It’s been almost five and a half years since a new Rebecca St. James albums has been available for her devoted fans. Now in 2011, St. James sheds her rock image and presents the third worship album of her career I Will Praise You.

The album begins with the effervescent title track that is upbeat, worshipful, and exciting. The song has St. James’ signature style stamped all over it. It’s a compelling, catchy tune that will sure to stick in your head for days.

Unlike previous worship albums such Worship God and Live Worship, I Will Praise You is almost completely void of cover songs, opting for an original approach. However, two covers are included, one of them being “You Never Let Go” originally by Matt Redman. Rebecca adds a wonderful pop/rock flavor to the song and her voice is in top form.

Lead single “Shine Your Glory Down” is a rock-infused gem that will make you want to rock out and praise God. The song has an extremely cheerful melody and undeniably catchy lyrics.

“You Still Amaze Me” is a heartfelt mid-tempo track reminiscent of “Take All of Me” from 2005’s If I Had One Chance To Tell You Something. “In a Moment” is one of the album highlights with a soft, piano-driven beginning that builds into an epic crescendo with full drums and echoing background vocals. The song is a passionate, worshipful moment.

“The Kindness of Our God” is a beautiful song that features Rebecca’s flawless upper vocal register. It’s laden with gorgeous bagpipes that add a wonderful flavor to the track. “When the Stars Burn Down (Blessing and Honor)” is a soft, fervent piece of art that Rebecca paints with her gorgeous vocals.

“Almighty God” is an urgent message to those searching for a loving God. Rebecca sings gleefully about Jesus’ powerful love. “You Hold Me Now” is a musical masterpiece with stunning vocals and deep, honest lyrics.

The final track on the album, “You Make Everything Beautiful” is a tender piece that showcases Rebecca’s absolutely beautiful voice. Throughout all of the beautiful instrumentation and sincere lyrics, Rebecca’s voice is the true standout gem of the album with its delicate accent and passionate urgency. She easily hits every note with perfect ease, something that many mainstream artists can’t do without the use of auotune.

Overall, I Will Praise You is one of Rebecca St. James’ finest works to date. It’s very different than her other releases, but that’s the beauty of Rebecca; she’s always building in her previous works and maturing the sound of her music. Congratulations to you Rebecca, for making a beautiful album that stands out above the rest.