Lifesong
Posted March 28, 2008
By thirdsaint,
Wow. I was holding out on this band for whatever reason and it turns out it was hurting me more than hurting them. I never thought I'd say a CD could change my life but in a sense this one at least altered it. How, do you ask? Well, in a time where I was struggling with what I could do in my walk with God this album gave me a clear message. First of all, I saw how much my mood was lightened when I started my long commute to work with this CD instead of a depressing, secular one. That should've been obvious to me but I was still holding onto it stubbornly. Secondly, Lifesong has a clear theme about how every area of your life should be worship to God. Again, something that should've been obvious to me but sometimes I forget, or rather push it out of my mind, when there seems to be an easier road.
Now, this isn't a concept album in the sense that all the songs connect directly to a story or act as one large track instead of 11 individual ones. Each song has it's own characters and storyline that all have that central theme of living for God as best you can. You could very easily take a few songs and draw connections though. It probably helped that I had his Lifestories book that describes the meaning of all these songs (and those from the first album). I'd strongly advise picking that up just for the amazing testimonies in itself. One, in particular, was gut-wrenching, 'Praise You In This Storm'. It's a story of an 8-year-old girl who lost her battle with cancer. Through it all her mother, and family, kept the faith and worship going as her condition rapidly declined. Since the song was released as a single it's been aptly used for Hurricane Katrina, but no matter how the listener relates it's a very engaging song, and that's just talking about the message! Much like all Casting Crowns songs, there's a powerful climax built up from the beginning and it doesn't fail to deliver with strings, passionate vocals, piano notes and more in harmony.
Mark Hall, vocalist and frontman, has an amazing and annointed voice, of which he uses to sing the songs with such meaning and passion. There are some female vocals peppered in at all the right moments as well. While Casting Crowns may create simple music the overall impact is anything but simple. I particularly relate to 'Set Me Free', or at least I did a couple years ago when I first found what I was looking for. I wish I had this music back then because it would've floored me. Instead it brings back memories of all I've been through and set free from that I can never forget.
Most of the songs are of a slow tempo until the chorus kicks in except for 'Father, Spirit, Jesus'. That one is more of an upbeat worship song worthy to be danced to. And somehow the album comes to a wonderful close with 'And Now my Lifesong Sings'. It perfectly wraps up the theme of the album but I say 'somehow' because it's so simple yet so beautiful and piercing. The lyrics are sort of lifted from the classic 'Amazing Grace' but not entirely and they are presented in a different way. In my collection of music, Casting Crowns has a very important place. It's easy listening amidst a lot of hard rock and every bit welcomed for it's message and reminder of what this life is all about.
Gems of this album are: 'Set Me Free', 'Praise You In This Storm', 'Father, Spirit, Jesus', 'Does Anybody Hear Her'
Overall - 9.0/10 View All Music And Book Reviews By thirdsaint | View thirdsaint's Profile
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