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With All of My Heart: The Greatest Hits

reviewed by Russ Breimeier
Sounds like … the evolution of ZOEgirl's sound, from the programmed teen pop of Britney Spears and Hilary Duff, to the more refined modern pop/rock of Kelly Clarkson and Superchic[k], as well as the adult contemporary of Point of GraceAt a glance … since the album only offers two so-so new songs and fails to capture all of the trio's hits, With All of My Heart is unnecessary, suited only for casual fans who have yet to buy ZOEgirl's musicTrack Listing With All of My Heart I Believe One Day You Get Me About You Unchangeable Dismissed Beautiful Name Give Me One Reason Plain Scream Even If Feel Alright Dead Serious Different Kind of Free

Since starting in 2000, ZOEgirl has sold more than a million records and remains the fastest-selling debut artist in the history of Sparrow Records. Credit them also for surviving stylistic trends by evolving from the manufactured teen-pop of Britney Spears to the more refined modern pop/rock of Kelly Clarkson and Superchic[k]; in a sense, they're like a more hip and energetic Point of Grace. Musically the trio has only gotten better with time and remain fueled by missions and youth ministry, so don't look for them to quit just yet, but an album like With All of My Heart: The Greatest Hits allows ZOEgirl to take a much-deserved break before their next new project.

It's a fairly generous 15-track collection that offers more than an hour of music, including obvious hits like "I Believe," the title track, "Beautiful Name," "Feel Alright," "You Get Me," and "About You." Yet the focus here is just as much on issues-oriented fan favorites that didn't make it to radio, such as "Dismissed," "Plain," "Scream," and "Different Kind of Free." Because songs like these are at least as good as the hits, it helps justify the decision to release a greatest hits with only four studio albums to ZOEgirl's credit.

But while this collection provides an adequate overview, there's little excuse for ignoring some of the biggest hits, like "No You," "Anything Is Possible," and "Living for You." The disc also appeals poorly to fans because of minimalist packaging and two generic new songs ("One Day" and "Unchangeable") that just don't measure up to the others—and labels wonder why people continue to turn to download services like iTunes. Completists will be disappointed with it and most fans haven't enough reason to buy it, so ultimately With All of My Heart only works for the rare ZOEgirl fan that has yet to buy their albums.

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