Reviewed by Tom Lennie

Thanks to guys like Matt Redman, Delirious? and Vineyard UK, we Brits like to think we make the coolest, edgiest pop/rock worship music anywhere to be found. But it sure ain't that easy; evidence for example this blaster of a disc from young Texas dude David Crowder; recorded with Waco's University Baptist Church band back in '98, but as contemporary as anything you'll find so far this millennium. These mainly self-composed, God-focussed songs, along with Crowder's unique, breathy vocals and the vibrant, passion-drenched musical delivery, all make for stunning effect. Wonderfully diverse and with tempo often changing within a song, there's a constant air of unpredictability - and literally every track here is a winner! The raw funky vibe of "He Was There" is riveting, so too the more subdued but equally strong ''He Is The Love'' and ''Lift My Eyes'', both of which build stealthily in atmosphere. Elsewhere, a magnificent alternative take on the old ''Come Thou Fount'' is rendered, and Sinead O'Connor's simply effective "Thank You For Hearing Me" aptly closes the showcase. Despite all these goings on, the album's definite highlight for me is the remarkable acoustic opener ''All I Can Say'' - a vulnerable, musical dialogue with the Lord, wherby you'd need to have a heart of stone not to be deeply affected. I can hardly commend the disc enough, and by way of comparison I can only say - it's as intense and exhilarating as Kate Miner's 'Live From Tthe Strip' a year or two back. If you enjoyed David's Sparrow album, get this as well!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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