Customer Reviews

Defining Beauty

5 star:		(33)
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Danielle Rose's debut CD is superb in every way. The lyrical content is both spiritually comforting and challenging - some of the most insightful, truthful songwriting I have come across. Danielle's music is played in a simple, folksie style, reminiscent of Jewel, Sarah MacLachlan, and the Sundays...and the quality of her voice is certainly on par if not better than those artists. The overall sound is fantastic, and at times rather diverse, spanning from Pop, to Gospel, and even to a bit of Country on one track. Songs like "God Is", "No Greater Love", or the strikingly beautiful acapella tune "Shelter Your Name" will stick in your head through their catchy refrains, while other tracks such as the title track, "Defining Beauty", are deeply reflective and meditative. Do your self a favor and buy this album! The music will touch your soul, I promise you.

This is an extraordinary CD in every respect. I say this as someone who does not normally like Christian popular music at all. The 12 "songs" on this CD are in fact prayers set to music, they are hymns of praise and profundity. Danielle Rose has written highly original, moving lyrics about central Christian themes, set them to expressive melodies in a variety of genres, sung them with a voice of beautiful, crystalline clarity, and tastefully enriched them with sensitive accompaniments. This young woman's obvious, overflowing love for God is interwoven with and channeled by mature theological understanding, much in the tradition of great mystics like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. One sees it in her poetry of paradox ("You are all I am not / Oh, you are all that I am"), in her unexpected images ("Can you squish religion into your black hole of truth?"), and in her extended, incisive metaphors that manage to be at once simple and many-layered, as in "Sonrise." "One Day Love Came to Me" is a profound reflection on the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, seamlessly wedded to the way in which God comes to all of us, soul by soul, and challenges us to do his will rather than our own. "Bleed to Heal" probes the mystery of Christ's redemptive suffering on the cross, referenced to his body and blood in the Eucharist in the CD notes. And "Give and Take," the final song on the CD, captures uncannily what it means to let nothing separate us from the love of God in Christ: if you [Christ] made me deaf and mute, "I would praise you for the silence"; if you made me blind, "I would praise you for the darkness"; if you shattered my existence and identity, "I would praise you for the brokenness." And yet it is not we who sacrifice for Christ, it is he who "gave everything up / So that nothing . . . / not even death, can stand between our love." One cannot fail to be impressed and moved by the way in which Danielle Rose has given beautiful expression to the tradition that she has inherited. To my mind, this CD was a wonderfully unique and creative example of what Pope John Paul II has called "the new evangelization." May Danielle's musical ministry prosper!

Danielle is an exciting, new artist who I had the pleasure of meeting and working with this summer. Her music is sincere and full of emotion. She has an obvious love of God that she wishes to share with all those around her through her music. The production is simple and straight-ahead, with glistening acoustic guitars and simple, soaring harmonies. To hear and see her in person is truly a gift, but owning this CD is the next best thing. Order yours today -- you won't be disappointed.

Danielle is one of the most talented musicians I have ever met. My choir had the privilege of singing back up to 'No Greater Love' on a retreat/rally/workshop called No Greater Love that is given at Notre Dame each year. The song was written several years ago for that annual occasion. I had known Danielle before then but working with her and seeing the incredible passion she has is inspriring to all. Danielle's beautiful voice and powerful lyrics will move you to grow in your relationship with God. Danielle wrote all the songs for her CD which tells you how talented this young woman is. My favorites are 'No Greater Love' and 'God Is' though all the songs are equally wonderful in their own right. Danielle has a beautiful soul which shines through her gift of music. Please buy this CD for yourself or share Danielle's gift with someone else in your life. You won't regret it. Your money will be well-spent.

Danielle has an amazing gift and she shares it with the world in "Defining Beauty". The faith-inspired music and lyrics touch my soul and every song makes me feel God. This is the only CD that I have ever heard in which I truly love every song. I encourage everyone to get it!

Danielles cd is phenomenal,while listening to the tunes you are able to relax and enjoy the music, but better yet gain a greater sense of who God is.The Music is heart felt and written for the glorification of God. It truly is a work of art. I saw Danielle in concert twice and never have I felt the love of christ as I did when listening to her. I highly recommend this cd, she does an awesome job of capturing christs beauty and love.

I have the privledge to know and love Danielle as a person, and I can assure you that she is as beautiful in person as the music on this CD is to hear. Her songs are a little bit of peace amid our hectic world...a true blessing to all who listen. Praise God for Danielle and her music!

Amazing voice, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the lyrics, everything...

Danielle Rose brings her deep faith to perfect and artful articulation in Defining Beauty. Rarely have I seen such good work: music that references and teaches an inherited faith without hiding behind its linguistically pious cliches. Defining Beauty comes across like an invitation--I was drawn into it, drawn into prayer, drawn into calm simply in the listening.

A lot of contemporary Christian music today comes off sounding cheesy and trite. Then along comes Danielle Rose, whose lyrics, voice, and music simply sparkle with the radiance of truth, beauty, integrity, and sincerity. Be prepared to be moved, to think deeply, and to rejoice along with Danielle at the wonder of creation and the simple beauty of God's personal relevance to all of our lives. Simply a phenomenal album.