A welcome remedy
Posted September 20, 2007
By pastortim,
"Here we are, here we are... bandaged and bruised, awaiting a cure, here we are. Here you are, here you are... a beautiful King, bringing relief. Here you are with us so we lift up our voices and open our hands. Let go of the things that have kept us from Him. He is the One who has saved us. He is the one who forgave us. He is the One who has come and is coming again. He's the remedy."
When it comes to the worship genre, few artists are as progressive as the David Crowder Band. It's relatively simple for most church worship leaders (and their musical teams) to hear a song by Chris Tomlin, Lincoln Brewster, or even Paul Baloche and turn around and duplicate their sound in corporate worship in their own churches. However, when it comes to Crowder and company, most of the songs they write sound as if only they can pull them off. I mean, how many church worship bands use turntables and key tars in their services?
The David Crowder Band's unique strength is that the majority of their music is not easily reproducible in corporate settings. It's difficult to imagine many of their songs being played at most churches on Sunday mornings right alongside "How Great is our God" or even "Amazing Grace." When the David Crowder Band was introduced at a national youth workers conference last year, the emcee asked all those in attendance, "How many of your student worship bands have butchered one David Crowder's songs in your youth groups?" Hands went up all around the arena along with the nodding of many heads.
While not as experimental a journey as their last outing - "A Collision," David Crowder's newest offering "Remedy" is just as refreshing. After only one listen I can confidently say that the songs are an oasis for those searching for pure water in a musical desert. The songs are mostly alternative pop-rock anthems infused with creativity, fun, awe, and a genuine sense of reverence. "Remedy" also has a far more commercial collection of radio-friendly tunes than Crowder's previous offerings which may help make this the highest selling Crowder album to date.
Included in the mix this time is a great updated take on the classic hymn, "O for a Thousand Tongues," half-way through the cd that brings a sense of familiarity to the entire project as it reminds us that there's just "one great love - Jesus. There are so few words that never grow old." There's also the traditional Crowder staple of electronic samples, loops, and riffs (sounding like they were lifted from 1980's arcade games) that somehow don't detract from the songs but actually seamlessly add to them.
The lyrics to all of the songs in "Remedy" must be sung out loud to really be appreciated. Most of the songs directed towards the heavens include words like "us" and "we." Singing these songs at the top of your lungs in your car or at home will definitely work, but the ideal place to participate in these songs is in a corporate setting surrounded by other believers. Since I know my church worship team can't pull these songs off as only Crowder can, I'll be looking forward to joining together with other concert-goers in clubs this fall on the "Remedy" tour and fully engage my appreciation of great music with our great God.
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