I do not know how many bloggers out there read my blog but according to my WordPress statistics there are a few of you. To you I wish to apologize for being absent with Music Review Tuesday last week. I hope that I can make it up to you by what I review today. Today’s artist is one many of you know and love and have listened to for many years now. Since coming onto the music scene in 1987, Steven Curtis Chapman (or SC squared as dcTalk labeled him years ago) has won 5 Grammy Awards and 51 Gospel Music Association Awards. The most by any Christan music artist to date. Chapman and his wife Mary Beth have three biological children and three adopted children from China. They all live in Franklin, Tennessee (one of my favorite states) and are all involved in many ministries. For details just check out any of the links provided in this posting. Seven Curtis Chapman has been a personal favorite artist of mine since hearing his song “The Great Adventure” in 1992. My wife and I also saw him live that next year at Carpenters Home Church in Lakeland, Florida. Since then I have been a fan of his music. If you have listened to his music at all you come away with an understanding of the emotion he has for music and his love for the Lord. For indeed loving the Lord and being obedient to His will is in fact a “Great Adventure”.

The new release from Steven Curtis Chapman is called “This Moment“. The album was released October 23rd, 2007. To be honest I expect good quality music and lyrics from this artist, because I become accustomed to it over the years. This album is no exception. From the first track to the four acoustic bonus tracks. The first track is “Miracle of the Moment” and it starts the album out perfectly. In the bible Philippians 4: 6-7 says:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

and the song echoes

It’s time for letting go
All of our if only’s
‘Cause we don’t have a time machine
And even if we did
Would we really want to use it?
Would we really want to go change everything?
‘Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

The next track “Broken” speaks to all of us who try so hard to impress those around us and put on a facade that we are doing well and happy and yet we are broken inside. We’re all broken and in the need of a Savior. For anyone who has a daughter the third track will bring you smiles and tears. The track is called “Cinderella” and is about a father dancing with his daughter and watching her grow up. It is by far my favorite song on the album. A close second is the bonus acoustic version. Fathers love your daughters and provide for them the godly example ” ‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight and she’ll be gone”. “Yours” is the next track, and as the title implies everything is Yours God. Chapman paints some pretty impressive pictures of places he has visited as he acknowledges that each one belongs to God. It is a great praise and worship song to the Father and Ruler of all things. The album follows this track with a rockin’ tune called “Something Crazy”. I love the music and the lyrics are so true if you have ever experienced the love of the Lord. ” ‘Cause you know sometimes love makes you act that way.” I dearly love the second verse:

I know a lady in Uganda
Forty kids call her mama
And everybody thought it was crazy
She used to drive a beamer
But I’ve never seen her
Any happier than she is now

The album highlights are many but I will name a few here. “Miracle of the Moment”, and of course “Cinderella”, the praise and worship song “Yours”, “Something Crazy”, “My Surrender” for it’s emotion and the great devotion to the Lord, “You Are Being Loved” is a beautifully written song musically and lyrically. The music is very guitar oriented reminiscent of “Dance With The Dinosaurs” from his “Heaven In The Real World” album. “With One Voice” is a great song that describes the body of Christ as it relates to all those all over the world in different cultures and speaking different languages. The acoustic tracks are a definite bonus and mixed very well. This album is such a breath of fresh air and a great encouragement to me. I really love the music and have appreciated SCC’s lyrics for many years. I will give the album a rating of five stars out of five.

Check out one of my favorite SCC videos. The song is called “Live Out Loud”. I will update when a video from the new release becomes available. Rock On!!