Hymns

Completed during the final stages of Joey’s grueling cancer battle, Hymns is undoubtedly a heavy listen. But there’s a lightness here, too. “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” sways gently between Joey’s simultaneous soft Midwestern lilt and sweet Southern twang, while “Softly and Tenderly” brings to mind Loretta Lynn. The simple children’s chorus “Jesus Loves Me” rises to the ranks of barn burner thanks to a galloping banjo accompaniment, and fan favorite “When I’m Gone” has become a deeply personal instruction manual for handling loss.