Casting Crowns - Casting Crowns
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Artist: Casting CrownsBrand: CASTING CROWNS
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2003-10-07
Music Label: Reunion
Soundtracks:
- What If His People Prayed
- If We Are The Body
- Voice Of Truth
- Who Am I
- American Dream
- Here I Go Again
- Praise You With The Dance
- Glory
- Life Of Praise
- Your Love Is Extravagant
Free Music Notes for Casting Crowns
Free Music Review: First 'Crowns' Album Still an Enduring Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, everyone has to start somewhere, right? And for Mark Hall and Casting Crowns, what a start it is! The quality of the hit songs in this album has catapulted them to the top of the industry, and I say that it is well-deserved. For sheer power, this album is unmatched. Mark Hall's lyrics are direct, offer great lessons, and aren't afraid to get in your face a little when they need to. The messages hit hard, and the added pamphlet even has a nice little assortment of biblical verses to compliment the messages presented in every song. If this album is any indication, Casting Crowns will be making great music for years to come.
The first six songs are completely sensational. Voice of Truth, Who am I, and If We Are the Body all fall among the ranks of my favorite Christian songs of all time, and American Dream, What if His People Prayed, and Here I Go Again are also wonderful songs, though less known. These first six songs all have great messages, and you can listen to them over and over without getting the least bit tired of them. Sadly, though, that is where the fun ends. The last four songs are completely flat, and they make me wonder if it is still the same band. They have none of the spark of the first six. Still, though, those six songs make the album. It's worth it for them. Also, if you get a chance to buy the gift edition, which includes a bonus DVD about the inspiration for the songs, concert footage and a music video, and an introduction to who the band is and what their goals are, take it. The DVD is sensational, and I am a HUGE fan of Mark Hall's testimony, where he talks about his personal journey, and the inspiration for the song "Voice of Truth". With that said, here is a breakdown of the songs on the album.
1. What if His People Prayed - 8.5/10
Medium on message, but heavy on sound, this song is a great kickoff track. The message is simply to dust off the sword of God and help to set the captive free, letting your life belong to God. The sound is kind of power-rock, if dragging slightly in places for guitar effects, and has some classic lines like "what if the family turned to Jesus, stopped asking Oprah what to do?", but it simply pales in comparison to the three songs that follow it.
2. If We Are the Body - 10/10
The first single released from Casting Crowns, it pretty much defines who they are. They are here to wake us up, and get us to reach out to others in addition to bettering ourselves. These lyrics really get in the face of the church, asking "If we are the body of Christ, why aren't we reaching out to others as he did?" The DVD really highlights the heart of this song. As churches mature, they become a circle. And when someone else approaches the circle of people, they feel like there is no way to join the circle. The only way is if someone in the circle stops holding hands, and reaches out. And musically, this song is addictive melodically, and resonates with the message perfectly. "This is Casting Crowns, and they are coming out swinging."
3. Voice of Truth - 10+/10
Wow... just wow. After listening to Mark's Testimony, this song turns from a mere challenge to the darkness to let go into an intense proclamation of taking the bold steps toward where God is calling you. The attached Biblical verses, most notably II Corinthians 12, really reiterate this point well. Whenever we are called to do good for God, Satan will be right there reminding us of all the reasons why we can't do what God tells us, because we are not talented enough, because of a disorder, because there are other people that could do it better. But the voice of truth says "do not be afraid. This is for my glory." and we must listen to the calling rather than our doubt. This song is also great in the melody department, but the message is really what makes this song incredible. The powers of Mark's words are beyond belief.
4. Who Am I - 10++/10
And here we have the pinnacle of this album. This song is, without a doubt, one of the greatest songs ever composed in the Christian music genre. The words are so beautiful, the message so overwhelming, and the music so fantastic that this song completely transcends reality. It has brought me to tears on several occasions, because it captures the being of God so perfectly. Mark asks a simple question... who am I? And the truth is revealed. You are nothing... insignificant... a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow... a wave tossed in the ocean... a vapor in the wind. And yet despite your utter insignificance in the scope of the world, God still takes the time to hear you when you call to Him, and catch you when you are falling. That image is just completely incredible, and I have not found a song that better captures just who we are, and just how much God loves us.
5. American Dream - 10/10
Another sensational message mixed with a great song. Here, we have a direct challenge to the whole of American society. The world tells us that the only way we can be happy is by being wealthy, and providing a rich life for our families. But Mark points out that material things are the equivalent of castles built of sand, that material possessions are fickle, and separate us from what we can hold onto. As you build your castle in the sand, your family is waiting for you by the rock, and they are slipping away as you prepare the castle for them. Wealth, things are temporary, easily washed away by the waves and the winds of this world. Faith and family are forever, and building on the rock where they are will give you joy that cannot be washed away. Add an addictive driving rock melody to that great message, and this song's a real winner.
6. Here I Go Again - 9/10
The album loses a little steam here, but it's still going strong. The message is still right on track, hitting hard. It is the expression of the fears that come in sharing the good news of Jesus with others. It does not really address the issue, but it serves as a prelude somewhat to the answering song, "Love Them Like Jesus", which appears in their next album. Great message, pretty good melody, and a great song.
7. Praise You With the Dance - 8/10
Great melody that will keep you singing it afterwards, but the message is very generic, and is a simple song of praise rather than an opportunity to learn and grow. So, the song is still enjoyable, but it just doesn't have the depth to be a hit.
8. Glory - 5.5/10
Meh... the message is somewhat okay although it suffers from the same generic problem as the last song, but the melody just does almost nothing for me because of the overall generic qualities. All in all, this song does almost nothing for me. It is probably the least interesting song Casting Crowns has ever made.
9. Life of Praise - 7/10
More generic praise, saying "you are worthy, we praise you." Other songs have reiterated this type of song so much better. This song lacks any sort of the lyrical `punch' that sets Casting Crowns apart from other groups. Nice try, guys and gals, but you can do better than this. Pretty good melody, though.
10. Your Love is Extravagant - 7/10
Still stuck somewhere in the drab generic sound, the album ends on another mediocre note. Good melody, decent lyrics talking about the encompassing love of God, but again there are just too many songs about the love of God that have done it so much better. This song also feels like the end of the album rather than a standalone song. So it suffers just a bit from feeling like the closing credits of the album rather than a part of it.
AVERAGE SCORE: 8.5 / 10
ALBUM SCORE: 4.5 / 5
Casting Crowns Poster
No Description AvailableNo Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: CASTING CROWNS
Title: CASTING CROWNS
Street Release Date: 10/07/2003
Genre: GOSPEL
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