STYLE: MOR / Soft Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 8463-8201 LABEL: Sparrow SPD82365 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £12.99
Reviewed by Trevor Kirk
This is a strange one – a re-issue of a 1992 release, with new cover artwork but the same music, and I use the word strange because I would never have associated the veteran inspirational songsmith with something like this. In its favour, the songs use word-for-word Scripture verses, they are mostly quite reasonable musically, with some Latin and poppy arrangements, and Steve’s voice is spot-on as usual. Counting against it are the cringeworthy narrative passages that Steve has to recite in front of each song (step forward, Betsy Hernandez, and receive your custard pie); some of the kids are pretty lousy actors when it’s their turn to speak; and there’s (shock horror) 21 tracks - mercifully, they average out at a tad over two minutes each. However, despite the plus points, and the presence of veteran muso Fletch Wiley as co-arranger, this is yet another slab of jolly American cheese that doesn’t hit the spot in the UK.
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not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
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Posted by Hannah in Singapore @ 16:37 on Feb 23 2008
I think the CR review misses the point of this CD, because
it's meant to teach kids about important scripture they can
"hide in their heart" and build their lives upon.
And I find that it does exactly that, "cringeworthy
narrative passages" and all. My last memory of this disc was
my parents playing it in the car when I was five, yet even
now, 10 years down, the tunes and verses come to mind when I
most need these verses!
I strongly recommend this to any parent or anyone looking
for a gift for a child. Its effects might not be immediate,
but I guarantee that it will ingrain in any child powerful
truths he or she will find useful later in life!
(P.S. When I was five, those passages didn't seem
cringeworthy at all.)
I think the CR review misses the point of this CD, because it's meant to teach kids about important scripture they can "hide in their heart" and build their lives upon.
And I find that it does exactly that, "cringeworthy narrative passages" and all. My last memory of this disc was my parents playing it in the car when I was five, yet even now, 10 years down, the tunes and verses come to mind when I most need these verses!
I strongly recommend this to any parent or anyone looking for a gift for a child. Its effects might not be immediate, but I guarantee that it will ingrain in any child powerful truths he or she will find useful later in life!
(P.S. When I was five, those passages didn't seem cringeworthy at all.)