Customer Reviews

Past the Edges

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the absolute best CD I have ever listened to! Chris Rice is sensational! I am a strong beliver in Christ. I actually only got this for the hidden "bonus" track 'What If Cartoons Got Saved,' for Christmas, but I fell in love with all the songs. It is a CD for whatever your mood is, that is, if you are in a happy mood, turn on 'Smellin' Coffee' and get into the grove. If you are in a sad or peaceful mood, skip to 'Naive,' or 'Missin' You'. Or if you happen to be in a crazy, goofy mood, turn to 'What If Cartoons Got Saved' the track following number 10. (To find it, wait about 2 minutes after track 10 and you will hear it. Be patient!) This is an absolute wonderful CD! I am not really CD person, but when I heard this, I couldn't wait to get his other CD, Deep Enough To Dream. Mr. Rice, if you are reading this, PLEASE COME TO ONALASKA WISCONSIN AND DO A LIVE CONCERT! PLEASE! Anyway, I love God and Chris Rice, and so will you if you listen to this CD!

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of most Contemporary Christian Music. Much of it barely qualifies as "Christian", or as "Music" for that matter. But then there's Chris Rice. His songs are alternately beautiful, poignant, and playful, and his lyrics are so honest, and so true to the Christian experience. He struggles with sin and has questions about God, but underlying it all is this deep, solid faith. The nature of his relationship with Christ is simply inspiring. "Past the Edges" is his best CD-- it changed my life-- but his other albums are great too.

I've listened to this CD at least 1000 times. Chris Rice is an incredibly talented songwritter both where the melody and lyric is concerned.

Also, two minutes after track 10 is a "hidden" song you have to listen to.

My favorite trac is number 10 "Missing You"--to me it speaks of the coming of the Lord for His Church.

If "Power of a Moment" was the only song on this album, it would still be worth picking up. Fortunately, it's not the only good song. The humble and sensitive "Naïve" is a beautiful piano-based prayer, and "Wind and Spirit" has a refreshingly moving autumn feel to it. "Thirsty" has a gentle ache that climaxes with the chorus, "I'm so thirsty..." and "Smellin' Coffee" goes to the other end of the spectrum, with it's playful melody and cheerful lyrics. For as silly as the popular hidden track is, the chorus hook is startlingly addictive. "One of those Days" has a more traditional laid back folk feel to it, and the hit "Big Enough" has a genuine peacefulness. "Power of a Moment" truly is the collection's centerpiece though, embracing layered guitar and synth lines, poetic statements of truth, and a sing-along outro. A truly pleasant CD to listen to.

I love to put this CD in every morning. If you've never heard Chris Rice before, he sounds James Taylor-ish. His songs energize me and make me celebrate all that God has done while I've been sleeping. WAKE UP, Smell the coffee. Enjoy God's great creation! Live, Laugh, Love, listen to Chris Rice. :)

Chris Rice's second CD is exactly what his fans wanted. It's filled with the same honest lyrics and folk pop music that made his first CD such a big success.

The project opens with "Smelling Coffee," a fun song about how each day is a fresh start. It then delves into a more series tone with "Naive." In it, he struggles with understanding God's timing and ways. "Big Enough" is a companion song as he asks more questions of God, who is big enough to handle them and help us with them. Even with these struggles, he ultimate decides to "Live by Faith" in a cool cover of a song he wrote that was originally recorded by Kim Boyce.

The second half of the CD delves into a lighter more worshipful mood. "One of Those Days" is a celebration of the times when God feels like he's right beside us. "Wind and Spirit" is about God stirring in our lives, while "Thirsty" is a cry for the Living Water.

By far, however, my favorite song on this disc is the last official song, "Missin' You." In it, Chris passionately captures the desire of a Christian to reach his final home, Heaven. Lyrically and musically, it's one of the best songs he's ever released.

Chris Rice doesn't beat around the bush about the struggles of life, but that's what I find refreshing. Still, ultimately, he returns to his faith in God and rests in Him. My only real complaint is "Cartoons." It's a fun song, but detracts from the other songs' overall effect and doesn't hold up as well to repeated listening. Still, I seem to be in the minority on this, and my skip button makes it a non-issue anyway.

I highly recommend this and Chris's other CD's to any fans of Adult Contemporary Christian Music.

I actually bought this CD for the hidden track -- the cartoon song, but fell in love with everything else! "Smellin' Coffee" has become my morning wake up song -- I play it in the car almost every morning, and it starts my day off great. Chris Rice has a way of putting into words what most people have in their hearts. This CD really speaks to me. Its definitely a must have!

This CD is awesome! I love the song "And Your Praise Goes On"!! And the hidden track the Cartoon Song is so cool!!! This CD is great because in more ways than one--the music and is great and so is the message. A must have!! Chris Rice is brilliant.

Past the Edges lives up to the expectations of Deep Enough to Dream. All the songs are great ,but the best two are The Power of a Moment and Miss'n you. Cartoons is great too (keep the Cd going after Miss'n you and you'll hear it). All the songs are inspirational. This is a most have for any Christian music lover and every other music lover.

Chris Rice's first CD was a hit, but when I first picked up this CD it was a "gotta have it" CD. Smellin' Coffee is my favorite song on this CD because it is a upbeat change to the everyday Christian Music I listen to. It is a song that you will play over and over again. It is a a hit with my youth group and sure it will be a hit with you. There is a variation of music from upbeat to a slower real music. The lyrics are awesome throughtout the CD and I recommend it to everybody!