The Great Divide

Scott Stapp

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: November 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wind-Up
• ASIN: B000B5NHYU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (163 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,915 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On his solo debut Creed vocalist Scott Stapp steps up with an album that delicately balances his past with his present but without apology for either. Songs such as "Reach Out" and "You Will Soar" appease longtime fans without serving as mere Creed retreads, but the material that breaks almost entirely from tradition (namely "Sublime") remains some of the most satisfying. With no fewer than three single-worthy tracks--"Let Me Go," "Surround Me," "You Will Soar," plus the already-released title cut--The Great Divide doesn't just find Stapp standing firmly on his own feet it also finds him, more often than not, reaching for new heights. --Jedd Beaudoin

Product Description

Former Creed Lead Singer Scott Stapp Returned in 2005 with his First Solo Studio Album, 'the Great Divide'. The First Single is the Album's Title-track, and Comes Complete with the Album Track 'you Will Soar' and 'the Great Divide' Video Clip. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Creed, you'll like this, November 26, 2005

By	Daniel Maltzman (Arlington, MA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ever since Creed's rise to fame in the late 90s, Singer Scott Stapp has been equally loved and reviled. To his critics, he is a third-rate Eddie Vedder, who fronted a third-rate, candy-ass pseudo grunge band. Creed's music was seen as an easily digestible version of what Pearl Jam and Soundgarden had done ten years before. To some, Creed was nothing but corporate pap.

Perhaps worst of all, Stapp's Christian beliefs and Creed's religious themes seemed to rub people the wrong way. His "Jesus Christ Pose," as Soundgarden would put it, was very off-putting to some.

Still, as Creed sold millions and millions of albums, Stapp certainly had his fans. To the Creed faithful, Stapp was inspirational and Creed was a great band.

Loved by some, hated by others, for a casual fan, and an objective ear, a happy medium can be reached. No, they were not the most original band in the world. And no, their music was not all that challenging. Still, they were good musicians, and came up with some good riffs and infectious songs. Perhaps their biggest asset was their sincerity and their biggest flaw was their complete somberness.

There used to be a shirt that read "EVEN JESUS HATES CREED." The shirt illustrates perfectly people's disdain for the band. Truth told, however, Creed was never really a Christian rock band. While Stapp is a devout Christian and Creed's music dealt with some religious themes, their music never advocated conversion to the faith or damned nonbelievers. To that end, hatred and contempt for the band for being "Christian rock" was unfair and unfounded.

Much to the sorrow of the Creed army, after releasing a mere three albums and spawning countless radio-hits, Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti, unable to get along, called it quits. While the rest of Creed hooked up with a new singer and resurfaced as Alter Bridge, the Creed faithful have been waiting for Stapp to reappear. With the release of "The Great Divide," (2005) the wait is over.

Quite simply, if you loved Creed, you'll love "The Great Divide." If you hated Creed, you'll hate "The Great Divide." If you thought Creed was okay, you'll think "The Great Divide" is okay. If you thought Stapp's lyrics were inspirational and heartfelt, you will be no less pleased with his new music. If you thought Stapp was a pompous, self-righteous wind-bag, you will feel no less differently here. Even without Tremonti and the rest of Creed, "The Great Divide" is essentially the fourth Creed album. Stapp's album is done in the same vein of radio-friendly post-grunge that so defined Creed's three studio albums. Even without Tremonti, the songwriting on "The Great Divide" is of the same quality as anything Creed ever released. Guitarists Aristides Rincon and John Curry, bassist Mitch Burman, and drummer Mark Archer do a good job as Tremonti, Marshall, and Phillips stand-ins.

"The Great Divide" is not the most ground-breaking album in the world, but it's still a good collection of radio-friendly songs that should appeal to Creed's base and to that end, "The Great Divide" accomplishes what it sets out to do.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dispite personal issues, solo Stapp releases a solid album, November 22, 2005

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

THE BAND: Scott Stapp (vocals), Aristides Rincon (guitar), John Curry (guitar), Mitch Burman (bass), Mark Archer (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2005) 10 songs clocking in at just under 43 minutes. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing song lyrics, 3 pictures of Stapp, and thank you's. All songs written by Stapp. Label: Wind-Up.

COMMENTS: I wanted to NOT like this disc at first. I loved Creed and all 3 of their releases. "My Own Prison" (1997) is still one of my all-time favorite discs. All the negative publicity Stapp had received regarding the break up of Creed (and many of the fingers being pointed at him), his multiple lawsuits (most notably the nonpayment of 60K in medical bills, and the 4 Chicago fans suing him over a dismal performance due to his excessive intoxication and/or medication), and his holier-than-thou persona through it all. However, I won't deny a good rock album. "The Great Divide" features words of encouragement, healing, love, support and fulfillment... and not to mention downright catchy melodies. There are hard songs and soft ones. The 1st hit released is the title track (as seen on David Letterman the week of its release). I lean toward the harder songs and my early favorites are the title track, "Reach Out" and "Fight Song". The other highlights include "Surround Me", "Justify" and "You Will Soar" - musically as well as lyrically. A satisfying release... right up there with his old bandmates Alterbridge, but not quite on par with his Creed material. Stapp has been absent from the music business since 2001 (outside of a single song "Relearn Love" written for the movie "The Passion Of The Christ")...and his return has long been awaited. Fans of Creed will enjoy "The Great Divide".

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great lyrics!, December 6, 2005

By	George Dudley (Reston, Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Okay, I know and everyone else knows that Scott Stapp's
new disc "The Great Divide" sounds a lot like his old stuff but that is to be expected because he was the face, the voice and the attitude of Creed. If you were to ask people who only knew Creed through the radio and the media they would not have been able to tell you the names of the other members of the band. Without getting into further, I would like to talk about the music. I think Scott Stapp's new cd is great because he did not bash his former band members and sing about how his life got so messed up. Instead he took the high road and wrote songs of inspiration, hope, love, and loss. I don't believe he sang about the loss of band members he looks further than that. He looks into how people need to stop complaining about circumstances and stand up and get moving rather pondering about on how life has done them wrong. Look, I don't know Stott Stapp and I don't claim to know him. I just know him through his lyrics and about his challenges with his health while he was with Creed. I think there are not any throw away songs on this album but my favorites are Justify and Broken. Thanks for reading my review and please always look into a persons heart before judging them.