Steven Curtis Chapman - The Live Adventure

Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The phenomenon that is Steven Curtis Chapman is still largely unknown in the UK though Nelson Word are working hard to rectify the situation. So what is it about Steven that a huge American audience (the concert from which this live recording was made was one of a tour that attracted 300,000 paying customers) finds so compelling? The answer in part lies with Steve's ability to play rock without ever becoming threatening and soft pop, without completely wimping out. Equally important is Steve's personality, a natural, charming nice guy, almost as if American evangelism cloned Cliff Richard for their own use. Steve writes good but seldom great songs and "For The Sake Of The Call", "More To This Life" and "Go There With You" will get you humming, though the live renditions hardly bring anything new to them. There s a medley of ballads, bumper playing time and if you're wired for pictures, a video of the same Seattle, Washington concert. I think I'll wait to see that before I do my final thumbs up or thumbs down.