Past the Edges

Chris Rice

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Original Release Date: September 15, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000AG6V
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #183,608 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Smellin' Coffee

2. Naive

3. Power of a Moment

4. Big Enough

5. And Your Praise Goes On

6. Live by Faith - Scott MacLeod, Chris Rice

7. One of Those Days

8. Wind and Spirit

9. Thirsty

10. Missin' You/Cartoons

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

He came out of nowhere two years ago with his Deep Enough to Dream debut, garnering six Dove Award nominations and widespread accolades for his songwriting. Now Chris Rice is back with a sophomore effort nothing short of brilliant. It is ironic that Rice won the 1999 Dove Award for best male vocalist when best songwriter might have been more appropriate. The songs drive Past the Edges; Rice's introspective, poetic genius becomes more apparent with each release. "The Power of a Moment" is probably the catchiest track here, while "Smellin' Coffee," with its piano and horns, may remind some of early Chicago. Producer Monroe Jones masterfully keeps the balance throughout, particularly on "Wind and Spirit," where Rice's sensible vocals and melodic acoustic guitars blend tastefully with a soaring string section. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars out of 5!, February 15, 2000

By	Lindsay Handtke (Onalaska, WI) - See all my reviews

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!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You'll want to know more about Chris Rice after listening..., March 10, 2000

By	Eric Frederickson (Fox Lake, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest Lyrics, July 30, 2002

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.