Next 5 Minutes - Steven Curtis Chapman, Anders, Adam
Fingerprints of God
The Invitation
Whatever
I Do Believe
What I Really Want to Say
With Hope
The Journey
Be Still and Know
If he wasn't on your list before, you better add Steven Curtis Chapman to your contemporary Christian music (CCM) superstar group. Speechless, Chapman's 11th album in his 12-year career, reaches new heights and testifies t... more »o a songwriting brilliance that is almost unmatched. This album will undoubtedly increase Chapman's score of 29 No. 1 hit CCM singles. For the first time, the ebullient singer/songwriter has made a record with his touring band (instead of with studio musicians) and the tightness and familiarity shows. The opening "Dive" (Chumbawamba fans will love the chorus here), "Speechless," and "Fingerprints of God" are its strongest moments; then there's the deeply moving and emotional tribute "With Hope," an ode Chapman wrote for close friends who have lost children and are struggling to find a reason to live. Top-line producer Brown Bannister enables Chapman's beautiful release, evidenced by the final track, "Be Still and Know," which features a lengthy symphonic introduction. At this level, you can't expect dramatic departures from what has worked so well, but what you get here is the work of an artist who is perfecting his muse. Buy this today! --Michael Lyttle« less
If he wasn't on your list before, you better add Steven Curtis Chapman to your contemporary Christian music (CCM) superstar group. Speechless, Chapman's 11th album in his 12-year career, reaches new heights and testifies to a songwriting brilliance that is almost unmatched. This album will undoubtedly increase Chapman's score of 29 No. 1 hit CCM singles. For the first time, the ebullient singer/songwriter has made a record with his touring band (instead of with studio musicians) and the tightness and familiarity shows. The opening "Dive" (Chumbawamba fans will love the chorus here), "Speechless," and "Fingerprints of God" are its strongest moments; then there's the deeply moving and emotional tribute "With Hope," an ode Chapman wrote for close friends who have lost children and are struggling to find a reason to live. Top-line producer Brown Bannister enables Chapman's beautiful release, evidenced by the final track, "Be Still and Know," which features a lengthy symphonic introduction. At this level, you can't expect dramatic departures from what has worked so well, but what you get here is the work of an artist who is perfecting his muse. Buy this today! --Michael Lyttle
"Steven Curtis Chapman has received much critical praise and about a million Dove Awards, and with his album "Speechless", he proves once again that all the acclaim is richly deserved. Chapman turns up the tempo and rocks the house more than in previous albums, right from the opening track, the irresistibly danceable "Dive". But in addition to that huge hit, a more rock-influenced, guitar-driven sound can also be heard in songs like "The Change", "Next 5 Minutes, which contains a superbly catchy hook, and "Whatever". Other songs, highlighted by the moving "Great Expectations", take on a more soft, melodious approach, similar to the title song "Speechless". The song "With Hope", as the title implies, offers hope to those who have lost a loved one, and the album as a whole offers hope to everyone who is looking for peace and purpose in life through Christ. The soothing and worshipful "Be Still And Know" offers a beautiful closing to what is no doubt a remarkable album by Chapman. This CD presents music and messages appealing to both youth and adult audiences, and should be a welcome addition to anyone's musical library."
Could Steven Curtis Chapman get any better?
Timothy Rhodes | Martin, GA | 11/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a fan of SCC since around 1992 and 1993, and he is in my opinion the greatest Contemporary Artist ever. This CD, Speechless, is one of his greatest yet. It is hard to beat "Signs of Life", his previous album, but he came VERY close. In fact, I think it was a tie. All of the songs on the album are very good, but here are some of my favorites:Dive: This song makes you want to listen to the rest. The catchy beat and tune will make you want to listen to it over and over. Speechless Is, I think, the greatest song on the album. It reminds us of God's infallable love for us. And as the title lives up to it, it leaves me speechless.The Change is also an awesome song. It simply reminds us that we can say we are a Christian and get many Christian things, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't show we are a Christian.The Invitation is a very good slow song. It is not as catchy as Dive, but a very great song telling us that no matter what we do, God still loves us and that God wants us and is inviting us.Whatever is a very good song. It is on my list of favorites. It tells us that we should do whatever God wants us to do, because he has a plan for us.I Do Believe is a great song that we should always remember whenever life is not going the way it should. SCC, at a concert I went to, said he had to sing that to himself many times he had hardships during the past year.I see I skipped the Fingerprints of God. This song is great. SCC wrote it for his daughter, which every SCC fan knows by now. He is simply telling her that God created her in His image, so she is beautiful.What I Really Want to Say, Be Still and Know, and With Hope, are great slow songs. These songs reflect on his life and what he has gone through.I hope this review has been helpful, and it is something I highly recommend to anybody. The whole album truly did leave me speechless."
"And I am speechless, I'm astonished and amazed....."
Mark Lee | 11/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hey guys, my name is Mark Lee, I'm 15 years old, and this is easily the greatest collection of contemporary Christian music I've heard in a long, long while! I received this CD from my aunt recently, and I knew I would at least like it when I saw that the song "Dive" is on it. "Dive" is one of Steven Curtis Chapman's greatest hits ever, with an irresistible groove and a catchy chorus. But I didn't expect EVERY song to be so good! Every song is great in one way or another. "I Do Believe", "The Change", and "Whatever" make you want to get up and dance to their hard rock beat. Also, "Speechless", "Next 5 Minutes", and "Great Expectations" will move you with their powerful, thought-provoking lyrics. All those songs are rather loud at some point or another (especially "I Do Believe"), and my mom used to dislike Steven Curtis Chapman because "his music is too loud and boyish". That's the way it is with some songs, but not with all of them. In fact, part of the reason why Steven Curtis Chapman is such a superb musician is that he can not only write loud rock songs, but also some of the sweetest love songs I've ever heard! "Fingerprints of God" is a heartwarming song dedicated to his daughter about how she is such a beautiful creation of God. "What I Really Want to Say" is a moving song for his wife about how words cannot describe how much he loves her. "With Hope" is a real tearjerker, dedicated to several families who had lost their children in school shootings. "The Journey" is a brief instrumental which adds yet more emotion to the already powerful "With Hope". "The Invitation" is a quiet little piece about God's sacrifice for us. "Be Still and Know" is a subdued, worshpiful conclusion to this fantastic album. And did I mention that "Dive" is one of Steven Curtis Chapman's greatest hits ever? Buy this CD immediately! It's also a great first Steven Curtis Chapman CD if you've never heard his music before."
Awesome!
razzie | U.S.A. | 12/08/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The song "Dive" gives me a real sense of excitment! It makes me feel like dancing and praising the Lord as I serve Him.This CD has got real rythum and soul! Thanks Steven Curtis Chapman for loving the Lord enough to add those moves in your music!"
Speechless...you will be!
Helen Wright | Motherwell, Lanarkshire United Kingdom | 06/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To be honest if you had mentioned the name Steven Curtis Chapman to me this time last year I would have been totally clueless. I wasnt into Christian music in a very big way...mainly because it wasnt very good! No offence meant. However what a revolution has taken place this past year huh! This album is a total breath of fresh air, songs such as Dive and Speechless really show off Stevens gift of singing and music. Beautiful lyrics finish the package off nicely. A tear or two will fill your eye at the lovely Fingerprints of God dedicated to his daughter and relating to the pressures on young people to look like magazine models...this song is an invaluable lesson that society could well benefit from adopting. Well done Steven in creating a unique Christian album which shows the gifted musicians in Churches all over the world, and praise the Lord for such beautiful words and music which will be a blessing to many! Enjoy! I did and Im sure you too will be speechless once more at the wondrous grace of God..."