All Things New (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Steven Curtis Chapman (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, dobro, mandolin, background vocals); Pierre Haxaire (spoken vocals); Jonny Lang (guitar); George Cocchini, Lyle Workman (electric guitar); Bob Becker (viola); Larry Corbett, Dan Smith (cello); Patrick Warren (piano, chamberlin, keyboards); Reggie Hamilton (bass instrument); Chris Chaney (bass guitar); Matt Chamberlain (drums); Dan Needham (programming); Mac Powell (background vocals); Ric Robbins.

No one can churn out the hooky CCM quite like Steven Curtis Chapman, whose 13th album is a beautifully crafted and unabashedly, unambiguously devout set of Christian pop songs that will appeal to his large following and maybe even convince a few from outside that circle to give him a listen. Longstanding fans may be surprised by the amount of piano he plays on these tracks -- guitar is his usual instrument, but he acquits himself nicely on the keys on songs like the title track and "Last Day on Earth"." Another slightly unusual element on this album is the thick layer of turntable scratching, courtesy of Ric Robbins, that fills in most of the empty sonic spaces on "Just Getting Started." Even when things threaten to get a bit dense and cluttered, though, Chapman's sweet melodic hooks manage to hold center stage; his lyrics generally manage to avoid both smugness and cuteness, frequently challenging his fellow Christians to examine critically both their lives and their commitment. The album ends with more of a whimper than a bang, with three slow numbers in a row: the rather saccharine "Angels Wish," the slightly more interesting "I Believe in You," and the much more rewarding "Treasure of Jesus." Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Steven Curtis Chapman is often hailed as one of the most important figures in Christian music, and for good reason. In the 1970s and early '80s, CCM was often said to be lacking in qualities appealing to young people. During the '90s, Chapman was largely responsible for injecting the style with a hip, contemporary sound that, in the process, made it acceptable to many secular listeners. Though Chapman is always pushing the envelope, ALL THINGS NEW marks a distinct departure.

Rather than record in Nashville with his usual stable of musicians, the Kentucky-born singer/songwriter decided to work in Los Angeles. The results are immediately apparent; among the contributors are hard-hitting session drummer Matt Chamberlain and Jane's Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, both of whom lend the album a feel that is considerably more aggressive than that of Chapman's previous work. In addition, the vocalist reportedly composed many songs on piano instead of guitar, which explains the occasional echoes of Elton John and Billy Joel. Not many artists can claim to continue progressing after releasing more than a dozen records, but with ALL THINGS NEW, Steven Curtis Chapman proves that he remains at the forefront of his genre. minimize