The Glorious Unfolding

Family tragedy and the healing promise of God provide the backdrop for Steven Curtis Chapman’s life-affirming counterpoint to 2009’s more somber Beauty Will Rise. A sense of renewed hope and transcendence can be heard in both the optimistic tenor of the lyrics and the bright, acoustic-based sound of the tracks. Chapman’s vocals have kept their youthful vivacity even as his perspective as a songwriter has matured. The combination of strength, tenderness, and wisdom heard in tunes like “SEE You in a Little While” (written for his late grandmother) and “Michael and Maria” (honoring the memory of a family friend) reflect life’s hard lessons as well as an abiding faith. The sweet, baroque-tinged “Only One and Only You” and the warm piano ballad “Together” capture a sunny tone as they offer loving portraits of Chapman’s daughter Shaoey and wife, Mary Beth. From the jaunty clap-along beat of “Take Another Step” to the boisterous pop feel of “Love Take Me Over” and the rootsy folk-hymn quality of “Feet of Jesus,” SCC keeps The Glorious Unfolding musically interesting and reaffirming.