Brave (Spec) [Enhanced, Extra tracks, Special Edition]

Nichole Nordeman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Extra tracks, Special Edition
• Label: Sparrow
• ASIN: B0009FGX0W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,266 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, June 14, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Brave (Audio CD)

Wow, this cd is just so beautiful, I don't know where to start. Maybe you should just listen to the samples and decide for yourself. The musical style is calm but never boring, thoughtful but never depressing. And there are dozens of creative twists. For example, the music for Crimson is actually a classical piece by Chopin.
But it is Nichole's lyrics, as always, which really take center stage. For example, the song Hold On, which is about God's love and how He can redeem and love even the worst of sinners, made me cry the first time I heard it. Other songs, like Live, really challenged me.
I highly recommend this album for anyone who wants music that rises above the predictable, cheesy, "Jesus is my girlfriend" fluff that, sadly, is most Christian music today.

35 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Up to Her Last Couple, August 10, 2005

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brave (Audio CD)

After a couple years off due to birth of her first child, Nichole is back with her fourth CD. Unfortunately, it's not quite up to her last couple.

I should admit that her last CD, Woven and Spun, is one of my favorites of all time by anyone. For me, the standard was high.

This CD starts off with the title song, easily my favorite song here. It's a challenging commitment to step out with God. I need to take the message to heart.

The next track is another winner. "What If" tackles skeptics in a way that might actually be good. "Someday" looks at eternity as the time we will finally get our questions answered. "Real to Me" asks for God to be there in the dark.

It's the next track where things begin to fall apart. "Crimson," while about the Crucifixion, just doesn't seem to connect with me. Same with "Hold On." One problem is that, with only a couple exceptions, I'm not a fan of her ballads, which both of these songs are. This also applies to the final track on the regular album, "We Build." In addition, I don't like the style of her cover of Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody." It just seems weird, but that's my taste.

I did buy the special edition, which includes four acoustic bonus tracks and wonderful thoughts on each song. The first two bonus tracks are new versions of the first two songs. Frankly, I like the official album versions better. "Miles" is a tearjerker some will like but I don't. I do like "The Altar" and it's theme of surrender.

The CD has certainly grown on me in the last few months since it came out. Still, it's not her strongest release. Fans will want it, but it's not the place to start a Nichole Nordeman collection.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Album With A Couple of Great Songs, December 11, 2005

By 

S. Peek (Rocky Mountains, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brave (Audio CD)

Nicole Nordeman's latest album 'Brave' is a solid effort with a couple of really standout songs.

The title track, 'Brave', is a very good one that has gotten a lot of radio play. Although I really like it, I think the best song on the album is 'What If'. It has a good sound, is very catchy, and has powerful lyrics. I would recommend that anyone who is skeptical of Christianity listen to and ponder this song. It poses some questions that anyone who doubts may want to ponder about Jesus.

Here are some of the lyrics:

What if you're right
And He was just another nice guy

What if you're right
What if it's true
They say the cross will only make a fool of you

And what if it's true?
What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace

But then the story ends
What then?

But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed of hoping for?

What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you,
catch you by surprise?

What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love

What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That's all you find

What if you pick apart the logic?
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
than folklore that must be told and retold

You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land
for so long
But what if you're wrong?