Chris Rice - Past The Edges

Tuesday 1st December 1998
Chris Rice - Past The Edges
Chris Rice - Past The Edges

STYLE: Pop
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 7764-7524
LABEL: Rocketown 7011531025
FORMAT: CD Album
RRP: £0.18

Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

When Michael W Smith set up Rocketown Records, Chris Rice was one of the first to be signed, and Smitty's judgment was backed up when 'Deep Enough To Dream' became one of the best selling debut albums of 1997, picking up six Dove Award nominations on the way, as well as putting Mr Rice firmly in the CCM spotlight. Fame, it seems, has not gone to Chris' head, since he has backed up his solid start with this classy offering of hook-filled, melodic, radio-friendly pop, writing nine of the songs himself, and co-writing the 10th. To back up this composing talent, producer Monroe Jones has roped in a bunch of accomplished musicians and singers, including fellow roster members Micah and Lori Wilshire; the result is tight arrangements that don't swamp Chris's mainly acoustic composing style. My fave trax at the moment: the anthemic "And Your Praise Goes On", which evokes strong memories of "I'll Lead You Home" (I'm sure that Smitty would approve), and the very danceable opening track "Smellin' Coffee", inspired (I kid you not) by Lamentations 3:23. The underlying theme of the whole thing revolves around the everyday struggles of life, and throughout the album Chris's faith shines through. Recommended.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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Reader Comments

Posted by Don in USA @ 16:12 on Feb 12 2012

Nearly 1 year from his debut release we hear this excellent top notch ccm project #2. "Naive" was the first song I heard on ccm radio, loved it immediately.
I received disappointed when this song failed to be included on "Short Term Memories". "Smellin' Coffee" was a great choice to lead off the songset;
I love the chorus line " here comes Your mercy streamin in with the morning light". The cd title is from " Big Enough"; similarities can be heard in the song "Two Sets of Jones" by Big Tent Revival.
"And Your Praise Go On", what a most welcomed song to the ccm genre, totally love this one, wtg Chris! The message that echoes clear from the songs on this cd is what it's all about.
There is some sorta fairytale magic that comes alive in Chris' songs, like dreams of Heaven, it is a beautiful, soulful feeling to experience.
I fully connect with the poetic lines of "Wind & Spirit".
The piano flavored "Missin' You" was a perfect closer;
Chris really made connection with the line " I dream about Your promise to return".
The above write up by Mr. Kirk zeros more upon Michael W. Smith than Chris, what happened?
GOD Bless! -Don



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