| Track#1
Emmanuel 3:07If you want to feel God smiling, if you want to hear a
prayer answered, listen to this stunning opening track of Chasing the Horizon.
Mitch's voice is beyond repaired, It is soaring high with such smooth
quality it will astound you.
For those
of you who are new to Mitch McVicker, he was in an accident in 97 that
left him in a coma, collapsed lungs, broken bones, severe head trauma and
a voice with a doubtful future. But he stood strong in his faith
and went forward and wrote us a collection of songs, with the dream of
someday recording them. The tubes stuck down him, and the nerve damages
done from the severe head injury were not expected to leave his voice permanently
damaged. Yet the long struggling road to its recovery brought doubts,
fears and many to their knees in prayer. Yes God listened to those
prayers and His answer is so audible within this first song.
Romans
8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
The lyrics,
upbeat ballad, music arrangement, trademark gifted harmonica playing blend
to perfection. This song is a celebration of rejoice that God is
right here with us. One of my favorite lines is "and I sparkle when
I live my Life like I know that You are right here with us." What a bracing
testimony for us to all take to heart with our Lord. I believe these
songs would have been sung even if his voice wasn't repaired. But
God decided Mitch would deliver them to us. Yeah, our God is an awesome
God.
Track
#2
Strength To Move 3:11 If you ou are just listening to the music
it is awesome. If you are reflecting on the lyrics, be prepared to
share in some very introspective ideas. This one was intense and
I can not imagine these lyrics just popping into his head. If they
did, the Spirit was working overtime. Yes he got the chorus "And
a little faith can somehow become the strength to move a mountain" straight
from Matthew
17:20 but wowable on the rest. Well I pondered for a while
on those lyrics and finally approached him with a question on where, why,
what were you thinking when they came to you. His answer back was
so profound this article
Look Inside Strength To Move ~ Mitch McVicker was written to
document his reply. The music track to back those words scoring in
with an A+, are brisk, energetic and moving. To appreciate this song
to another level, read through his lyrics filled with faith, hope and love.
Track
#3
Upside Down 4:08The predominant instrument and it is played to perfection;
is Mitch's vocals on this tune. What a gift to be able to tone down
the musical instruments and just let his voice shine through and carry
this one. The song is mellow, yet very satisfying. His
message delivered in the lyrics for me are from Matthew
5:3 I found this ballad to be a look inside
of what is important to Mitch. I can not envision another artist
trying to deliver this song. Some of the lyrical lines I like are
I don't got the right haircut, but at least I got nice hats I don't eat
at the popular restaurants, but at least I get my daily bread. At
an outdoor concert I saw him at, he wore one of those hats and we wanted
to see his haircut. Mitch was probably protecting his eyes from the
sun and from having to view the future pictures that would be on the web
of a wind blown and, "oh no did I look like that!" That hat
was nice, and when he took it off after the concert so was the haircut.
Track
#4
When You Love 4:58You are treated to an energetic song that has a new
instrument, some female background! The musical arrangement lets
the instruments capture the beat and you'll find quick addiction to the
replay button on this one. My favorite message delivered in this
song is always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ from: Ephesians
5:20. We also need to capture Mitch's message to heart when he
sings Sometimes will always be good, Even when times get hard, And
when you love you get to thank the Lord above.
Track
#5
Suits Of Skin 3:32 By the time I got to this song on the 4 song
EP, I laughed at my lyrics are simple analysis of Anything! I think Mitch
may have planted that illusion to prepare us for the other three.
Imagine how lost we would be if the first book of the New Testament was
Revelations? Reading the lyrics on this one is like reading a novel.
Nothing simple about digesting this message. Penetrating and intense
they weave the image of God living inside of us and our relationships with
Him. John
4:16 "He chose to make us His home, so how can we house Him.."
I love the pace of the music on this one, and it is needed to carry off
the profound poem he gives to us in Suits of Skin. The vocals and
background mixes are fantastic.
Track
#6
Watch Over Me 5:07I haven't picked a favorite on his Canticle of the
Plains or the Mitch McVicker self titled CD and probable won't be able
to. On this Cd, at least at the moment, this song has captured a
high favorite vote. This song is so moving, heartfelt, with raw emotions
raining out as he delivers it at a pace that just seizes your heart.
He is singing a song to God, and we can all share the lyrics in our prayer
to our Lord. I've got a real problem shedding tears and that's not
a good thing. This tune is working on my soul, and I'm almost ready
to just cry again. It is good to outpour to the Lord in your prayers,
who also gave us tears as part of the healing. The message Mitch sings:
So here I am, I am struggling, and oh how I need You, Watch over me. God
answers that prayer for us all in Psalms
121:8
Track#7
Anything 3:39 Oh thank you for placing this track after Watch
Over Me!
The Lyrics
under 150 words. Strangely I noticed that and also at first that
it seemed understated and simple. But then I started to feelthe words,
and yeah realize what an outstanding message of prayer to God we have been
given in the Chorus.."Yeah, here's my soul, do with it what you want..
'Cause I don't even know what I need, But I know there's so much more than
I have ever thought of So I'd be happy with anything".He amazedly plants
a memory in my mind of the verse John
1:12 that we simply need to go to Jesus as his Children. With
my newly opened eyes, I look at the lyrics again and was moved by the trail
of thoughts Mitch takes us down and the incredible beauty of it all.
The music accompanying those words are quickly contagious. Again
Mitch used his unique talent of toning the music down to let his voice
carry the message. Nice background mix on this along with that new
instrument we don't usually get, female background!
Track
#8
It Won't Take Long 3:17This is pure pleasure to experience. Another
got-to-hear-it again melody. The backgrounds are astounding on this
one and very effective. The extra music instrument touches and percussion
give it charisma. He stops all music and background at times and
has his voice carry it with awe. Mitch sings that his
home is far away, but it won't take long to get there. Incredible
the image he paints in this verse Well the sea is deep and blue, And the
tide goes up and down, Oh the sea is deep and blue, And the moon pulls
its chain. Down the road he must explain how this song came to him.
Track
#9
Burning The Fields 4:53This track was etched in my memory right after
the first concert of his I attended. My first thoughts were how will
I ever wait to hear it again. When Mitch played this with Brad the
delivery was exceptional. It gave me the first longing desires for
that next CD. I attacked him after a bookstore concert with WHEN
IS IT COMING OUT. "Rekindle my heart with a passion for You, Restore
my mind, take my anxious thoughts away And, Lord, make me new like only
You can do". This one reminds me of being refreshed by the comfort of God's
forgiveness and being reborn again, in His eyes. I found this
verse Psalms
51:10
In this
song we are asking God to do just that and we should pray that prayer daily.
Yes at times this song seems very intimate between God and Mitch.
Then however, in reflection the chorus is another heartfelt prayer we can
ALL use with Him. Lyrically there are incredible images churning
through out. His style of toning the music down to get the message
across is effectively done with spectacular results.
Track
#10
Rich's Song 4:58 If you chase the horizon long enough,
then you just might lose the dark. , And you found the light or maybe
it found you and I'm sorry you had to part. Until I think about where
you are.. Many people were effected by the parting of Rich Mullins.
Mitch who lost Rich as a companion, counselor, co-writer, road and home
mate, and soul searcher to the Father's will; now gives us the ultimate
tribute song to Rich. I get the feeling this song is for Rich's followers
as much as Rich. The confidence is high in my mind, that Rich is
going "Oh Mitch, your going to Love it up here!" The dulcimer, dances
on this tack.
Track
#11
Where Did It Go? 3:25When I'm only repeating a few songs, this one
is always included. Kinda fun to make your own EP! The beat
is like a fast heartbeat, just a steady, go forward energetic pace.
Everything is effective on this ballad. So many messages from the Father
are given in the lyrics. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love
Corinthians
13:13 Also the message and into an inheritance that can
never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you,
Peter
1:4 Some of my favorite lyric lines are at the very beginning
And we all want to be noticed, And we long to be seen, But at His side
we have everything that we need, but still we look for more.
Track
#12
Kingdom Of The Heart 4:23Oh, no.. just 12 songs? Yes what a treat,
and the last just as excellent the first. How he picked which four
to share on the EP is beyond my comprehension. I am happy we got
the preview to prepare us for what was to come. This song exhibits
it all, great lyric, music track, background vocals blending.
The chorus Sometimes this world, It spins so fast, I think I might fall
off, And sometimes it slows, To such a pace, I think it might be
stalling. Mitch is going to need to work on a book someday. His lyrics
need more exposure than the CD inserts because they just say so much. Link
back to full Link
Note: this
review is an overlap of the general review. I wanted to do
a general review and a detailed song by song. Both were drafted
within days of absorbing the sounds.
Rating of
this Album
Love had
his hands
all over
this second project
Gave it
the up to the Mountain Tops rating
The
Mitch Chasing The Horizon picture is copyright © 2000 danlnet.com
and mitchmcvicker.com and was "used with permission from Mitch."
Look inside
these other songs with Mitch:
A
Look Inside Burning The Fields ~ Mitch McVicker
A
Look Behind The Lemonade Song ~ Mitch McVicker
A
Look Inside Strength To Move ~ Mitch McVicker
Mitch
McVicker ~ Interviewed by suzan
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