Another Excellent Release from Crowder| Posted June 06, 2024
Three years after Milk & Honey, Crowder is back with another excellent album in The EXILE. The album, which features a number of musical styles (rock, country, CCM, worship), and clocks in at just over thirty-eight minutes, was produced by Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka. Themes include exile, salvation, our purpose in life, growth in our Christian life, prayer, and hope. It’s one of my favorite releases of 2024 thus far.
Here’s a few comments about each song: The EXILE Intro - This is a very brief intro to the album. Grave Robber – This rocker about being saved was the first song released from the album. It was written by Crowder, Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka. The song features some grungy guitar, excellent drumming and backing vocals.
Key lyric: I got stolen by the grave robber Picked me up from that rock bottom
Washed my soul in that holy water Brought me back to life (Brought me back to life)
-[DASH] – This song was written by Crowder, Jeff Sojka, Ben Glover, TobyMac and Louie Giglio, and features TobyMac on vocals. The song is asking about our purpose on earth between our birth and death. The upbeat song features guitar, synth, bass, percussion, and the vocals of Crowder and TobyMac blend well.
Key lyric: There's a day we're born, day we pass In between, there's just a dash
What on Earth am I doin'? (Yeah) STILL – This midtempo song about growth in our Christian life, was written by Crowder, Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka. The song features guitar, bass, drums, and backing vocal.
Key lyric: He's working on me still Changing me piece by piece still
Making me better, gonna do His thing
Don't care how long it takes till Rinsed In The Blood – This rocker about being saved was written by Crowder, Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka, Solomon Olds, and Rebecca Olds. The song features keys, guitar, bass, drums, and backing vocals. God is going to get His man.
Key lyric: Rinsed in the blood, battle been won Deadman pulled right outta that mud
Baptized by the fire, washed in the flood
Ain't dirty no more, you're rinsed in the blood Even In EXILE – This song about hope was written by Crowder, Matthew West and Jeff Pardo. The song features keys, synth, drums, guitar, and backing vocals. The song builds in intensity during the chorus.
Key lyric: But there's still a promise, there's still a song There's still a Rock where my help comes from
Hope is not lost, hope is not gone
Even in exile Somebody Prayed – This song about the power of the God we pray to was written by Crowder, Ben Glover, Jeff Sojka and Michael Cochran. The song features acoustic guitar, bass, drums, keys, and backing vocals. The song builds in intensity during the chorus.
Key lyric: So every night there by your bed When you fold your hands and bow your head
Not a single word you've ever said in vain
'Cause He hears everything Hands Of Jesus – This song about the hands of Jesus was written by Crowder, Ben Glover, Hank Bentley, Jeff Sojka, and Jonathan Smith. The song features piano, bass, drums, guitar, and backing vocals.
Key lyric: So bring your hurt and All your broken pieces
And put them in the miracle-working hands of Jesus Lord Of All – This worship song was written by Crowder, Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka. The song features keys, backing vocals, guitar, drums, and bass. The song builds in intensity during the chorus.
Key lyric: All glory to the King Always, eternally
God of everything
Lord of all Unstoppable – This rocker was written by Crowder, Ben Glover and Jeff Sojka, Solomon Olds, and Rebecca Olds. The song about the power of God in us features guitar, bass, drums, harmonica, and backing vocals.
Key lyric: When I got You, I am unstoppable When I got You, nothing's impossible
No way I lose, I am unbeatable, powerful
Stronger than invincible
I feel bulletproof when I got You
When I got You All My Tears – This song was written by Julie Miller and features Buddy Miller. Some will remember the excellent Jars of Clay version of the song from their Good Monsters album. The song features acoustic guitar, drums, bass, electric guitar, and backing vocals.
Key lyric: And it don't matter Where you bury me
I'll be home, and I'll be free
It don't matter where I lay
All my tears be washed away Truth Be Told – This song was written by Crowder and Hank Bentley. The song features acoustic guitar, banjo, backing vocals, drums, and bass. The song completes the exile theme.
Key lyric: Every little thing's gonna be alright Tears of joy is all we'll cry
Every little thing's gonna be alright
On the other side of exile
Favorite songs:
Grave Robber
-{DASH}
STILL
Rinsed in the Blood
Even in EXILE
Lord of All
All My Tears
Truth Be Told
Louder With Crowder| Posted May 31, 2024
I've loved Crowder's music since the David Crowder Band days. I have every single one of his albums, and somehow, he just gets better and better. When he left his band, I was really bummed, thinking that his music was going to change. And it did. But change isn't always a bad thing. While he moved away from the high production / studio tricks, his music stayed very high quality. His music became more "singable." His music with the band was not very "congregational" if you will. While I do miss some of the production tricks he used with ths band, I feel his music got a little more accessible. This album takes me back to his "Band" days in a way. It remains very singable. I can see it being used in congregational settings, but the high production came back. (To clarify, his music always was produced REALLY well, but what I mean are the little "tricks" he would use with the fancy audio editing and glitching). This album definitely rocks more than his previous efforts, but still has some of that bluegrass / folk infusings as well.
This is a GREAT album that I cannot recommed enough. Don't just stream it. Go buy it.
to add lyrics if not listed.
