Chris Rice

Item: Past the Edges
Author: James Stewart

Past the Edges

(1998)

Reviewed by James Stewart

Discogs Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music

Label Rocketown RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth1998

adult contemporary ccm

The first song to grab me when I put this album on for an initial listen was the hidden track at the end of the disc. An amusing song imagining cartoon characters singing (the word) "hallelujah," it may have been the idea of "Beavis and that ugly guy" singing praise or perhaps the Smurfs' high pitched addition which caused me to perk up my ears and pay closer attention on further listens.

A few more songs became focused in my mind. The opening track, "Smellin' Coffee," about waking up in the knowledge that God is present, has a nicely edgy guitar sound and is a good opener. The fourth track, "Big Enough," was the first whose lyrics appealed to me: "I hope you don't mind me asking the questions/ but I figure that you're big enough." This song developed my respect for Chris Rice as a lyricist because questioning is the only way we can break out of our comfort zones, and we're unlikely to grow unless we do that.

Several songs show that were he to move away from the fairly predictable middle-of-the-road feel of this highly produced release, Rice would have a lot of potential to develop. One drawback is that his voice doesn't particularly stand out among the many other adult contemporary artists.

This is an above average adult contemporary album, but it doesn't quite cut loose enough to really be exceptional.

3 tocks