Return To Acoustic For A Great Love Fest
Posted January 29, 2008
By KevinMcNeese_NRT, Staff Reviewer
Steven Curtis Chapman returned to the acoustic guitar on his eleventh studio recording (thirteenth overall) that is summed up best by the title, All About Love. With his wife of eighteen years, Mary Beth, providing inspiration, Steven's crafted a thematic album around the concept that we love God best when we love each other well. The sixteen tracks on this album passes the traditional love song by taking the next step to explore relationships and marriage in a Christian context. Lyrically, this album is beautifully written. Steven does a great job with balancing love and life with his faith as most evident in "How Do I Love Her," a song written to God thanking him for the gift of a wife but also questioning how to take care of that gift. Steven has also include two cover songs on this album, one well known and the other a personal favorite. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" is a fun remake of the popular song by The Proclaimers. Steven adds his own syncopation to the rhythm that gives the song just enough to make it interesting again. The other remake, "I'll Take Care Of You," was recorded in 1984 by Ronnie Milsap and quickly became Steven and Mary Beth's "song." Although this is a very solid album, there are a few moments of distraction. The title track is too similar to past singles and "We Belong Together (Tarzan and Jane)" falls into the "silly love song" category, but thankfully, the other fourteen tracks on All About Love shine as new territory for this seasoned artist. The challenge is loud and clear on this album throughout every track, and it's something everyone can relate to. By comparing our love for others, (including our spouses), to the love God has for them places things in a whole new perspective. How often do we look at people and treat them exactly the way God would? A challenge indeed that will hopefully encourage us all to be better at the most powerful emotion of all: love. View All Music And Book Reviews By KevinMcNeese_NRT | View KevinMcNeese_NRT's Profile
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