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

  Jesusfreakhideout.com 5-Star Review

  JFH 5-Star Review


David Crowder*Band
Church Music



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 17 tracks
Street Date: September 22, 2009


Upon having released their second studio album, Illuminate, in 2003, the David Crowder Band left an indelible mark on contemporary/modern/post-modern worship with their huge successes "O Praise Him (All this for a King)" and "No One Like You." Their release in 2005 of A Collision showed us what Mr. Crowder was capable of and brought a legitimacy to the post-modern worship genre that so needed a facelift. With Delirious' impending retirement later this year, the David Crowder Band will have to pick up the torch as the new face of modern worship and Church Music does just that.

Church Music picks up where Sunsets and Sushi would have taken us had it been a full-length LP of new work. Leaving the bluegrass, southern flair on A Collision and the return to pop-rock on Remedy, from beginning to end Church Music astonishes, mesmerizes and reaffirms that original, out of the box, unstereotypical worship is what David does best and what the genre needs, and deserves.

From its opening "Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light)" to its other bookend, "In the End [O Resplendent Light!]," nearly every track captures the attention and directs us to a full-on worship experience that is not only pleasant to the soul, but also pleasant to the ears. While Church Music is primarily electronically influenced, with the infusion of rock, several heavy guitar solos and slight orchestral arrangements, it avoids the feel that these are B-Sides from a previous record in their make up. A full fifty seconds longer, yet four tracks shorter than A Collision, several songs surpass the six minute mark, but most are a healthy four to five minute length so as not to get too overlong or drawn out.

"Phos Hilaron" opens and readies the listener's heart by worshipping God with singing His praise in the lyric, "We hymn the Father, Son, Spirit divine. Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung...," setting a tone for the album not only musically but lyrically as well. "Alleluia, Sing" follows with the truth of the Gospel that God will come to us regardless of times of seasons or possible devastation. Out of all the tracks, "Alleluia, Sing" feels most out of place from a musical standpoint, but is a strong track nonetheless. "The Nearness," which follows, really picks up the electronic tone of the rest of the record, with its near techno-like melody and sings of God's return beginning with our salvation. As the song closes, it leads into "Shadows," the first single on the record, and the transition is flawless. As the album plays itself out, the tracks are full of flawless, seamless transitions that a live show or even a church setting might have. "Eastern Hymn" follows with a heavier electronic beat layered with an old school 8-bit Nintendo game soundtrack feel, but also layered with some gentle strings in the bridge to break it up a little.

"SMS (Shine)" follows and opens with soft piano and a light electronic beat. Lyrically, like the rest of the record, it is very poetic. The chorus sings, "Shine your light so I can see you, Pull me up I need to be near you. Hold me I need to feel love. Can you overcome this heart that's overcome?" feels like a dance that can only be had with a Savior. As "SMS" closes out, "The Veil" picks up on the same beat and intros with a heavy techno club beat. One might think that worship music with an electronic, techno beat might not be appropriate, but the lyrics, "Hallelujah, we rejoice What a Savior, what a King. Hallelujah, lift your voice to our Savior, to our King." fit with the rest of the record and the soft and gentle female voice add more depth to the track. As it dies out and the beat remains, "We Are Loved" begins and leads into "All Around Me." Thinking about a worship leader covering a hard rock band's standout track might sound almost like a conflict of interest in some people's minds. But the simple piano and David's amazing vocal rendition (best vocal performance on the album) make the listener realize that Flyleaf wrote a great worship song regardless of the style of the song. The tender violin in the bridge section, and the thunder effects in the background that continue until the conclusion of the song and the first verse of "How He Loves" make it a great transition to the second half of the record. The two tender songs side by side don't fracture the record at all, but help the listener realize that Christ's love can be conveyed in a hymn, a pop song, techno or a beautiful ballad, while setting up the second half of the album.

"Can I Lie Here," another tremendous track, has a simple premise in resting in God's arms. The 80s like melody envokes visions of someone running into a lover's arms. "Birmingham (We Are Safe)" and the title track "Church Music-Dance[!]" follow. "Church Music" is another standout track with a funky disco beat that would sound amazing live and would make TobyMac proud. "What a Miracle" follows as well as "Oh, Happiness," a joyful song that can't help but make you smile, break out in goosebumps, and rest in the comfort of God's grace. The chorus, "Oh happiness, there's grace. Enough for us and the whole human race..." sounds like a singalong that would be amazing live. "God Almighty, None Compares," with its two minute guitar solo in the final two thirds of the track, helps close out the record along with "In the End," in which the listener is reminded that at the end of life, all the things that plagued us on this Earth will be erased. So while we're on this Earth, take the time to worship God with no inhibitions or pretenses, which the David Crowder Band certainly did on Church Music.

Every David Crowder Band release has been a new experience in worship. His live shows and his easygoing personality and effortless joy on stage make him easy to like and listen to. The transitions from song to song, the multi-layered tracks, and the beautiful poetic lyrics make David Crowder a musical genius. Church Music is strong from beginning to end -- all 73 minutes of it. The discourse Church Music took from his previous releases may be more accessible to listeners than some of the bluegrass influenced rock on A Collision or the pop-rock feel of Remedy. This is far and away the best worship record of the year, perhaps the best overall record of the year and a career highlight. Fans of DCB will love Church Music and differential fans will fall in love anew. Now if only the rest of the genre would take a lesson from the David Crowder Band....

- Review date: 9/21/09, written by Kevin Chamberlin of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

JFH Staff's Second Opinion



I recall vividly a friend's birthday party at a picnic grounds back in 1995. DC Talk's Jesus Freak had just released as a single that Summer (not yet the full album), and since this party had a professional DJ, I tried throughout the duration of the entire party to get the DJ to play the song, but he wouldn't do it. At last, after most of the attendants had gone home, I asked him again and he finally, but reluctantly, played the song. As the opening acoustic guitar broke into the electric guitar riff, the DJ exclaimed over the music in a mixture of shock and joy, "This ain't church music!!"

David Crowder and his team of skilled musicians turned heads far and wide - even in the mainstream - with their 2005 genre-bending project A Collision. While their follow-up, Remedy, didn't quite have the same impact, their newest project, Church Music, is likely to cause quite a stir. In listening to the opening track, "Phos Hilaron [Hail Gladdening Light]," followed by the songs that succeeded bearing a similar tone and artistry, I was reminded of that DJ with the preconceived notion as to what "Church Music" meant to him.

DC*B's own Church Music is a diverse and engaging collection of worship songs that not only is anything but what you'd expect to hear with a title such as "Church Music," but from the get-go, it's a lush and flavorful experience brimming with life and musical vibrance. While a track or two before the album's middle may feel a bit redundant in music and theme, even at its weakest, Church Music shines with excellence. Perhaps the album's ironic title is the band's way of saying that this is more of the direction in which the genre should be moving (they even offer a fantastic cover of Flyleaf's "All Around Me" to add to the album's many surprises). And if that's the case, than "Oh, Happiness" indeed! - John DiBiase of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

. Record Label: sixstepsrecords
. Album length: 17 tracks: 73 minutes, 44 seconds
. Street Date: September 22, 2009
. Buy It: Amazon.com
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. Phos Hilaron [Hail Gladdening Light] (2:05)
  2. Alleluia, Sing (4:30)
  3. THE NEARNESS (3:55)
  4. Shadows (3:25)
  5. Eastern Hymn (6:26)
  6. SMS (Shine) (3:18)
  7. THE VEIL (4:19)
  8. We Are Loved (4:17)
  9. All Around Me (4:37)
  10. How He Loves (5:19)
  11. Can I Lie Here (3:30)
  12. Birmingham (We Are Safe) (3:39)
  13. Church Music - Dance[!] (3:52)
  14. What A Miracle (3:41)
  15. Oh, Happiness (3:17)
  16. God Almighty, None Compares (6:51)
  17. In The End [O Resplendent Light!] (6:53)
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
    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)

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH




This Wednesday, December 4, 2024
VINYL
Russ Taff A Christmas Song Vinyl [Girder]

This Friday, December 6, 2024
ALBUMS
Blessing Offor Covers - EP [Capitol CMG]
Colony House Every Christmas - EP [Roon]
Jonava Heaven Empyreal EP [The Charon Collective]
Brandon Lake Hard Fought Hallelujah: Heavyweight Edition - EP [Provident]
Ronnie Martin Holiday Fable - Instrumentals [Velvet Blue]
Poor Bishop Hooper As Foretold: Part 1 EP (independent)
Various Artists DREAM Christmas Vol. 8 [DREAM]
Within Silence The Eclipse of Worlds [Ulterium]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury Iris - Single [BEC]
Adriel Cruz Falling For You - Single [Syntax]
Bethel Music He Has Done Great Things (feat. Brian Johnson) [Live] - Single [Bethel]
Calvary MSC Hail the King (ft. Stefan Green) - Single (independent)
Chainstay Re;gret, Re;gress, Re;cover - Single [Small Step Records]
Jon Foreman Stay Wild Wildflower (feat. Kyndal Inskeep) - Single (independent)
Forfeit Thee Untrue It’s Colder Now - Single [Rottweiler]
Mat Kearney Christmas Chevrolet (Jingle Bells) - Single (independent)
Steven Malcolm Stick And Move (feat. Mike Teezy) - Single [Curb]
Michael Monroe Hiding - Single [Provident]
Sheets Nelson I Need You - Single [Church Boy]
No Vain Glory Praise (ft. Mapalo the Girl) - Single [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Jingle, Jingle, Jingle (Redux) - Single [Rottweiler / Broken Curfew]
Sidewalk Prophets I Apologize - Single [Curb]
TobyMac a lil church - Single [Capitol CMG]
Bay Turner Praise the Lord (Sunday Prelud) - Single [Centricity]
Weeping Hour Misael - Single (independent)
Wind and Sail I’ll Be Home For Christmas - a live postcard - Single (independent)

VINYL
Flyleaf Flyleaf Vinyl [Smartpunk]

Next Monday, December 9, 2024
ALBUMS
Relentless Pursuit Ascension (independent)

Next Wednesday, December 11, 2024
ALBUMS
Alex Henry Foster A Whispering Moment - EP [Hopeless Tragedy]

Next Friday, December 13, 2024
ALBUMS
Shaun P Live at the Jesus Dome [DREAM]

SINGLES
Leslie Jordan Golden Thread (for Jess) - Single (independent)
Leigh Nash Cry (feat. Villiers) [Fear of Tigers Remix] - Single [Visionary]
Stars Go Dim Mama Don't Lie (Alright) - Single [Curb]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new album from Within Silence!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images