[.ca] Short Term Memories

Long Term Hits:
Seven years ago, Rocketown Records released the first CD from their first artist. It's hard to believe it's only been that long since we were introduced to the music of Chris Rice. That very first CD captured me with his honest, poetic, and fun lyrics. Each release has continued to impress, challenge, and encourage me. After four regular releases and two piano CD's under his belt, Chris now releases this best of. While it often seems like labels are rushing into collections these days, Chris has already had 11 #1 songs, so there's plenty of material. In fact, with 17 songs and over an hour of music, fans can't complain about being shorted at all. The CD offers two new recordings from Chris. The first is his classic song "Go Light Your World." While a huge hit for Kathy Troccoli, this is his first recording of it. Also featured is his new song "Mama Prays." While the subject of parents' prayers affecting their kids is nothing new to Christian music, Chris manages to put a new spin on it that really shows the power of prayer. Also featured are two new recordings. "Clumsy" features a live recording from a concert in 1998. His latest hit, "Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)" also gets a slightly new arrangement - this time a studio cut, however. Which brings us to the previously released hits. As I said earlier, there are a plethora of them, and everyone should be pleased. It opens with "Deep Enough to Dream" and cycles through "Smellin' Coffee," "The Other Side of the Radio," "Smell the Color 9," "Welcome to Our World," and "Smile (Just Want to be with You)" to highlight a few. All four of his traditional releases are well represented with this even mix of songs. And, yes, for those wondering, it does included "Cartoons." It's the last track and is the live version from the "Night in Rocketown" CD. It's a sign of how much I love Chris's music that I can name at least one song from each CD that should have been included but wasn't. Still, this is a strong compilation that will be a must buy for hardcore and casual fans alike. And if you happen to have missed out on this wonderful artist, this is a great introduction to his more popular songs. Just keep in mind that this barely scratches the surface of the wonderful music that awaits you.

SHORT TERM MEMORIES ARE THE BEST ONES:
As a rule, I'm not a fan of "classics" or "greatest hits" compilations. This one, however is distinctive. It really is a compilation of Chris Rice classics -- songs that actually highlight his whimsical yet mature and deeply thoughtful writing abilities and his smooth as silk James Taylor-ish vocal abilities. For someone not familiar with his work, or for the veteran Chris Rice fan who refuses to illegally "burn" his own best-of collection, this is Chris Rice in review, and it's a good sound parade to hear. Only two minor changes I would have made. First, I would have stuck with the original piano-driven "Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus)" rather than creating an acoustic guitar version. Second, I would have run the "hidden track" version of "Cartoons" off of the "Past The Edges" CD. Still, I don't want to detract from what is a classic "classics" CD with the best Chris Rice short term memories!

CHRIS and GENIE are my two all-time greats:
I love Chris Rice, and also his friend Genie. They both make such awesome worship music. Very relaxing.

A perfect journey through the musical career of a humble man:
I learned of Chris's music fairly late in his career so I had only heard the songs from his latest record, but something just told me to buy this CD...I knew it would be good. Having only had it for 1 day, I already know all the words and have listened to little else. For newbies, this would be a good choice because it's such a range of his styles. For the seasoned Ricer it's got almost all the favorites on it. Highlights include: Deep Enough to Dream - Passionate, catchy tune Go Light Your World - Reworked standard, nicely changed, inspirational Smellin' Coffee - Fast paced, upbeat, joyous, my personal fav. "I'm smellin' coffee, birds are singing just outside. Here comes your mercy streaming in with the morning light." The Other Side of The Radio - Catchy, cute Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)- Unless you've had your head in a hole then you've heard this on the radio, it's slow and honest. :) Smile - Almost like a love song to a person, but directed towards God. Face of Christ - True story song about faith, very moving. Cartoons - No collection would be complete without his "monster" as he puts it. An unplanned favorite that he does because it's so requested. Love it! "Ya-ba-da-ba-lluah!" As you can see I highlighted more than you would normally highlight but when I started to look down the track list, I just couldn't leave many of them out. Bottom line, if you like this kind of music, it's a GREAT disc! You'll be toe-tappin' and experiencing God in 5 minutes, I guarntee it! What a wonderful experience this has been. Pick it up, NOW! You won't regret it.

A five star career and a good "Best Of" Collection:
If you've read my other reaviews on Chris Rice's albums my bias has already come through. I love the guy. Chris Rice is an artist of honesty, substance and true musical skill. His career has spanned four solo records, two piano instrumental records, several cameos on other recordings and now this greatest hits complilation. Of the 17 tracks on the disc, two are new recordings, two are live, one is a rearrangement ("Untitled Hymn") and the remaining 12 are original album tracks from his four studio albums (his two piano instrumentals are not represented on this record). As far as evenness goes, this compilation quite well represents his four solo albums. 3 cuts from Deep Enough to Dream, 3 from Past The Edges, 4 from Smell the Color Nine and 2 from Run The Earth, Watch the Sky. The two new cuts, Mama Pray's and Go Light Your World were both written by Chris before he had a recording contract. Go Light Your World (written 1993) has the feel of a camp song, encouraging Christians to take the light in them that God has given to them and take it out to the world. He states in the liner notes that we should be using our time and energy bringing light to the darkness around us rather than trying to impress or outshine each other. Mama Prays is a warm tribute to two prayerful parents. As always, beautifully arranged and produced by Monroe Jones. Clumsy appears as a live track recorded in 1998. Chris Rice is great live as well as in the studio, and it's awesome to hear the organic and energetic atmosphere of Chris live, interacting with his audience and eveolving his music. Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus), which has become a hit single on the CCM charts is presented here as a guitar tune. Just like the original recording from Run the Earth Watch the Sky was simple piano and voice, this new recording is simple guitar and voice. Each version preserves the purpose of the song, and I personally like it when artists create new versions of older songs for greatest hits complilations. Good job on this one. Cartoons is presented here as the original live version from A Night in Rocketown. Incidentally that is a great album overall especially since it has four Chris Rice tunes live! The nicest thing about this record is that there is just enough new or revised material on the CD to make it worthwhile for a Chris Rice fan like myself who has all the other records he has made or appeared on. The song selection is very good. Personally I hope it will move more people to discover this awesome artist.

• Deep Enough to Dream
• Go Light Your World
• Smellin' Coffee
• Other Side of the Radio
• Clumsy \oLive\c\o#\c
• Mama Prays
• Smell the Color 9
• Welcome to Our World
• Love Means So Much
• Power of a Moment
• Sometimes Love
• And Your Praises Goes on...
• Smile (Just Want to Be With You)
• Face of Christ
• Home Tonight
• Cartoons \oLive\c