Music
Store

The CD opens with the driving song "Live Out Loud." This song, like several of his past songs, takes a current pop culture hit and uses it to make a point about Christianity. And it's fun.

From there, the project hits many more high notes. "No Greater Love" is a magnificent song inspired by the classic story told in "Through Gates of Splendor." Be sure to read the notes on that song.

My favorite songs are right next to each other. "God is God" tackles the pain we experience in life and reaches the same conclusion Job did - I don't understand God's way, but He is God so I need to trust Him. "See the Glory," the "Gameboy" song, is another fun song reminding us to stop looking at what's going on around us and remember who God is.

Looking back over the list, there are only one or two songs I don't like, and they're continuing to grow on me.

I have had this CD playing almost constantly since I got it. It's fun, yet manages to tackle some serious subjects in a mature way. I highly recommend it for any Steven Curtis Chapman fan.


Honesty   September 26, 2001
 12 out of 12 found this review helpful

At a time when groups seem to sound the same album after album, Steven Curtis Chapman continues to grow and change his sound. Beyond the music, which ranges from a gentle piano solo, "Love Takes You In" to the driving "Wake Up(Gameboy)", there is such honesty in his words. "God is God" continues the journey started in SCC's last album "Speechless", dealing with the issue of life's pain and why things happen. In a later rousing song SCC says that if trouble is going to make him strong then "Bring It On". In light of recent tradegies it seems fitting that Steven Curtis Chapman should write the song "No Greater Love" dealing with the spritual truth that "there is no greater love than this...to be willing to die so another may live".

Although the album leans more toward a hard rock feel than previous albums there is a variety of styles. "Declaration of Dependence" starts with a fun catchy feel and SCC overhearing the conversation of a flower with the sky. "Jesus Is Life" has an 80 esque rolicky feel.

Sonically and lyrically "Declaration" is a winner.


Steven Curtis Chapman Reaches All Audiences !   November 16, 2001
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

I never thought I would say this, but I love songs that touch my heart, and a little on the gentle side. That is why I really like "Love Takes You In", "Magnificent Obsession", and "Save Me" on this CD, and I know the more I listen to them, my appreciation will grow even deeper. I also know that I will be glad I bought this CD, just for those songs.
I'm of the generation, that was weaned on Eric Clapton, Hendrix, and the like. I have a 1966 Fender Telecaster, that I bought new back then, similar to the one he has on the face of the CD. Great guitar.
I feel I have a responsibility to comment that if you are not into todays younger music, you are not going to appreciate the rest of the CD. If you are into todays younger music, then you will love the whole CD.
The early songs on this CD, which generally speaking, have a lot of performers in them, have a recording quality to them, that is reminiscent of a boxy, early sound. I know from recording, that once you add 50 different microphones to a cut, you are getting 50 more people in, but you also get 50 times the noise. It is a recording basic.
I never thought I would be writing anything less than the highest praise, when it comes to him, but this is the first time I have mixed emotions.
I'm a devout SCC fan. I have turned so many people on to him. I see people a month later, they grab my arm, and say, "That is all I listen to any more." He is that great.
If your gently moving up in the years as I am, you will appreciate all of SCCs earlier CD's, and another one of his recent (1999) CD's called Speechless, all the more. I just bought all three of these CD's with "The Music of Christmas" being the third.
I listened to Speechless just once so far, and know I will be wearing out a CD player, playing that one, again and again.
I have all of SCCs CD's, and he really is a shining Dove in a sea of confusion.


Another masterpiece by Steven Curtis Chapman   September 25, 2001
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I have been following this gifted singer/songwriter since his "For the Sake of the Call" days, so I was very excited to get this new release! Steven has such a way with words - his lyrics run the gamut from humorous and clever (Live Out Loud) to simple yet profound (Carry You To Jesus and Savior).

At first listen, I think I like this album better than "Speechless", which is saying a lot! If you have Christian radio in your area, no doubt you've heard the radio single "Live Out Loud." This song starts like this:

Imagine this...I get a phone call from Regis
He says, "Do you want to be a millionaire?"
They put me on the show and I win with two lifelines to spare
Now picture this...I act like nothing ever happened
And bury all the money in a coffee can
Well, I've been given more than Regis ever gave away
I was a dead man who was called to come out of my grave
And I think it's time for makin' some noise...

Wake the neighbors, get the word out
Come on...crank up the music...climb a mountain and shouto
This is life we've been given made to be lived out
So la la la la live out loud.
Live out loud.

This CD grabs you with this song, but what you'll find is a range of marvelous new songs, all very meaningful. I really appreciate SCC including Bible verse references for each song in the liner notes.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the album was the song "No Greater Love". When you first hear it, you might wonder if they patched in some weird ancient chanting from a different world and time! It turns out that one of the Auca Indians from Ecuador who killed the 5 missionaries back in 1956 is the person chanting at the end of this song! This man, Mincaye, and many of his tribe, have become believers in the same Jesus Christ that Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and 3 other men came to Ecuador to tell them about! In the lyrics of Steven's song, you'll hear a "beyond the gates of splendor", referring to the book "Through Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot. If you haven't read this book, be sure to order a copy from Amazon, along with "Shadow of the Almighty" and "The Savage My Kinsman", to get the whole picture. Mincaye's "praise song" which he chants is translated for us and you can read the English words in the liner notes.

Probably my two favorite songs on this CD are the last two - "Carry You to Jesus" and "Savior". "Carry You to Jesus" starts like this:

I will not pretend to feel the pain you're going through
I know I cannot comprehend the hurt you've known
And I used to think it mattered if I understood
but now I just don't know

Well, I'll admit sometimes I still wish I knew what to say
And I keep looking for a way to fix it all
But we know we're at the mercy of God's higher ways
And our ways are so small
But I will carry you to Jesus
He is everything you need
I will carry you to Jesus on my knees.

I find this song to be extremely relevant given the tragedy of September 11th. I'm sure this song will give much encouragement.

"Savior" is a beautiful piece with lush orchestration. At the end, the orchestral section reminds me a lot of the Prelude to "The Great Adventure", which came out back in 1992!

Steven and his wife Mary Beth adopted a little girl from China named Shaohannah and at the time of the 9/11/01 tragedy, they were in Washington DC to accept an "Angels in Adoption" award in front of the US Congress on Wednesday, 9/12. After the plane hit the pentagon, Steven and Mary Beth and Shaohannah were able to get out of the city in a rented car and return home to Nashville.

You won't be disappointed with Steven's latest release!