Album Review: Then Slowly Grows

Then Slowly Grows Album Front Photograph by Kiva Platters for Rablabs NY

And the wait is finally over.

Amid all the uninspiring noise on the radio, peace came to me in a flimsy cardboard slip with the words Then Slowly Grows printed on the cover. This is not only Joy’s third solo album but it’s the long-awaited answer to the exasperated prayers of many a loyal fan.

And boy was it worth the wait!

A promotional image of Bethany Joy Lenz
while signed under Epic Records (2006)

Then Slowly Grows is an intriguing balance of whimsy and introspection; making all the melodies so incredibly charming and fun to listen to. It’s the perfect little album to have floating around in the background on a morning stroll with its soothing instrumentals and head-in-the-sky lyrics.

One song in particular completes this album for me: "One Man to Love". Joy’s lullaby quality voice is raw and compelling – seeming to just melt in my ears. The lyrics are also unapologetically earnest and personal, and I find that these songs are my favorite – where Joy’s modest vocals intertwine with the soft sounds of a guitar or a piano a la "Ophelia" or "Elsewhere".

Not to be forgotten, are the soaring vocals that reel into a blooming instrumental wonderlands, in songs like "Devil’s Archerist", and "Then Slowly Grows". The musicality in these numbers is nothing short of incredible...

But with this, although brilliant in its own right, I fully understand why Epic Records chose to shelf this one. The force to compromise in the music industry is a lot stronger than many are willing to admit; and Then Slowly Grows in its preservation of honest and raw talent, lacks the polished beats and superfluous melodies of “radio friendly” singles. And with record labels – I find that the complexity isn’t in the music – these days it’s in the mechanisms behind the artist.

For me, the release of Then Slowly Grows isn’t exciting just for the music; it’s exciting because its the product of an artist who writes for the joy of writing, who sings for the love of performing and shares her gift for the love of music and not money.

In short – I love the album and everything it stands for. It is every bit as beautiful as it is addictive and I’m excited to see where Joy’s musical journey leads her.

To purchase the album visit BTF Concerts | Merchandise | Then Slowly Grows.