Music Review: Casting Crowns by Casting Crowns

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Hard hitting lyrics and fun music
Cons: The last few tracks are a bit weakish
The Bottom Line:
Amazing lyrics
On songs that are fun to hear
Debut still holds up




Still an Awesome Debut

I can't believe I've had Casting Crowns for 10 years now. I bought it not too long after it came out in 2003 and immediately fell in love with it. And all these years later, that love hasn't diminished at all.

Casting Crowns is a Christian band led by a youth minister and made up of a worship team. This makes for an interesting band. I don't know of too many pop/rock bands that feature violin and accordion, yet both instruments are present on this disc. Mark Hall is the lead vocalist and he has a tenor voice that conveys the passion of the words they are singing.

While some of these songs stray into familiar encouragement worship territory, there are also some songs of challenge. In fact, the CD starts with two of them. "What if His People Prayed" is a fun rock anthem with a call to Christians to stop following the world and start turning to God. The song speculates on problems that could go away if we actual prayed and "Stopped asking Oprah what to do."

The theme continues with the next song. This song loses some of the rock feel of the first, but still features heavy drums and guitar. "If We are the Body" calls out Christians for not ministering to those in need. It really don't mince words ask "If we are the body/Why aren't His arms reaching?" It's an art to make confrontation this fun, but these two songs show that Casting Crowns can do just that.

The violin comes into play on "Here I Go Again" where it backs up keyboard and guitar. This slower track is more a song of confession as the singer admits to talking about inconsequential things instead of matters of eternity when he gets together with his friends. This song always makes me think of my pastor who has such a drive for witnessing.

Not all the songs are convicting, however. There are a couple of songs of great encouragement. "Voice of Truth" was co-written by CCM favorite Steven Curtis Chapman. This ballad is a reminder that no matter the waves of giants we may face, God is still the one we should be hearing. And He is telling us we can fight them. The verses are predominately keyboard with a little guitar while the guitar takes the lead on the faster tempoed chorus.

My absolute favorite song on here is "Who Am I," which doesn't come as much of a surprise to me. I know several songs with that title, and I love all of them. This song wonders why on earth God would love us. "Not because of who I am/But because of what You've done." This is another rock ballad but is completely keyboard based. You can hear other instruments, but they are definitely in the background. It all works perfectly, and I can listen to this song for endless repeats.

The bands worship roots come out for the final four tracks of this CD. They are okay worship songs, but nothing special. As a result, they are a bit of a let down after the awesome songs that preceded them. Two of the ladies in the band also sing vocals, and they take over the vocals completely on two of the tracks. Stylistically, these songs still fit in with the pop/rock of the rest of the CD.

Ironically, my favorite of these tracks is "Your Love is Extravagant," the only song on the disc not written or co-written by the band. This song is a cover of a Darrell Evans song, but I actually hadn't heard it before. Easily the slowest song here, the guitar and light drum background is a song that celebrates the love of God and the wonder of the relationship we have with Him.

While the last four tracks are a slight let down from the rest of the CD, I have come to appreciate them. And the first six tracks are worth buying the disc for by themselves.

This band never pretends to be anything but Christian, and Christians who take the time to listen and apply the words from Casting Crowns to their lives will be changed as a result.

CD Length: 43:25

Tracks:

1. What if His People Prayed

2. If We are the Body

3. Voice of Truth

4. Who Am I

5. American Dream

6. Here I Go Again

7. Praise You with the Dance

8. Glory

9. Life of Praise

10. Your Love is Extravagant