Customer Reviews

You Hold the Key

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

 

 

Before I ever heard of Beth Nielsen Chapman, I was familiar with the excellent song "In the Time It Takes", by way of Paul Carrack. I was introduced to BNC through her WONDERFUL first & eponymous disc (which I also HIGHLY recommend). After enjoying that one so much, I had to get this too.

One thing Beth lacks is a unifying theme to the full album. Each song needs to be taken and appreciated on its own. One almost feels a tad manic-depressive in going from song to song on this disc. How does one put "Rage On Rage" (angry) just after "When I Feel This Way" (romantic)? And follow the flirty "In the Time It Takes" with the bitter "You Say You Will"?

Still, each song is wonderful! They express so much more than one normally expects from a four minute soft-pop-country-crossover type song. Certainly, none of those skanky ex-Mouseketeers will be covering any of these songs; it's too hard to pronounce multi-syllabic words with a mouth full of bubble-gum. That's good -- Beth's work is thought-provoking, emotional, expressive, and mature.

Beth's first disc is just a little bit better, but this one is not a significant drop-off. Together, the two would make an excellent two-disc set. Her next, "Sand and Water" goes a whole new direction, and must be considered indepently.

My wife and I both met while working in the music industry. When we were married a few years later, we chose "All I Have" as our wedding song. BNC was always one of our personal favorites to play in the store and every time we played it we sold a copy.

BNC has a gift for song writing that is combined with a wonderfully moving voice. There are few artists that I would buy each and every album of without ever hearing a cut. She is one of them.

This CD is a good follow-up to her self titled album. Her lyrics have a way of reaching you much like Sarah McLachlin's and the songwriting is equally as solid. I look forward to the next CD she releases as I can never get enough of this talented artist.

If you are not familiar with Beth Neilsen Chapman, as I was not, she is a great find, like discovering Nanci Griffith for the first time. The great mystery is why isn't she better known because her voice is great, her music is great, her delivery... anyway, you get the point, just buy the darn album!

What a lovely album, by a wonderful singer, songwriter and musician. There is not a bad song on this album. My favourite has to be the waltzy 'Dance with me slow'. What a beautiful sensuous song. I highly recommend this album to anyone who appreciates good music. You won't be disappointed.

Ms. Chapman's songs have been recorded by some of the best, but on this collection she shines as both an excellent songwriter and a heartfelt, sensitive singer. There's not a really bad tune on this set. Some are absolutely wonderful. "Faithful Heart" is a beautiful tribute to love, and would make a wonderful wedding song. "Say It to Me Now" builds and builds to a tremendous emotional climax. "Dance With Me Slow" is sinuous, sexy, and touching. "In the Time It Takes" with Paul Carrack is a bouncy, fun up-tempo rocker. "When I Feel This Way" is Carly Simonish in its structure, but unique in its vocal delivery and arrangement. The whole set is simply great, and it introduced me to one heck of a talent! Bravo, Ms. Chapman.

I owned this CD, but to my great sorrow, it has disappeared. I'm about to buy it again because I miss it so much. This CD is the total package: music, lyrics, delivery. Nielsen Chapman's songs touch the soul as she not only covers a wide range of topics--love, self-realization, even domestic violence--but also a wide range of musical styles. There are songs here not only for popular music fans, but also country and light jazz fans. My words simply can't do this CD justice. Listen to the sound clips and be assured that the rest of the collection is just as satisfying.

Nielsen Chapman is an odd duck as a singer-songwriter because she straddles several genres: adult contemporary, country, and jazz "lite". Her voice is firmly midrange..not a stratospheric soprano nor one I'd consider "dusky". The singing is tasteful, avoiding the tremulous vibrato that plagues AC divas but not being so "low-key" that it fades into the background.

HIGHLIGHTS:
The waltz of "Dance with Me Slow" is one waiting to be discovered as a new torch song. I'm incredulous that it isn't a wedding standard. It's enhanced by a nice muted trumpet part. "Say it to Me Now" is a passionate plea for real honesty in relationships. ("Say it to me now/Even if the truth tears us apart/I need to feel the closeness of knowing what's in your heart") "Rage on Rage" is a perfect snapshot of an abusive relationship...the ploys the man uses to keep his battered wife and the lies she tells herself to stay. It's little turns of phrase that lend this its power, as in noting that a wedding photo is broken after the latest outburst ("this one can't be mended again"), even a subtle suggestion of the abuser's own harsh past ("turn back the page and see/all that was done to me"). "You Say You Will" is Chapman involved in a one-sided love affair. ("I give you every little thing you choose/You give me back a stack of I.O.U.'s") Though it's one of the better songs here, Chapman's performance of it doesn't make me forget Trisha Yearwood's country hit take on the song. "The Moment You Were Mine" is Chapman throwing aside cynicism in the throes of love. "Faithful Heart" is also one that would probably make good nuptial music.

LOWS:
Neither "In the Time it Takes" or "Only So Many Tears" are bad, but they are formulaic. They have the feel of being deliberately written to be a "radio song".

BOTTOM LINE:
Despite several great songs, as a whole the CD doesn't keep drawing me back to it. This one is pretty average in my opinion.

Beth Nielsen Chapman's, "You Hold the Key" is the very definition of what Music - Great Music, True Talent and Accomplished Artistry is all about. I bought the CD because I had heard Ms. Chapman's name often in conjunction with many of Contemporary Country's top hits. I read somewhere that she wrote Faith Hill's, "This Kiss". Although I was totally smitten with that song, I am not a big fan of that genre. I was, however, interested in hearing from someone who practiced their craftmanship from behind the scenes. I also have a little penchant for album covers and I found this one to be quite attractive and unique. With just one or two listens, this CD has become part of my most treasured possessions and Ms. Chapman, a personal idol. At first, I was very afraid that the songs would be Country by-the-numbers. Nothing wrong with that, but I hate music that seems to all come from the same place. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Ms. Chapman is one of the few artists I've heard whose compositions attain that perfect pitch between depth and diversity. I'm still in awe that one musician could be so proficient (and prolific) in so wide an array of musical stylings. The songs are firmly rooted in Pop but skillfully and beautifully display flourishes of Jazz, Blues, Folk, Country - of course - and Rock. I would never imagine that she, an institution in one genre, would be able to both inhabit and breathe life into so many sounds, structures and subject matters. All while never losing sight of her creative identity.
Listening to this album, one isn't just hearing words sung by a performer, one is experiencing the full-range of the human heart.

The title of this review says it all. Remarkable lyrics from within, someone who understands emotions. "Say it to me now" is so true. The musical arrangements are calming and peaceful and lift it all up to a wonderful level. I played the CD while working on my computer and everything was flowing gently. Suddenly I was stuck and nothing worked. I noticed the CD was finished. I put in on repeat and I the creativity was flowing again...

Anyone who has ever been in love, needs to hear "Faithful Heart". If you are looking for the perfect song to play at your wedding, this is it. "The Moment You Were Mine" is also a wonderful expression to someone that you love. There are some other songs on here that are good, but I liked her first cd better. Oh, give "Say It to Me Now" a listen, too. Pretty rough when your heart is broken.