Casting Crowns

8th July 2008

Tags : ccm, christian, lyrics, music, Video, youtube

Categories : music |

Although I love my music, and am involved in church music, I must admit I rarely listen to any Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) - I just find in general it’s a bit lame or boring or not great quality. Even with fairly good bands like Jars of Clay or Kutless or Switchfoot I tend to find myself listening to the album once or twice and then filing it away. They often have one or two good songs but for the most part it’s fairly boring.

So I was pleasantly surprised with my first listen to the band Casting Crowns. I’ve heard their name plenty but never felt compelled to listen to their music until I picked up their CD Lifesong at Koorong recently (partly due to a recommendation in a recent book I read by Roger Olson). Well it’s a great CD. Musically very tight, melodic and interesting. The main male vocalist sounds a bit like Neil Diamond in places but that’s not necessarily a bad thing And the lyrics are honest and original and generally down to earth. Only a couple of lines in one (otherwise very cool) song I didn’t quite see eye to eye with theologically, but at least the fact that I have listened that intently shows how much the music and lyrics have otherwise got me hooked in. I keep intending to take this CD out of my car and play something different, but after at least 5 times through I’m still keen. Well worth getting hold of.

Here’s one of my favourite tracks - Praise you in the storm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rLXr3cEU

Here’s the lyrics to just one of the good songs on the album, Stained Glass Masquerade. I love the realism and honesty here :

Is there anyone that fails
Is there anyone that falls
Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small

Cause when I take a look around
Everybody seems so strong
I know they’ll soon discover
That I don’t belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the heart again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who’s been there
Are there any hands to raise
Am I the only one who’s traded
In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open
Or would you walk away
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay

More lyrics from the album here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm and is filed under music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.