takes the lion's share of the singing with "I'll Fly Away."  Jon Randall Stewart (who co-wrote Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss' "Whiskey Lullaby") is on Holy Spirit fire with Brandt as they roll along for over six minutes on a tent-revival rowdy take of "It is Well with My Soul."

Brandt uses his deep baritone to great effect in exploring the mysteries of suffering on Kris Kristofferson's oft-covered "Why Me."  But not all is sober and stiff; Brandt and fellow Canadians High Valley do offer a light hearted version of "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder."  They even ended the song with impromptu laughter yet they never sounded irreverent.  When it comes to selecting a Gospel record that is resonantly spiritual, consciously tasteful and yet fun and personal, Brandt's "Just as I Am" is a fine choice.