Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Mercy Miles are singer Glenda Hoffman and songwriter/guitarist Brad Coleman. This, their debut album, has a rootsy feel with the now obligatory tin whistle, accordion, mandolin, etc, etc. However, the instrumentation and Glenda Hoffman's vocals send this album towards the outskirts of country music, particularly on the slower songs. For your hard earned cash, you get 11 Mercy Miles originals and a couple of covers thrown in for good measure (an up tempo "Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus" and yet another version of "People Get Ready" - not a patch on Woodgate Worship's version from CR22). I like the grit of some of Coleman's songwriting especially where he examines the challenges of living in the real world. "Scared By The Truth" is excellent, looking at the way we don't always want to hear what God has to say to us because of the cost of change. Generally, I have to say I prefer the more up tempo songs like "I Can't Help Myself", which has a great little guitar solo, and the album's opener "Trying Too Hard". If this is their calling card I look forward to Mercy Miles' next visit.

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