Speechless

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If he wasn't on your list before, you better add Steven Curtis Chapman to your contemporary Christian music (CCM) superstar group. Speechless, Chapman's 11th album in his 12-year career, reaches new heights and testifies to a songwriting brilliance that is almost unmatched. This album will undoubtedly increase Chapman's score of 29 No. 1 hit CCM singles. For the first time, the ebullient singer/songwriter has made a record with his touring band (instead of with studio musicians) and the tightness and familiarity shows. The opening "Dive" (Chumbawamba fans will love the chorus here), "Speechless," and "Fingerprints of God" are its strongest moments; then there's the deeply moving and emotional tribute "With Hope," an ode Chapman wrote for close friends who have lost children and are struggling to find a reason to live. Top-line producer Brown Bannister enables Chapman's beautiful release, evidenced by the final track, "Be Still and Know," which features a lengthy symphonic introduction. At this level, you can't expect dramatic departures from what has worked so well, but what you get here is the work of an artist who is perfecting his muse. Buy this today! --Michael Lyttle --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Foxglove
Train In The Rain
Water Into Wine
Elegy
Mistress Of Storms
Rouler Sa Bosse
Salt Sun And Time
Islands In A Black Sky
Rise And Fall
Sunrise On The Mississippi
King Kong Goes To Tallahassee
When It's Gone, It's Gone
Deep Lake
The End Of All Rivers
Sunwheel Dance

Album Description

So pronounced is Bruce Cockburn's reputation as a celebrated singer-songwriter that it's easy to overlook the fact that Cockburn is also an exceptional guitarist. Speechless should change all that. A collection of previously recorded and brand new instrumental tracks, the album puts the spotlight squarely on Cockburn's brilliant acoustic guitar playing. Despite its absence of words, Speechless is highly expressive. Ranging from some of his earliest numbers to three recent compositions, the album showcases the breadth of Cockburn's eclectic guitar style. There's a strong cinematic quality to much of the album, whether it's in pieces from the 1970s like the haunting "Islands in a Black Sky" and the cascading "Water into Wine," or else in 1990s instrumentals such as the emotional "When It's Gone It's Gone" and the ambient "Mistress of Storms."

Customer Reviews:

A few really great tracks.......2007-01-19

It turns out that Cockburn is somewhat of a fingerstyle guitar virtuoso. Certain tracks on this CD hold up to the best of the genre (Kottke, Emmanuel, Dykes), but there are also some tracks that were just acoustic filler on some of his earlier albums. None of the tracks has vocals. Some of the tracks feature instruments other than guitar. This album starts strong and ends strong, but would have been a little better with fewer of the slow tempo tracks in the middle. Nevertheless, I'm glad I bought it. Very listenable.

Nice. Like Leo Kottke with more melody and feeling........2006-07-07

Bruce Cockburn is a wonderful guitarist. He plays electric guitar, but he shines on the six string acoustic. I never much cared for his improvised electric guitar solos, but I don't recall any of those on this disc.

Bruce recorded a jazzy electric instrumental, Radio Days, for the Inner City Front album, but this does not appear on Speechless -- probably for the best. Also missing is a sentimental favorite of mine, Deer Dancing Around A Broken Mirror from his live Circles In The Stream record. Strangely, the short but sweet instrumentals from his Christmas CD are also missing.

Bruce recorded three new tunes for this album. I've heard them, and if you have Bruce's back catalog, these new songs are not sufficient to justify the CD purchase.

If you are new to Cockburn, I would still recommend going back to the beginning, and picking up his 1970s and 1980s albums, starting with Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws, which has no instrumental pieces, but does have some ravishingly beautiful acoustic guitar playing nevertheless. Then you'll have most if not all of the older songs that appear on this CD.

I love Bruce Cockburn, but I think his guitar playing is best appreciated in the context it originally appeared -- as a backing instrument for his vocals, and occasionally as a solo voice on instrumental pieces. Bruce's instrumentals are better in small doses, sandwiched in between his other fine songs.

Still, this is fine work, and if you only want "speechless" Cockburn, this album is just the ticket for you.

Speechless.......2006-02-25

This is a wonderful CD if you enjoy guitar. It is very calming after a long day and the 'Deep Lake' track is especially relaxing.

something great for the new year.......2006-01-10

All in all, `Speechless` is an excellent album but it is still slightly disappointing because Brucie's new distributors do seem to be a little too keen to run the fanbase for all its worth. After downloading a number of the `bonus tracks` from I-Tunes, that drove the point home that Rounder Records really are just in it for the money. (Before any of the Cockburnistas come after me, I own 99.9% of BC's official catalogue so I know of what I speak.)

With all that said, Bruce Cockburn is easily one of the best guitarists out there so the music is still top form. This would be a great introduction for someone who perhaps isn't bowled over by introspective lyrics or is more inclined to the `giants` of jazz or folk guitar (Pat Metheny or Bert Jansch spring to mind) Secondly, even though it's tagged as an instrumental album Cockburn is speaking very clearly through his guitar. The older pieces such as Foxglove, Rouler Sa Bosse and Islands In A Black Sky hold together well and the `new` tracks prove that he hasn't lost any of his old form. A worthy addition to yours or a friends collection.

if you don't have these, it's good; but for aficionados, what?.......2005-12-28

it doesn't matter if you think he's holy. for anyone to release an album that's predominantly older, readily available material is a milking of the fan base. it's especially disappointing when it's an artist who appears to have such a deep well to draw from. why not risk a new album of wordless material? unless this is your first exposure to cockburn's brilliance, it must be said: no matter how wonderful the pieces are, this is a money-grab by the artist.

Average customer rating:

Steven Curtis Chapman at his best
You gotta have this one!
My favorite CD
Another Awesome Album
great expectations, met again

Speechless
Steven Curtis Chapman
Manufacturer: Sparrow
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000J6BZ
Release Date: 1999-06-15

Tracks:

Dive
Speechless
The Change
Great Expectations
Next 5 Minutes
Fingerprints Of God
The Invitation
Whatever
I Do Believe
What I Really Want To Say
With Hope
The Journey
Be Still And Know

Amazon.com

If he wasn't on your list before, you better add Steven Curtis Chapman to your contemporary Christian music (CCM) superstar group. Speechless, Chapman's 11th album in his 12-year career, reaches new heights and testifies to a songwriting brilliance that is almost unmatched. This album will undoubtedly increase Chapman's score of 29 No. 1 hit CCM singles. For the first time, the ebullient singer/songwriter has made a record with his touring band (instead of with studio musicians) and the tightness and familiarity shows. The opening "Dive" (Chumbawamba fans will love the chorus here), "Speechless," and "Fingerprints of God" are its strongest moments; then there's the deeply moving and emotional tribute "With Hope," an ode Chapman wrote for close friends who have lost children and are struggling to find a reason to live. Top-line producer Brown Bannister enables Chapman's beautiful release, evidenced by the final track, "Be Still and Know," which features a lengthy symphonic introduction. At this level, you can't expect dramatic departures from what has worked so well, but what you get here is the work of an artist who is perfecting his muse. Buy this today! --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews:

Steven Curtis Chapman at his best.......2007-06-20

This album is awesome!!!!! Used to listen to Steven back in the 90's and bought this to see how much he had changed. Was not disappointed!!!!!

You gotta have this one!.......2007-05-18

Steven's very, very best work yet. In all honesty, these songs changed my
life forever! But, wait there's more...I have bought about 14 copies for other people and each and every person was moved and changed by this work.
The best way to put it is:This is not just a CD, it is a life-changing CD.
The songs make it hard to pick "a favorite" because they all sing to our souls and hearts.
Someone just tell me how you can listen to this work and not be making the listener debate among themselves as to which song is their favorite!

My favorite CD.......2007-04-11

I have had this CD for a few years now, and it is still my favorite one!

Another Awesome Album.......2007-04-07

Speechless...is one of my favorite albums by Steven Curtis Chapman. Every song is heart warming and gives praise to our Heavenly Father.
Thank you SCC keep it up.

great expectations, met again.......2006-12-28

Steven Curtis Chapman brings to his craft - and to our ears - the well finessed interplay of pure foot-stompin' energy and reflective Christian faith. His music was always good. This 1999 release catches the artist at a time when he was elevating his game.

Fortunate the ears that hear.

The title track 'Speechless' is convincing precisely because Chapman seems not to be telling an old tale for the thousandth time but rather narrating his own trek higher up and deeper in. This, nothing else, is what explains the particularly appreciative nuance of his loyal fan base. They come back time and again, aware that Chapman will not be where he was. But neither has he forgotten where he came from, who he is, and that others are listening in.

It may be just my impression, but the band sounds tighter, more revved-up, more bought-in than ever. Yet Chapman has always inspired the musicians he fronts.

Chapman is not the servant of a tame religion. If he colors himself speechless in the title track, in 'Great Expectations' he professes to be near to places 'that I know so well", then:

'But dare I go where I don't understand
And do I dare remember where I am
I stand before the great eternal throne
The one that God Himself is seated on
And I, I've been invited as a son
Oh I, I've been invited to come and ...

Believe the unbelievable
Receive the inconceivable
And see beyond my wildest imagination
Lord, I come with great expectations'

This artist's narrated experience is dynamic rather than static, derivative rather than self-generated, horizon-moving rather than consolidating. Like the Psalms, in the track just cited Chapman moves from 'I' to 'We've been invited to come.' As an artist - the ancient biblical poets understood this well - Chapman is aware of the vocation of giving away his personal experience in order to provide words and, in his case, melodies to the worshipping community.

Chapman has always been a master of rhythm. This album is no exception, giving us as it does the complex and beguiling 'Next Five Minutes'. This track would leave its close listener bored or weary if it did not flow rhythmically with such organic ease, a perfect cooperation between drums and acoustic guitar laying down a track adequate for Chapman's voice to dance around it with an almost perfect storm of glee.

Yet Chapman is able to slow it down with similar dexterity, as the mournful ode to a lost child shows ('With Hope'). Chapman inserts an orchestral interlude called 'The Journey'--there's actually an *oboe* in there--before shutting things down with 'Be Still and Know', an altogether fitting bookend to the opener on a CD that is after all called 'Speechless'.

The biblical theologian Walter Brueggemann titled one of his works 'Abiding Astonishment'. The title could do double duty here. Worship, astonishment, speechlessness, exuberance, and finally solemnity and stillness. Steven Curtis Chapman has lost not a step.

Average customer rating:

speechless explains it best!
Do yourself a favor. Buy this CD!!!!

Speechless
The Kelly Richey Band
Manufacturer: Sweet Lucy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music

Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000GIXIDW
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Tracks:

One Day We'll Feel the Sun
Is There Any Reason
Only the Bird Knows
Climb the Highest Mountain
Stand Alone
And I Sing
Longest Road
Without a Trace
If I Could Fly

Customer Reviews:

speechless explains it best!.......2007-02-10

Richey is an awesome guitarist !!! Just wish this CD had some singing on it. Every song started to sound alike.. I'll see her live next week, and look forwards to it.

Do yourself a favor. Buy this CD!!!!.......2006-10-25

Unfortunately, I can only give this CD 5 starts. It deserves many more. What a gem! 9 instrumental tracks that will make you appreciate the guitar all over again. The opening track, 'One Day We'll Feel The Sun" is nothing short of amazing. This is the first song I play every morning. God, it puts me in a good mood! The whole CD is this way. I haven't taken this out of the cd player since I got it two weeks ago. Kelly Richey has accomplished what I thought was impossible. She has put out a CD without any B-side/filler songs. None! Has anyone ever done that before? Kelly Richey is the real deal - an amazing guitarist, singer and composer. If you don't own anything by her, you are missing out. So, what are you waiting for? Treat yourself to an aural masterpiece. Kelly is so good you can feel the emotion she has put into every track. If the Grammy Awards were handed out based on talent, The Kelly Richey Band would own the show. Once you buy this CD, don't stop there, get everything she has released. Your soul will thank you. "Speechless" is my favorite release of 2006. Bar none. Thank you Kelly. You made my year.

The Juliana Theory / Dawson High (Split CD)

Average customer rating:

The Juliana Theory / Dawson High (Split CD)

Manufacturer: Arise Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000ESRLP0

Product Description

Track Listing: The Juliana Theory: 1. D.J. 2. Speechless 3. Pictures, Stars, and Dreams 4. Infatuation 5. Week Long Embrace Dawson High: 6. Just A Fan 7. I Didn't Mean To Break Your Heart 8. Port Matilda 9. Nice Boy 10. Goodnight Starlight

Average customer rating:

Terrible Vocals

Open Your Mouth for the Speechless...
A Life Once Lost
Manufacturer: Robotic Empire
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Great Artist

ASIN: B00022LJII
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Joan Said Please
This Is What She Calls Home
The Introduction
Almost Perfect But I Failed
Gentle & Elegant
A Falls River Farewell
Everything Becomes Still
Just Beore His Crucifixion
Why Do You Make Be Bleed
Prepare Yourself For What Is About To Come
The Tide
The Dead Sea

Customer Reviews:

Terrible Vocals.......2005-11-28

Before you read this review, let me tell you I am a huge fan of the NEW ALOL(Hunter). I had this album before Hunter was released and absolutely hate this album. The vocals are terrible compared to the vocals on hunter. If you have ever played Doom3, and you listen to this album, you may notice that the singer sounds exactly like the Revenants. In my opinion, thats really annoying, and listening to this album gives me a headache. Even if you try to follow along by reading the lyrics, trust me, you will get lost.
The only reason i give this album any stars is because i love the guitar riff in the first song "Joan said Please", and because i like the bands name...

So, take my advice, Pass up this album and just buy Hunter.

Average customer rating:

Speechless
Jack Schantz
Manufacturer: Azica
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000005R7J
Release Date: 1995-10-31

Tracks:

My Romance
Speechless
American the Beautiful
Lennie's Pennies
It Never Entered My Mind
Hot House
Amazing Grace
Without a Song
Moose the Mooche

Average customer rating:

Solid disco pop

Speechless
Mish Mash
Manufacturer: Data UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000EMTHA8
Release Date: 2006-04-17

Tracks:

Edit
Seamus Haji Edit
Soul Avengerz Remix
King Unique Remix
Cicada Remix
Extended

Album Description

If you've spent any time in the vicinity of a discotheque recently, you'll immediately know Speechless. Containing more booty than Beyonce's back end; enough funk to backcomb Sly Stone's afro; and more glamour-hugging disco than Bianca Jagger and her white horse could ever have handled, it's already played forward-thinking club heads. In 2006, thanks to a mighty push by Data, who have chosen Speechless to mark their release centenary, it's aiming for the hit parade jugular. Mish Mash consists of Oscar Fullone, one of Scotland's original acid house converts, Kasper Winding, a classically trained musical prodigy hailing from Denmark and Lois Norbye who hails from Copenhagen, with a background that takes in ballet dancing and performing as a singer and actress in Denmark and beyond. Early radio support has come from Pete Tong (Essential New Tune and in his top 10 of last year), Annie Mac and Jo Whiley. The video has created so much interest that The Box have added it 7 weeks upfront of release! Remixes come from Sandy Rivera, Cicada, King Unique and Soul Avengerz. Pinnuk.2006

Album Details

Remixes Come from Sandy Rivera, Cicada, King Unique and Soul Avengerz.

Customer Reviews:

Solid disco pop.......2006-04-18

Wow! Welcome to the dance scene, Mish Mash! Featuring a vocalist who oozes more sex appeal than Goldfrapp (and that's tough)and has a voice silkier than some of the best house divas out there, and music so unique that no song can claim to sound like it, "Speechless" is just the type of party song to get everyone to shake it

I love this song in it's shortened form. Both the radio edit and the Seamus Haji radio edit (which features not one, but two dramatic build-ups) are stellar, in my opinion. It's the longer remixes that tend to...fail. It it's extended form, one can get bored with this song. Unless you do something exciting to keep the momentum, the style of this music does eventually grate on their ears, even with Lois' beautiful voice. So I can't possibly give this single a 5 star rating because the remixes are just...subpar.

But, the single gives you access to the AMAZING video. The video is colorful, sexy and well-done. You'll understand my reference to Goldfrapp after you've watched the video.

I recommend this to fans of disco, house, and pop. But if you're a clubhead, perhaps you should go find something less interesting.

Average customer rating:

Speechless
Liz Story
Manufacturer: Novus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

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Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Forgiveness
Frog Park
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Average customer rating:

Search

Manufacturer: Speechless
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA2TPM
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Tracks:

The Search
Two
Romantic Blues
2 Days
Chapter 9
X-Static Song
Folks
The Eye's Have It
Morrison's
Detente

Average customer rating:

Speechless
Travis Henson
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000FTAUR4
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Tracks:

Odyssey
Moxie
Curve
Swirl
Balance
Torn
Heavenly
Flipside
Slumber

Music:

Music

Music