The Great Divide

Billboard.com November 20 2005

It has arrived late in the year, but Scott Stapp's solo debut is the surprise of 2005. The title track set expectations that "The Great Divide" would be another Creed album, but guess again. Stapp sheds that template for a rawer sound featuring catchy, driving guitar licks (the fierce "Reach Out," "The Hard Way") and experiments like the Johnny Cash-inflected "Justify." "Sublime" and "Soar" have sweet sentiments but are also strong on inspiration. For all the rock blaze, the set is meant to uplift, focusing on survival, redemption, forgiveness and thankfulness. Stapp is so confident that it's easy to call his messages smug and preachy. But gospel rouser "Broken," a praise-and-worship tearjerker, proves otherwise. As he joyfully sings, "I'm broken," you know his gratitude is sincere and that the man has truly become whole.

.Christa L. Titus

SINGLE: THE GREAT DIVIDE

Billboard.com September 30 2005

Scott Stapp recorded a track for last year‘s multi-artist compilation "The Passion of the Christ: Songs," but his official solo debut, "The Great Divide," arrives November 22. The first single and title track is more than a passing reminder that Stapp was the driving musical force in the polarizingly successful Creed. Aside from some folky acoustic guitars, "The Great Divide" is essentially a less bombastic version of the Creed hit "Higher." Stapp‘s curiously affected vocals stand out in the softer sound mix (which is not as loud as previous songs), but his rich tone is similar to Eddie Vedder's. He sings during the grand chorus, "You set me free to live my life/You became my reason to survive the great divide." It is not hard to figure out what Stapp has survived, but now he faces another test: whether radio will take more of the same from him.