Listen to the new single by AOH Music!
Listen to the new single by AOH Music!

JFH Music Review



Casting Crowns
The Altar and The Door Live



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 8 tracks: 35 minutes, 32 seconds
Street Date: August 19, 2008


Casting Crowns has a history of releasing a full-length album and not long after releasing a live CD/DVD in conjunction with their current or most recent tour. This tradition is as alive as ever, with their newest release, The Altar and The Door. The resulting CD/DVD is appropriately titled The Altar and The Door Live, and includes more songs than its predecessors, with eight tracks, making for a 35 minute listening experience. The DVD includes a full 45 minutes of footage from The Altar and The Door Tour, the music video for the radio hit "Slow Fade," the typical behind-the-scenes of the tour/band/ministry, and teaching videos from lead singer Mark Hall.

The CD portion of the album includes all eight songs from the DVD, with Mark Hall's commentary between tracks cut out. The songs are good, including old hits like "Praise You With The Dance" and "Love Them Like Jesus," and the rest of the songs are hits from their current release, including the top single "East to West" and the powerful finale of "What This World Needs." However, since Casting Crowns basically just plays their music without any added effects in the studio, the songs sound identical to their album versions. Usually the benefit of a live CD is to hear what the songs sound like live and capture the experience of the night, but Casting Crowns seems to want to document every album tour they embark on, and it's starting to get a little old.

The DVD portion of the album boasts the entire 45 minute concert footage, but is of course just a portion of the entire concert of the night. It includes Mark Hall's comments on the songs and how the band came up with the idea for them, and also includes a short sermonette by Hall, addressing how churches need to change. This is typical of nearly every Casting Crowns concert, and every Casting Crowns live album, therefore becoming an overused staple to try and "change our churches for the better." It includes the same eight songs as the CD, only with Mark Hall's personal and sometimes quirky commentary mixed in between them. It also includes the band's star drummer Andy Williams, doing what he does best: letting loose on the drums. It's another staple at their concerts, and to have it on DVD will likely excite fans.

Overall, this is another typical live album to add to Casting Crowns' short three-studio-album career. There's nothing different or spectacular that hasn't been done before, especially on any other of the band's other two live recordings. Suffice it to say that this is ultimately another one for diehards, and it will likely go gold, no matter how unoriginal or common it ends up being.

- Review date: 7/24/08, written by Justin Mabee



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out the new single from Katie Lighty!

 


. Record Label: Beach Street Records
. Album length: 8 tracks: 35 minutes, 32 seconds
. Street Date: August 19, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. All Because of Jesus
  2. Praise You With The Dance
  3. Love Them Like Jesus
  4. Every Man
  5. The Word Is Alive
  6. Somewhere In The Middle (Special Guest John Waller)
  7. East To West
  8. What This World Needs
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

              
Check out the new single from Katie Lighty!

Search JFH




This Thursday, March 30, 2023
SINGLES
Disciple Bad Words - Single [Tooth & Nail]


This Friday, March 31, 2023
ALBUMS
The Classic Crime GRIM AGE (independent)
Coby James Good News - EP [Centricity]
JJ Hairston Believe Again, Vol. II [Tribl]
Hillsong UNITED Of Dirt And Grace: Live From The Land (Expanded Edition) [Capitol CMG]
The Ongoing Concept Again [Solid State]

SINGLES
Nico Battaglia Hope Of Glory - Single [Integrity]
Tina Boonstra Why Do Good Times Fly? - Single [7Core]
Donald Lawrence, Twinkie Clark, Yolanda Adams In Him There Is No Sorrow - Single [Provident]
Dwan Hill Mansion - Single [Integrity]
Elevation Rhythm You Will Be Saved - Single [Elevation]
Hulvey Altar - Single [Reach]
Newsboys He Lives (ft. Adam Agee) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Britt Nicole Gold (Acoustic) - Single (independent)
Earnest Pugh Keeper Of Our Souls - Single [Shanachie]
Red Rocks Worship Good Plans - Single [Provident]
Shout Praise Kids Great Are You Lord - Single [Integrity]
Stillman You'll Be In My Heart - Single (independent)
The Talleys Death Was Arrested / He's Alive (Live) - Single [Horizon]


Next Friday, April 7, 2023
ALBUMS
The Kingdom Heirs Something Good, Vol. 3 [Sonlite]
LaTocha The Invitation: A Conversation With God [Capitol CMG]
NF HOPE [Virgin]
Petra PETRA - FIFTY (Anniversary Collection) DELUXE EDITION (3-Discs) [Girder]

SINGLES
Housefires I Thank God - Single [Capitol CMG/Tribl]
Stars Go Dim Authority (In The Name of Jesus) [feat. Lloyd Nicks] - Single [Curb/Word]

VINYL
The Union of Sinners and Saints One More Shot [Girder]


For all release dates, click here!
 



Listen to the New Album by Glory's Gate!




Listen to the New Album By Erin Corrado!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images