And maybe it was not such a bad idea for Rice to give us a love-themed disc. Rice's writing abilities truly make this disc shine. Right from the start, Love Like Crazy gives a great message that Christians sometimes tend to miss; the message that Christ told us to love like Him, even if that seems quite crazy. And the musical abilities showcased on this disc only help to make these songs even better. Each song has it's own unique twist musically and lyrically. From The Best Song Ever, which offers a rather unique take on people singing along to songs all the time, to Sleepyhead Sun, which is a song dedicated to...the sun...and all that the Lord has it doing for us to show that we are loved.
Tracks like Final Move and Breakfast Table also give solid, thought-provoking lyrics with simple music that lets you really take in Rice's writing. Final Move takes a look at the fact that love can bring us back and move us along when all hope seems lost. Breakfast Table is a track that deals with the loss of a love to death. It's actually a very happy track. You get a hint of mourning in this track (I only hold you in my drams now/I wake up with cold and empty arms), but it's coupled really well with the hope and joy of life after death (My lucky doll, you're in heaven before me) and the joy of knowing that one day forever will be in heaven for Rice as well. It's a track that echoes the thoughts of many who have lost loved ones after they're through mourning their loss.
Now, this is where the disc could have fallen apart. Sprinkled throughout this disc are a few tracks that are written about love here in this lifetime; the love between a man and a woman. These tracks could have been really screwed up, as Rice is a single guy and doesn't have the many years of marraige that artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman have to work with when writing a love song. But, again, Rice has no issue with risking. And it's a great thing that he risked it, because he turns out some truly quality tracks. I See The Moon offers a track of longing and yearning for "The one." The chorus of this one truly says it all: I see the moon, the moon sees me/The moon sees the one that I want to see/God bless the moon, and God bless me/And God bless the one I'm longing to see. Then there is Lemonade, which is an upbeat track on taking a chance on love, comparing the bliss of love to the great taste of a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. It's a cleverly written song that you can't help but smile too. Lastly, there is When Did You Fall, which is definitely on of the best songs on this disc (Which is saying a lot on a disc such as this). This track keeps the musical aspects pretty soft, giving just a little accentuatio to words that speak for themselves already. On this track, Rice writes like, well, a typical guy. The typical guy who just now noticed the love shining in a woman's eyes that has probably been there for a long time and is just now being noticed. After going on and on about how unbelievable it is that he could have missed this for so long, Rice decides that And I can tell now by the way that you're lookin' at me/I'd better finish this song so my lips will be free. All in all, these tracks are superb.
Overall, this disc has it all. Solid songwriting? Check. Music that doesn't get stuck in a rut? Check. Vocals that fit very well with both the lyrics and insturmentals? Check. A theme that can get overused now given a fresh spin? Check. Amusing is one of the year's best, and certainly one of Rice's best offerings in his career. The man continues to impress and show why he is such a mainstay in the Christian realm.