Customer Reviews

2nd Chance

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

KAREN CLARK SHEARD agruably possesses the finest voice in all of music, yet alone gospel music. God has smiled on this young lady in more ways than one. Not only through her giftings but through her powerful testimony of how a near-death experience has given her a renewed sense of purpose and a greater enjoyment for life. The cd 2nd Chance is filled with the finest material that's been released this year! The opening song "Be Sure" produced by Karen's cousin James Moss captures your heart and causes you to think about daily decisions we as christians must make. It's most certainly a multi-format song that will touch many. The second song "Only Call On Jesus" just gently reminds us who Karen called on and calls on in her time of need. This Missy Elliott produced song has a soft groove and features Hip-hop siren Tweet as a background guest. Tracks three and five, "I've Been Changed" (produced by Walter Milsap)and "I'll Be Right There" (produced by Tim & Bob) both speaks to the Lord's incredible power and comfort that he unleashes on those who believe. The Hip-Hop tracks are soft but yet they captivate the listener as Karen elegantly guides through every lyric of both songs. Track four, "If I Can't Say A Word" is my third favorite song on the cd. Produced by gospel perfectionist Donald Lawrence, this one will have you focusing and concentrating on the goodness of Jesus. "Higher Ground", produced by Timbaland and co-produced by Missy Elliott, is track no. 6 and it's filled with inspiring lyrics and guest! Dorinda Clark-Cole (another excellent cd), Mary Mary, Kim Burrell and Yolanda Adams join Karen as they all just sing their faces off as they challenge believers everywhere to go Higher in God. Yolanda stays on for another song on Track 7 "Brand New Day". Produced by Mike City, this one causes you to forget about the pains of yesterday and embrace the present. My second favorite song is up next "So Good". Karen rips this Moss song to shreds! She runs, growls and riffs as this rockin' groovin' smash filled with great instrumentation leaves the listener in total exuberance. Most certainly a standout for the cd. Track nine continues to follow suit with excitement. The title song "2nd chance" reminds us of God's forgiveness and mercy. Karen takes this James Moss, R&B jam and sing it like the legend she is. Now comes track 10, my pick as the best on this cd. "A Secret Place" is a tender ballad written and produced by the legendary gospel songwriter Richard Smallwood. Karen effortlessly glides through this song as it tells you where you can go in a time of hurt, discomfort, pain and/or sorrow! You can run to the secret place of the most high God! There is safety, protection, security and a sanctuary in that secret place! Whew! Track 11 "I Won't Let Go" is a nice jam that any youth choir can bang, as Karen provides great ad libs. Track 12 "Sacrifice" showcases the younger Clark, Kierra (karen's daughter). Together they traditionally remind of what the Lord did for us. The cd closer, "It's Not Over", gives us indication what Karen was telling the devil while she was in her coma. She takes this song and sings it with power and conviction and encourage the heart of all that will hear, that it's not over. Karen is not only an excellent singer but a fine producer as she wrote and produced the final two songs. No matter what state you're in, there is something on this project that will do you good! Karen's 2ND CHANCE cd is a major hit that deserves major airplay because it will majorly affect your life if you let it! WOWZA!

Karen is truly an amazing woman! I fell in love with her in '97 when i first heard "Balm in Gilead". For five years i waited and waited fr her new CD and it's finally here. This CD is truly a blessing. It ministers right to my spirit! Many people sit and talk about how she's gone to this secular side, but that is so not true. PEOPLE it's time out for foolishness!!! What we have got to realize is that, the songs she sang are personal! They are her testimony and that's where she is in God right now. Maybe this album is not meant to reach you and that's understandable, but don't knock this woman's ministry. God already told us to touch not his annointed ones. So we need to learn how to keep our mouths shut! Karen is a blessed woman of God and she will continue to make annoited gospel music. IF YOU DON'T LIKE HER/IT DON'T BUY HER CD'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And lastly, when you get your own CD and ministry together and you have a recording contract and all that...........that's when you can talk about someone else and their ministry!!! Be Blessed, encouraged and be faithful

Whoa! This CD is great! Karen's voice is in top form and the songs (like 2nd Chance, So Good, Brand New Day, I've Been Changed) arewonderful! IF you are trying to decide, let me tell you GET IT! getitgetitgetit! If only for "A Secret Place"! mm-HM! Oh that song is so powerful! It really really is! I really recomend this to you!

Karen is supernaturally gifted, and she is allowed to shine on this contemporary set of songs. The production is controlled enough so that she doesn't "get carried away" yet she is still allowed to do what makes her uniquely Karen. Great stuff!

I think that Karen does well with the grand praise and worship songs. However, she really excels with the contemporary songs. It's for this reason that 2nd Chance earns 5 stars in my book.

To keep things balanced, there is an excellent Richard Smallwood composition, as well as a couple of "free-style" and churchy songs, one of which features her amazing daughter Kierra.

I know that Karen's latest album is a smash and I am happy that people are being blessed by it (and I'm glad for Karen, too!). Still, 2nd Chance is a great snapshot of the best that contemporary gospel has to offer today, interpreted by the beautiful and incomparably talented Mrs. Karen Clark-Sheard.

This is truly a wonderful and outstanding CD. I must admit, that it took me a while to warm up to it, only because I kept comparing it to the Phenomenal "Finally Karen" CD. Karen's "2nd Chance" CD has a totally different vibe from her previous effort, which is a good thing. I waited patiently 5 years for this CD and it was surely worth the wait. On "2nd Chance" Karen's voice is still beautiful, strong and better than ever. My favorite track on this CD is "I'll Be Right There" this song is so beautifully crafted and it really demonstrates Karen's ability to go from Gospel to R&B with the greatest of ease. Some of the other note worthy tracks are "Be Sure" which is a truly Inspirational song, also "Only Call On Jesus" which was written and produced by Missy Elliott, this song is simply the Bomb whether you like Gospel or not, you can't help but to love this track. All of Karen's longtime devoted fans will truly be moved by her strong heart-felted emotions on the tracks "If I Can't Say A Word" and "A Secret Place" both of these are spiritually moving songs. There is also something included for the Club/Dance crowd and that is a gem called "I Won't Let Go" with it's House flavored dance groove, you will be sure to feel the message that Karen delivers whether your dancing or just singing along to the words. All in all, this is most definitely a must have for anyone that loves contemporary gospel or just good quality music period. I can honestly say that Karen is one of the best Female Gospel singers of all time and I hope that she gets the recognition she deserves with this great piece of work.

KAREN CLARK SHEARD'S VOICE IS HERE TO REMIND US OF OUR WALK WITH CHRIST. SHE SHARES, WITH HER LISTENERS, HER EXPERIENCES AND LOVE FOR GOD AS SHE MINISTER THROUGH SONG. AS SHE SINGS SHE LETS US ALL KNOW THAT GOD IS A F0RGIVING GOD AND THAT HE GAVE US ALL MORE CHANCES THAN 1. "2ND CHANCE" IS EXPLAINING THE TRIALS SHE FACED AND WENT THROUGH. YOU HAVE TO "BE SURE" THAT GOD IS ABSOLUTELY #1 IN YOUR LIFE.

Karen Clark Sheard has done it once again with her dynamic new CD 2nd Chance. I fell in love with the first song on the CD immediately after I heard it, because I am a young adult who desires to one day get married and her song Be Sure is saying that you just must be absolutely sure that he can love you with God's induring love. The rest of the songs are also breath taking. Karen Clark Sheard has perfected making love to the Lord Jesus Christ through her ministry of song. Her duet with her extremely talented daughter Kierra Sheard blew me away. If viewers could remember Karen Clark Sheard's first CD Finally Karen, with her duet with Kierra Sheard, you new that her very young and extremely taleneted daughter was on her way to becoming another phenomenal singer from their family. On her mothers new CD Kierra's voice has changed from her little girls voice to a beatiful and mature young ladies voice. The song that they sing together is called Sacrifice and the words concerning Jesus sacrificing his life for me, actually gave me a deeper revelation about how much the Lord loves and cares for us. I just can't stop playing this CD. I just bought it yesterday 8-7-02, and I have been playing it all day and all night, because the songs really minister to my spirit. I thank you once again Karen Clark Sheard for blowing your fans away one more time. God Bless You, Love Always one of your true fans, Ashunti Davis

I really love the cd 2nd Chance. It really reminded me of how much God loves and appreciates us. Karen is the most awesome gospel artist of our time!! She has so much grace, energy and beauty. Her voice is so soothing. To add to that is her daughter, Kierra. Kierra is also amazing on the song "Sacrifice". I cannot stop singing that song! Her voice is showcased at its best and it is obvious where she gets her singing skills from. A mother-daughter team at its best! I also like the other song "If God Says Go" they did a little while back. It is so inspirational and encouraging. When you look at your life and all the hurting things that have happened to you in the past, dont dwell on them because when loved ones fail you, you can look to a God high in the heavens above and know that he will love you with his loving arms with love so unconditionally and keep you safe from harm. I can tell that from the albums Karen has done in the past not only as a solo artist, but with her siblings as well, she will be around for a long time! God Bless, Karen a loving fan, Ciara

And I find my humble 5-star Amazon[.com] rating truly lacking on how I feel about this CD and this singer.

I remember when The Clarks recording of "Expect A Miracle", was played on the top 40 R and Bee radio stations, the traditionalists had a hard time accepting the fact that The Clarks could do gospel that found it's place among the Soul and R and Bee playlists. And as I read a few of the one and two star reviews below, I see that some things don't change.

My friends, gospel and this lovely lady's music just ain't for the traditionalists--it's for everybody. And while I may not be the best reviewer to come to her defense (because I've enjoyed her singing and evangelism for years and I'm definitely biased),
maybe someone who has been truly lost have found their way by the inspiration and powerful messages of this CD...who can say?

Needless to say, I must concur with the Amazon[.com] reviewer above, "It's the best CD of 2002" gospel or otherwise.

"If I Can't Say a Word" moved me when I immediately heard it. It reminds me of the best of her work with her famous sisters, but it's just Karen doing all the vocals. It's simply superb...when emotions overcome you about all the blessings you've received and you just can't explain it--wave your hand. It's a song done in classic Karen style, too.

Karen's duet with Yolanda Adams is a very nice cut, too. As Karen
says, "it's out with the old" heartache, pain and life in misery
and "in with the new" life, thoughts, love...

There's a duet with her daughter, Kierra...the voice is definitely in this family's genes, okay?

"So Good" is an uptempo tune full of the Holy Ghost that will have you standing in your living room--or wherever you play your music--(don't try this in the car, however)--in praise as if you're at church.

The title cut is great, the radio tune "Be Sure" you will re-enjoy, there is so much you will like about this CD by Karen.

In other words, don't miss out on some of the best singing ever on this awesome CD.

This is a blessing in the form of music. I enjoyed the entire CD but Secret Place just took me to another level of worship.