Customer Reviews

Recollection: The Best of Nichole Nordeman

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's no secret that I'm a Nichole Nordeman fan. Even thought I have these songs, I knew I had to get this collection. And it was worth it.

Instead of just picking the radio hits, Nichole picked these songs herself because they mean something to her.

That's not to say that the radio hits aren't here. "Holy" leads off the album. "To Know You," "Fool for You," "Who You Are," and "Brave" are all included. But we also get some choice songs that might have been overlooked originally like "River God" and "Every Season."

Just like with every other collection I have, there are a couple songs I don't care for. In this case, I really want to know why "Why?" is here. While I like the choruses, the verses are some of the most awkward phrasing I have ever heard. And I've never been a fan of "Is it Any Wonder?" but I do recognize that I'm in the minority here.

We get two new songs as well. "Sunrise" celebrates that, no matter the trial, God is there with us. "Finally Free" is about the power of God to free us. I like the first one, but frankly I find the second one too subdued for the message. I want it to sound more jubilant.

Still, this is a great collection that will please casual and hard core fans. I'm certainly glad I added it to my collection.

"Best Of . . . " compilations are always tricky. Everybody has their favorites, and we all tend to judge the quality of "greatest hits" works by the standard of "Did they include MY favorites?" This gathering of songs is hand-picked by Nicole and represents "milestones" in her life. I respect and embrace that. More to the point, this CD is really GOOOOD! It includes the radio hits, and a good ratio of upbeats and ballads, PLUS two new songs that are excellent. The benefits of buying this CD are, in my opinion, three-fold. First, you can hear songs off several CD's without having to change CD's to hear them. Second, this CD really does showcase both the incredible voice and writing ability of one of the most thoughtful and sincere artists (Christian or non-christian) to come along in the last two decades. Her voice especially is a-m-a-z-i-n-g, while complimenting rather than overshadowing her lyrics and melodies. Third, this CD has what I call "ridearoundability," meaning you can load it into your automobile CD player and not have to hit the "skip" button even once. So, even if you have all of Nicole's CD's, this one is still worth purchasing. Enjoy! She's one of the very best!

This is an excellent collection of Nichole's best. It features the amazing "Holy", and "Brave" (which made the soundtrack of the movie Catch And Release). Of course, it also features some of her earlier material, such as the honest "To Know You", and "Who You Are." The album includes two new tracks, the soaring hit single "Sunrise", and "Finally Free", the new theme song for Women of Faith. In my opinion, a couple other songs from the Brave cd should have been included here, such as "Lay It Down", and "No More Chains." But if you like Nichole's music and don't own much of it, this a very good disc to pick up.

I love this album. I had been wanting to check out Nichole Nordeman's music, and this was the perfect opportunity. There isn't a single song that I can't stand (though there are a couple that I don't like as much as others).

"Holy" (from Woven & Spun) - 4 out of 5. The song is good, telling of how we try and try to DO things to get along and get closer to God, but all we need to do is acknowledge His holiness and let Him lead us. I used to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song, but I've just heard it so much that I've gotten a bit tired of it.

"To Know You" (from Wide Eyed) - 4 out of 5. This song is about getting over doubt and coming closer to God. I think this song is good.

"This Mystery" (from This Mystery) - 3.5 out of 5. This is a song about how we go through our life and we sometimes put our daily routine above Jesus instead of being His hands and feet. I don't know, I just don't really like the chorus of this song...it seems to kind of take away the deity of God: "Do you wish, do You want us to breathe again? / Say goodbye to the lines that we've colored in / Brown and gray from day to day / Do You cry, do You hope for all things made new? / Try and try to invoke us to live in You / That we might be the hands and feet of this mystery"

"Every Season" (from This Mystery) - 4.5 out of 5. This is a great song about how God gives us all the good things of every season and how He changes us and makes us grow. The music is a little slow though.

"Sunrise" (new) - 5 out of 5. This song is so encouraging and the music is great. It's about how hard times mold us into the person we are, and that, in those hard times, God is the Sunrise that makes everything right.

"Brave" (from Brave) - 5 out of 5. Great song about not being satisfied with being in the middle ground, but boldly stepping, unashamed, towards God.

"Legacy" (from Woven & Spun) - 5 out of 5. Yet another awesome song, this one about not striving for worldly things that, in the end, don't matter, but striving after heavenly rewards.

"Finally Free" (new) - 3.5 out of 5. It's not that I don't like this song. It's a good song with a good message about Jesus making people free, I just don't find myself listening to it much.

"Is It Any Wonder?" (from Wide Eyed) - 4.5 out of 5. I love this song's unusualness; it has a fun, strange beat. It is about how it isn't any wonder that unbelievers strive after fruitless things if no one tells them the truth.

"I Am" (from Woven & Spun) - 4 out of 5. Beautiful song about how, no matter what we are going through or what age we are, God is always there and never changes and He will help us. It kind of drags on though.

"What If" (from Brave) - 2 out of 5. I just don't really see the point of it. It is a song that asks unbelievers "what if you're wrong?" But how is that applicable to me? Still, I enjoy listening to it sometimes.

"Fool for You" (from This Mystery) - 3 out of 5. A song that states that the singer would do what God says even if though made people think she was a naive fool.

"Even Then" (from Woven & Spun) - 4 out of 5. Thanks Jesus for accepting us just as we are and admits that we need Him more each day. Good song.

"Why?" (from This Mystery - 4.5 out of 5. Beautiful song that, though not very realistic, somewhat captures the pain of Jesus on the cross through the eyes of a child. Some of the lines are kind of awkward.

"Real to Me" (from Brave) - 3 out of 5. A song about the singer wanting God to make Himself real to her. I don't have a problem with this song, I just can't really relate to it.

"Who You Are" (from Wide Eyed) - 4 out of 5. Song about the vastness of our indescribable God.

"River God" (from Wide Eyed) - 4.5 out of 5. A song that has a great picture of God as a river, running over us stones and making us smoother every day.

So, all in all, this is a great album. Nichole has an amazing voice and a talent for writing lyrics. This would be a great album for those who don't have any or maybe have one of her others.

I purchased this cd because there were approximately four songs on this cd that I really liked. I didn't expect to like ALL the songs! This album is an example of what a "best of" cd should resemble. The songs were on point and in the right order. Nichole Nordeman has a pure voice and her sound is a perfect accessory to your prayer closet.

I cannot express how much I love this tape. When I want to settle into a cooking project, or any time that I can really enjoy Nichole's work is a beautiful time in my day! I love her amazing insightful words, and wonderful musical work.

I've just recently started listening to Contemporary Christian music and Nichole Nordeman is as good as any of the Singer/Songwriters out there. I tend to lean more towards that type genre, and I've been really impressed with her voice as well as music and lyrics. I totally endorse this CD, whether you're into Contemp. Christian music or not.

This item arrived like 2 days after i ordered it and was in perfect condition, thanks a bunch!

This is such a beautiful CD of christian music. Nicole's voice is just so healing and melodic. I have seen her live and she sounds fantastic and has a great gentle rapport with her audiences. She sings from her heart and soul, where you know Christ lives and inspires her to spread his word. Her gift of music is a great gift for us all, I listen to this CD over and over again.

This is a must have for anyone who does not have all of Nichole Nordeman's albums.

It is full of great songs. Nichole's voice is beautiful. Not only is she a great singer, she is a superb songwriter/lyricist as well. Her songs are full of solid Christian lyrics. There is no mistaking what she is singing about.

Several of the tracks here are just outstanding. Some of my favorites include: Holy, Brave, Legacy, and What If. (See my review of her album 'Brave' Brave for more on 'What If'.)

As with any greatest hits album, there are different opinions about what should be included. One song that is not here that I would have liked to have seen is, 'In Your Eyes'. In spite of that, the selections here were very good overall.

As much as I like her music, I am missing two of her albums so this greatest hits collection filled a couple of holes in my collection. For listeners who have all of her albums, this may not be a necessary addition. For those who are missing some, it is vital. There are two new songs on this album so there is something new for even those who have all of her previous CDs.

Highly recommended!