Church Music (album)

The album runs continuously (there are no gaps between the tracks), which essentially creates a 73-minute song, and when the album is looped, it creates a neverending song. To do this the band sequenced the tracks before anything had been recorded so keys and tempos could be finalized.{{Cite web |title=David Crowder*Band Releases New Record Church Music Slated for Sept. 22 |url=http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9666211055.html |access-date=February 9, 2012 |publisher=Christian Newswire}} According to David Crowder, "We programmed the album first, forcing ourselves to write from the track up, and then, after the song emerged, we dismantled it, replacing much of the programming with live instrumentation but leaving the fundamentals that the song emerged from intact."{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2009 |title=Krutch Cancels at Creation, Christian Music Reviews |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/news/2009/thescoop-072809.html |access-date=February 9, 2012 |publisher=Christianitytoday.com}}

Church Music differs considerably from the previous album (Remedy) in the band's heavy use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments.{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2009 |title=David Crowder*Band, "Church Music" Review |url=http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/ChurchMusic.asp |access-date=February 9, 2012 |publisher=Jesusfreakhideout.com}} In past albums this style is limited to only several songs, however on Church Music an electronic beat (at minimum) is present in almost every track. David Crowder alluded to this stylistic shift in the bridge of "Alleluia, Sing," about which he commented, "In many ways this is classic Crowder Band, but the real, and first, indicator that the album is going to take a left turn is the bridge, where the pulsating synth bed serves as a sign post, saying 'there are going to be musical elements present which are extremely familiar to listeners accustomed to the sounds of the current landscape of popular music.'"Church Music Magazine (included with album pre-orders)

In his glowing review for AllMusic, Jared Johnson described the record's sound as "somewhere between the urgent rock of the Killers and the ambient synth-emo flare of Owl City and the Rocket Summer." He considered songs such as "We Are Loved" and "What a Miracle" prog rock and even noted the disco-rock of "Church Music - Dance (!)" as crossover-worthy. Taking the band's large electronic influence into account, he claimed the album attempted "to transform an entire genre with sequencers and club beats in tow." Kevin Davis of Christian Music Review echoed these genre comparisons, claiming the group crafted "compelling, inimitably progressive electronic rock."

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jared |date=September 22, 2009 |title=Church Music - David Crowder Band |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/church-music-mw0000830984 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Allmusic}}

| rev2 = Alpha Omega News

| rev2score = A{{Cite web |last=Wiegman |first=Ken |date=October 9, 2009 |title=David Crowder Band – Church Music |url=http://alphaomeganews.org/content/2009/10/david-crowder-band-church-music/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108062225/http://alphaomeganews.org/content/2009/10/david-crowder-band-church-music/ |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Christian Music Review}}

| rev3 = Christian Music Review

| rev3score = {{Rating|10|10}}{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Kevin |date=August 28, 2009 |title=David Crowder*Band [Church Music] (2009) |url=http://www.christianmusicreview.org/davidcrowderband_churchmusic.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329092316/http://www.christianmusicreview.org/davidcrowderband_churchmusic.html |archive-date=March 29, 2010 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Christian Music Review}}

| rev4 = Christianity Today

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Ham |first=Robert |date=September 22, 2009 |title=David Crowder Band: Church Music |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/septemberweb-only/churchmusic.html |access-date=January 8, 2014 |website=Christianity Today}}

| rev5 = Cross Rhythms

| rev5score = {{rating|10|10|full=U+25A0.svg|empty=Solid white borderedS.svg|rating=square}}{{Cite web |last=Spenceley |first=Haydon |date=November 10, 2009 |title=Review: Church Music - David Crowder Band |url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/David_Crowder_Band/Church_Music/82799/ |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Cross Rhythms}}

| rev6 = Jesus Freak Hideout

| rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Chamberlin |first=Kevin |date=September 21, 2009 |title=David Crowder*Band, "Church Music" Review |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/ChurchMusic.asp |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}}
{{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=DiBiase |first=John |date=September 22, 2009 |title=David Crowder*Band, "Church Music" Review: Second Staff Opinion |url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/ChurchMusic.asp |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout}}

| rev7 = Louder Than the Music

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Physick |first=Suzanne |date=October 1, 2009 |title=Reviews - David Crowder Band - Church Music |url=http://www.louderthanthemusic.com/document.php?id=742 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Louder Than the Music}}

| rev8 = New Release Tuesday

| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite web |last=McNeese |first=Kevin |date=January 4, 2010 |title=Top 10 Album Of 2009 |url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=13535&user_id=49 |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=New Release Tuesday}}

| rev9 = The Phantom Tollbooth

| rev9score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Derek |date=September 22, 2009 |title=Review of The Phantom Tollbooth |url=http://www.tollbooth.org/2010/reviews/dcb.html |access-date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=The Phantom Tollbooth}}

}}

Church Music garnered critical acclaim from music critics. Jared Johnson, writing for AllMusic, gave it {{frac|4|1|2}} out of 5 stars, stating that "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." At Jesus Freak Hideout, Kevin Chamberlin gave it a glowing 5-out-of-5-stars review, commenting on the powerful worship experience that is created, which is "not only pleasant to the soul, but also pleasant to the ears". Also, Jesus Freak Hideout's founder John DiBiase gave it four and a half stars out of five, commenting that the album "shines with excellence." Haydon Spenceley writing for Cross Rhythms gave it a perfect ten squares, calling them "17-strong set of songs" that shows "this a beautifully rounded piece of work." At Christianity Today, Robert Ham gave it four stars out of five, noting how "The group drives this point home by melding the disc's 17 songs into a seamless whole." Kevin Davis, writing for Christian Music Review, gave it a perfect ten stars, affirming that "To add to the uniqueness of the album, the 17 songs on the album play continuously from beginning to end with one song blending into the next." At New Release Tuesday, Kevin McNeese gave it a perfect five stars, proclaiming that "They have produced an entertaining album full of vertical lyrics that never point anywhere else but up and created a subgenre that they can own all by themselves." Derek Walker of The Phantom Tollbooth gave it four and a half stars, calling this "Intense, majestic and full of life, if a tad overblown, this is the sort of music the church needs more of." At Louder Than the Music, Suzanne Physick gave it four stars out of five, alluding to how this was a "very arty album" that's "full of very atmospheric, almost anthemic sounds and a great listen." Grading the album an A, Alpha Omega News' Ken Wiegman writing that "The new techno sound gives a breath of life to the project and it is very intentional at getting the songs planted into your brain."

In 2010, the album won a Dove Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards. It was also nominated for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year, while the song "How He Loves" was nominated for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.[http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/18/41st-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominees-announced/ 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees announced] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120707061925/http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2010/02/18/41st-annual-gma-dove-awards-nominees-announced/ |date=July 7, 2012 }} on The Tennessean (February 18, 2010)

{{track listing

| headline = Album release

| title1 = Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light)

| length1 = 2:06

| writer1 = David Crowder

| title2 = Alleluia, Sing

| length2 = 4:30

| writer2 = Crowder

| title3 = The Nearness

| length3 = 3:55

| writer3 = Crowder, Mike Dodson

| note3 =

| title4 = Shadows

| length4 = 3:26

| writer4 = Crowder

| title5 = Eastern Hymn

| length5 = 6:26

| writer5 = Crowder

| title6 = SMS (Shine)

| length6 = 3:18

| writer6 = Crowder, Jack Parker

| title7 = The Veil

| length7 = 4:19

| writer7 = Crowder

| title8 = We Are Loved

| length8 = 4:17

| writer8 = Crowder, Dodson

| title9 = All Around Me

| length9 = 4:37

| writer9 = Sameer Bhattacharya, James Culpepper, Jared Hartmann, Lacey Mosley

| note9 = Flyleaf cover

| title10 = How He Loves

| length10 = 5:19

| writer10 = John Mark McMillan

| note10 = John Mark McMillan cover

| title11 = Can I Lie Here

| length11 = 3:24

| writer11 = Crowder, Mike Hogan, Mark Waldrop

| title12 = Birmingham (We Are Safe)

| length12 = 3:38

| writer12 = Crowder

| title13 = Church Music - Dance (!)

| length13 = 3:52

| writer13 = Jeremy Bush, Crowder, Parker

| title14 = What a Miracle

| length14 = 3:41

| writer14 = Crowder

| title15 = Oh, Happiness

| length15 = 3:17

| writer15 = Crowder, Parker

| title16 = God Almighty, None Compares

| length16 = 6:51

| writer16 = Bush, Crowder, Parker, Waldrop

| title17 = In the End (O Resplendent Light!)

| length17 = 6:53

| writer17 = Bush, Crowder

| total_length = 73:44

}}

David Crowder* Band

• David Crowder – vocals, programming, acoustic guitars
• Jack Parker – acoustic piano, Rhodes electric piano, programming, electric guitars
• Mark Waldrop – programming, electric guitars, glockenspiel
• Mike Dodson – acoustic piano, programming, bass guitar, cello, clarinet, various horns
• B-Wack – drums, programming
• Mike Hogan – programming, violin, vinyls

Additional musicians

• William "The Foe" – additional programming
• Pete Kipley – additional programming (4, 6)
• Griffin Kelp – percussion elements on bridge (5)
• Lacey Sturm – backing vocals (3)
• Chauntelle DuPree – backing vocals (6, 7, 10)
• Christie DuPree – backing vocals (6, 7, 10)
• Sherri DuPree – backing vocals (6, 7, 10)
• Stacy DuPree – backing vocals (6, 7, 10)
• The UBC Choir – choir (15)

• Louie Giglio – executive producer
• Brad O'Donnell – executive producer
• David Crowder*Band – producers, recording
• Shane D. Wilson – mixing at Pentavarit (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
• Jess Chambers – A&R administration
• Leighton Ching – booklet design
• Gary Dorsey – design, photography
• Kaysie Dorsey – design, photography

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Category:2009 albums

Category:David Crowder Band albums