Beth Nielsen Chapman - Greatest Hits
Throughout the '90s, Beth Nielsen Chapman was one of the most industrious and literate songwriters in Nashville, penning material for a new breed of female country star, includingKathy Mattea,Faith Hill,Martina McBride, andLorrie Morgan. However, her own recordings have barely dented the country charts, for the simple fact that they're not really country at all. As a singer and arranger, Chapman owes much to the jazz-folk ofJoni Mitchell, while echoing the AAA soul-smarts ofShawn Colvin. Her spiritual sensibility shines on songs like "Sand and Water" and "The Color of Roses," as she confronts personal tragedy with an openness to healing. Chapman's music has gone through various transformations, and what this collection lacks in continuity, it makes up for in the ambition of Chapman's lyrical vision.--Roy Kasten