Search - :: Everyday Man

Great album by a Great Artist!

Daniel P. Wunrow | South Dakota | 09/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is classic Gary Chapman! Songs like "Breakin' Hearts", "Love Like Blood", and "Love That Girl", are as exciting to listen to now as the first time I heard them in 1988. God bless you Gary! Thanks for cranking out awesome songs!"

Amy's ex-hubby worth a look, too

Greg Brady | Capital City | 06/23/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Chances are if you think of the name Gary Chapman, you think of the relationships self-help author first (You know, the "Five Love Languages" guy). If you even think of the musician, you probably think of him first as Amy Grant's ex-husband and maybe the "Prime Time Country" host on CMT for awhile. The country-tinged pop that's on this CD should get you to raise your estimation of him a bit. ("Your Love Stays with Me" was the only number here to reach the Christian radio charts at #14, but it's not one of the better tunes.)



HIGHLIGHTS:

The most outstanding cut here is ballad "Cecil (Life Goes On)", a rumination on mortality penned after Chapman's grandfather died. ("Life goes on/Until it stops/And a man walks on/Until he drops/And when life ends/Well, it's better still/'Cause another life goes on...it always will") "Everyday Man" is a tribute to happily ever after as seen by a man who's still looking for it. ("My someone's out there somewhere/I'm waiting here all alone/Sure hope I find her before/She finds herself a home") Mark O'Connor guests on mandolin for that track. "Love History" praises marital fidelity in the face of temptation. ("Any two fools can make love/It ain't no dark mystery/But it takes two people, two hardworking people/to build a life together and make love history") "Around the World" gets over on a catchy guitar riff and ringing harmonies (from Ricky Skaggs). "Your Love Stays with me" sees Chapman affecting a gospelly moan.



LOWS:

"Love Like Blood" is a great John Hiatt song, but it sounds pretty forced...like someone at the label said "Make sure there's a 'hit' on there. It's an ill-suited duet between Chapman and then-wife Amy Grant, though she does try to put some sandpaper into her smooth vocal. Someone like Kim Carnes might have been a better pairing. "When We're Together" is too cliched to be memorable.



BOTTOM LINE:

I can't really call it "great" but very little of it is bad and there is at least one outstanding cut ("Cecil") If you're already a Chapman fan, you'll need it. If you like acoustic based pop, you may find this up your alley.



3 1/2 stars"