Chris Rice

Item: Short Term Memories
Author: Kevin Mathews

Short Term Memories

(2004)

Reviewed by Kevin Mathews

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Spotify YouTube Music

Label Rocketown RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

adult contemporary ccm

For good or bad, artists like Chris Rice personify the phenomenon that is Christian Contemporary Music. Relatively famous, with a track record of #1 radio hits and critical acclaim within the insular scene, Rice has been successful enough to warrant a best of collection which trawls through his eight year old discography with the obligatory new tracks as bonuses. So what about the music?

If you're a fan of Rocketown co-owner Michael W. Smith's brand of musical professionalism, where the 'feel-good' factor is set at high then this is for you. Personally, I marvel at how blandness and 'safe-ness' seem to guarantee chart success even in the so-called "Christian music" arena where any distinction Rice may possess from your average radio fodder is blurred. That aside, the songs after repeated listening begin to coalesce into a tasteless whole, which is just about as useful as salt that has lost its flavor.

I'm sorry but there just has to be more than this...