Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review


Scott Stapp, Proof of Life
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Scott Stapp
Proof of Life



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Rock / Pop Rock
Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 57 seconds
Street Date: November 5, 2013


Scott Stapp returns with a solo effort after releasing Full Circle with his band, Creed in 2009. If anyone is even slightly familiar with rock music, it would seem unusual for one to be unaware of Creed, a band that has sold a substantial amount of albums (over 40 million) and garnered what seemed like endless exposure on video channels back in the early 2000s. Creed often had to deal with the criticisms of being compared to other bands or being labeled as a post-grunge endeavor in music. A solo record is nothing new to Stapp, as he made his debut in 2005 with The Great Divide, after Creed disbanded temporarily in 2004. It's always fascinating when an artist can remain humble after being a part of something as influential as the band Creed.

The album would initially appear to be in the hard rock category with the opening tracks "Slow Suicide" and "Who I Am." "Who I Am" echoes the riffs and sounds of Creed's "What if." A word of caution with "Who I Am" as it contains mild curse words in it ("D*mmit" and "Hell"). The title cut, "Proof of Life," is one of the more prominent songs and asks what one's purpose is for being here with a stirring message: "No excuses for your sickness / it's your choices that got you here / are you caught in the headlight standing still? / Don't you wish you could run away? / Have you lost your desire for someone to come and save you? / I will give everything to justify the reason I'm alive." "Only One" is easily the best song with a captivating rhythm which contains an implication about having faith in God regardless of difficulties, changes, or times when one doubts themselves, as it implies: "Even when you feel so low like you might let go / I will be the first one reaching out to you / I will be the last one giving up on you." The boldest and most forward song, "Jesus was a RockStar" is a refreshing change of pace on the album with a marching, blues-like beat. Jesus' accomplishments and story are addressed as it insinuates that Jesus was something very special and worth honoring: "He walked on water / he turned water to wine and drank with people you and I would just cast aside / he fed his people food / and in the blink of an eye, he gave a blind man sight... he gave us everything and more/ he was your party that you'd been looking for / Maybe, just maybe, Jesus was a rock star." The album slows down from this point on and closes with another memorable track, "Dying to Live," which carries an especially optimistic tone by telling the listener that there is more awaiting them in life: "What I thought was all of my life's story / turns out it was only just one page / it's a new beginning, I've got so much left to see / I'm dying to breath in every moment…I'm dying to let go and feel what real love is."

This is by no means a groundbreaking album, and it seems that Scott Stapp was mostly going for an album from his own experience while he sums it up stating, "I've made a lot of messes in my life but I've learned I can take a mess and turn it into a message. This album chronicles my struggles, my journey and it's the most honest records I have ever written." Proof of Life has notable moments that are found here and there with some tunes that many will appreciate. It will appease the Creed and Daughtry fans alike or anyone in search of rock music that also has its lighter moments ("What Would Love Do," "Only One" and "Dying to Live").

- Review date: 11/5/13, written by Wayne Myatt of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

 

. Record Label: Wind Up Records
. Album length: 11 tracks: 41 minutes, 57 seconds
. Street Date: November 5, 2013
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Slow Suicide (3:29)
  2. Who I Am (2:44)
  3. Proof of Life (3:48)
  4. New Day Coming (3:47)
  5. Only One (4:56)
  6. Break Out (3:39)
  7. Hit Me More (3:26)
  8. Jesus Was A RockStar (3:29)
  9. What Would Love Do (4:32)
  10. Crash (4:17)
  11. Dying To Live (4:06)
spacer     Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics
    Click For Song Lyrics

 

Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Buttons, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase! Save for the holidays with code JFH20 at checkout!

Search JFH




This Tuesday, October 29, 2024
SINGLES
Pipe Bomb Hate Club - Single [The Charon Collective]

This Thursday, October 31, 2024
ALBUMS
Neon Horse Habit of Creature - EP [Velvet Blue Music]

This Friday, November 1, 2024
ALBUMS
AWZY Sinners and Saints - EP [DREAM]
Forrest Frank Child of God (Deluxe) [river house]
Future of Forestry Symphonic Christmas (Live) (independent)
Influence Music It's All About You (independent)
The Kingdom Heirs No Better Time [Sonlite]
Limoblaze Young & Chosen (Power Pack) - EP [Reach]
Paul & Hannah McClure Christmas Morning (Re-Release) [Bethel]
Planetshakers Winning Team: Songs For Church (Live) [Venture3Media]
Skillet Revolution [Atlantic]
Sam's the Hero Charlie Cox - EP [Small Step]
Jim "Soni" Sonefeld Light of Joy - EP [Vere]
Ivan Theva Waiting Here for You - EP [Descendent/Provident]
John Van Deusen Anthem Sprinter [Tooth & Nail]
Phil Wickham Hallelujah! It's Christmas! [Fair Trade]
YWAM Kona Music Missionary Anthem - EP [Integrity]

SINGLES
Ayo Shamir, YP aka Young Paul Aaron Judge - Single (independent)
Gabby Barrett O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. The Piano Guys) - Single [Warner Music Nashville]
Brennley Brown Mary, Did You Know? - Single [Provident]
Lauren Daigle Then I Will - Single [Centricity]
Dreamers The Reason - Multi-Single [DREAM]
EJ Swavv I Hate Lucy - Single [Syntax]
Jess Ford This is My Jesus - Single (independent)
FYR FYTR So Simple - Single (independent)
Michael Monroe Pour It Out - Single [Provident]
Seph Schlueter We Sing (Joy To The World) [feat. Leanna Crawford] - Single [Provident]
Skye Peterson, Ben Shive Keep the Feast - Single [Getty]
SNT. VINCENT Confession - Single [Syntax]
Cyndi Thompson Silent Night - Single [County Line]
Thrive Worship Hark - Single [Integrity]
Tauren Wells Making Room - Single [Capitol CMG]

VINYL
Skillet Revolution Vinyl [Atlantic]

Next Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images