When a band’s new album rises to No. 4 on iTunes’ download chart and inspires four top 10 ringtones, you could bet that it isn’t playing some old hymn that grandma sang.
Of course you’d lose that bet.
In addition to wonderfully unique rock worship tracks, David Crowder Band’s “Remedy” offers “O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” — a song written by Charles Wesley almost three centuries ago. Of course, Wesley couldn’t have imaged the electric guitars that invigorate this version.
This sort of mix is just part of the eclectic blend of exuberant rock and touching ballads — often accented by electronic flourishes — that puts the band at the forefront of modern worship music. It’s a recipe that continues to produce delicious results in the Texas band’s fourth studio disc.
The first track, “The Glory of It All,” opens on an acoustic note and rises into a powerful song of hope and praise. It’s a theme that carries throughout the disc, building to a climax with the sweet and simple title track, which states Christ is the remedy for our problems.
The first radio single is “Everything Glorious,” a musically rich song in praise of God’s splendor. The band can always be counted on to deliver a powerful anthem that’s a hit on radio and in the pews — and this is it. It has been at No. 3 on the adult-contemporary radio chart.
The album also offers a few tracks that seem to explode with energy. “Can You Feel It?” senses God presence. The rapid-fire “… Neverending …” explores his eternal nature. And the hard-driving “We Won’t Be Quiet” calls the faithful to worship. Hey, Ted Nugent’s one of the “additional musicians” on this project, so you know it won’t be too tame.
The disc ends with the ballad “Surely We Can Change,” a soft but assertive call to action. “Let us be brave. Where there is misery, let us bring them relief.” It sees believers as part of the remedy to the world’s ill.
That idea will be a major emphasis in the band’s fall concert tour, which will challenge concert-goers in each city to connect with ministries serving the less fortunate. On the Web: www.davidcrowderband.com
Grey HolidayRingtones and downloads aside, Grey Holiday is anther Christian band that’s looking beyond the traditional CD.
In “The Glorious Revolution,” the pop-rock band delivers what might be called a CD-light or EP-plus. It offers six songs and a slew of video extras for about $7.
The tracks range from the passionate, high-energy praise of “Glorious” to the soft call for a return to God in “You Belong to Me.” The assertive call to action in “Revolution” balances nicely against the plea for God’s help in the struggle against vanity in “Let Go.”
Those interested in learning about the newcomers from Texas can check out the interview with “Nigel” — actually one of the guys sporting a British accent. Those interested in fun can check out the video of Krystal Meyers giving a haircut. And those interested in heeding the band’s call to action can learn about the Mocha Club, whose members donate the cost of a mocha to help others.
The disc overflows with a surprisingly rich blend of energy, fun and meaning. The band’s label sees the disc as a way to introduce a new act and get music out more quickly. In practice, “The Glorious Revolution” whets the appetite for a planned full-length disc.
On the Web: www.greyholiday.com
Today’s Praise is a roundup of news and reviews from the contemporary Christian music industry.
