Lifesong - Dark Publications

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Similar Items:

•	The Altar and the Door
•	Casting Crowns
•	Wherever You Are
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•	Coming Up to Breathe

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Much like their brethren Mercy Me, Casting Crowns was thrust into the limelight from a worship band beginning. With steady chops honed from hundreds of shows/services a year and a simple, straight-ahead rock style, the Florida-based band found themselves on top of the charts thanks to the success of massive singles "Who Am I?" and "The Voice of Truth" from its self-titled debut (2003). Lifesong is a sensible sophomore follow-up that shows the band expanding its musical creativity while lyrically remaining true to the cause. There's a common thread of humility throughout as front man Mark Hall sings of the disenfranchised ("Does Anybody Hear Her"), the heartbroken ("Praise You in This Storm"), and the remorseful ("Prodigal"). Hall even calls outside for songwriting help from the brilliant Nichole Nordeman in "Stained Glass Masquerade," a cautionary warning about church hypocrisy in the face of keeping it real. The radio-friendly, U2- ish "Lifesong" proves a savvy book-end to the penitent closer "And Now My Lifesong Sings." Both evoke strong messages that worship is all about how one lives a life and not what kind of songs they may sing. Lifesong is an impressive effort for a band that knows its strengths and how to play to them. --Michael Lyttle

Customer Reviews: Read 82 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Strong Sophomore Release September 1, 2005
74 out of 78 found this review helpful

Casting Crowns took the Christian music world by storm with their 2003 debut. Finally they are following up with this second CD. I'm happy to say I like it just as much as the first one.

Once again they share the focus among challenging the body of Christ, encouragement, and worship. The title track is a prayer of dedication really, asking that everything we do may be an act of worship to God. This is reinforced well with the final track which gives the reasons that our "Lifesong" should be singing to God.

"Praise You in this Storm" hit my right off the bat. I like the reminder of the verses that God is with us in the storms of life. I just wish my attitude was more like the chorus of praising Him no matter what.

"Does Anybody Hear Her" is another challenge to get out of our comfort zone, look past our prejudices, and help those around us in need.

"Stained Glass Masquerade" tackles the shallowness of many of us who act like we are perfect people when around Christians. It's a trait I recognize too well in my own life and think I need to really take to heart the challenge presented here.

"Love Them like Jesus" is described as a sequel to "Here I Go Again" from their first CD. It reminds us that our job when comforting others is to point them to Jesus, the only person who can truly help.

"Set Me Free" uses a driving beat to retell the story of a demon possessed man Jesus healed.

"While You Were Sleeping" is the only misstep on the album to me. While I agree with the idea that America is far from God with our policies, I think the comparison between Bethlehem and Jerusalem of Jesus' day goes too far.

"Father, Spirit, Jesus" is a wonderful praise chorus.

"In Me" takes the fear of failure and puts it on Jesus since He's the only way we'll do what He tells us to. Once again, the lyrics are great at reminding me how weak I am on my own but that I have straight in Him.

Finally, "Prodigal" is a great ballad of repentance inspired by the famous parable. Is there no limit to the great songs that can come from that story?

One of the things I liked about the first CD was the great lyrics, and they are still front and center here. It's taken a few extra listens to fully appreciate this CD, but I know I'll be listening to it for a long time to come.

5 out of 5 stars

Another Classic! August 31, 2005
37 out of 39 found this review helpful

It's tough for a band like Casting Crowns to follow an initial CD that has become a classic with an equal or better offering. This title however, does that very thing! The lyrics are powerful and Biblical, and the music is top-notch. Each track addresses the church in a prophetic manner, reminiscent of the music of the late Keith Green.

The track "Stained Glass Masquerade" is especially appropriate, challenging church members to pull down spiritual facades and to embrace one another's humanity.

I'm thoroughly impressed -- Lifesong is definitely a must-have for any contemporary Christian music lover!

1 out of 5 stars

Very disappointing January 31, 2006
24 out of 61 found this review helpful

I sat listening to the second song on this CD in utter amazement that people still believe that God is the one who gives and then takes away. I believe in praising God during the storms of life, but I don't believe in holding God responsible for everything that happens to me.

I would simply like to state my opinion about the part of this song that says: "the God who gives, and takes away"

It sometimes brings tears to my eyes to hear people making this statement during times of tragedy and loss.
Normally I don't listen to the radio, but a few months ago my wife had the radio on and I heard a remix of this song (Praise you in the Storm) and they were adding things from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy into the song. It nearly angered me to hear Christians doing this.
As I sit listening to the words about praising the "God" who "gives and takes away".. my heart cries out to my heavenly Father and I apologize on behalf of those who don't truly understand His loving nature and perfect character.

To believe that God had anything to do with Hurricane Katrina and its destruction, is to deny the finished work of Jesus Christ. Or to even say that God "allowed" this hurricane for some purpose or reason, is still saying that God was ultimately responsible for it. To say that God sat back and "allowed" a hurricane to destroy thousands of people as a part of His "ultimate plan", would make Him a murderer and a violator of the covenant of peace that He established with His own Son.

Does God really give and then take away?

Why do people continue to quote Job, an Old Testament servant, who didn't truly understand who and what was the source of his trials and pain?

Does God really give and then take away? Is that really the God that Jesus Christ presented to the world when He walked this earth? Not at all.
In fact, Jesus stated that He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them (Luke 9:56). Jesus also stated that the thief, Satan, is the one who comes to take away, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
The book of James proclaims that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift and that God never changes (James 1:17).

So why is this false statement, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away," made at almost every funeral and gravesite? Why is this false statement about God made during nearly every time of tragedy and loss?

Why do Christians continue to present a schizophrenic God to a lost and dying world? The world is in desperate need of someone that they can love and trust, not someone that they believe might strike them with cancer at any given moment or kill their newborn baby in a car accident. People need hope, encouragement and confidence.. not strange doctrines that send confusing signals about our loving God, who sent His own Son to die for every one of us.

God is NOT the one who gives and then takes away. He is simply not like that. It doesn't matter what Job or anyone else accuses God of, it matters what the Bible says about our Father.
God always loves us and He's not even angry at us.

For more information or for a free audio CD about this extremely important topic, please email me.
We also have a CD about Hurricane Katrina from a Biblical perspective.

CovenantBookstore at yahoo dot com

In Christ's unconditional love...

Justin

2 out of 5 stars

Sophomore Slump December 28, 2005
11 out of 22 found this review helpful

While the lyrics are as powerful as the first album, the music is draggy, dull, and unimaginative. If I just want good "lyrics" I will read a book.

4 out of 5 stars

Great, just not as great as their first CD September 2, 2005
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Casting Crowns became my favoite Christian group the very moment I heard their first CD. I was amazed at the lyrics, the music, the passion and the talent of this group. The words to "Who am I" broke my heart and made me so amazed that God chose to save a wretched sinner like me.

This CD was also a great blessing to me. The lyrics were, in my opinion, very challenging and God-glorifying. The passion and the incredible talent of these musicians was also very obvious. As far as the music goes, I thought it was good, but not even close to as good as the music on the first Casting Crowns CD. There was not as much variety in the instruments (the violin is the instrument that I am particularly thinking of), but even so, I would not consider the music inferior to most other Christian CDs.

I hightly recommend both of Casting Crowns' CDs for several reasons. First, Mark Hall's lyrics challenge the church to be a safe place for people who are seeking help, love, and Jesus. People in churches today judge others (visitors especially) for so many reasons. Mark Hall mentions "judgmental glances" in his song "If we are the body," and he is exactly right. If Jesus could look at Peter (who had just denied Him three times) with love in His eyes, why shouldn't people in the Chruch be able to welcome, love and embrace a sinner who is looking for help? The lyrics in these CDs drive home this point. Also, the lyrics speak about topics that so many other people seem to be so afraid of speaking about such as abortion and the wickedness of the country in which we live ("While you were sleeping" is a great song that mentions both of these issues). Thirdly, I recommend this CD because of the group itself. I have never met any of the members in real life, but I have written Mr. Hall and read a whole lot about Casting Crowns over the internet. I believe with all my heart that they truly love the Lord Jesus, want to glorify Him in every note the sing and play on an instrument, and live lives that glorify and reflect His grace and love. Finally, Casting Crowns' CDs have helped me greatly in my prayer life. I now pray for our nation more than I ever did before, and the words, "Who am I?" have just humbled me in God's presence time and time again.

In short, this CD is well worth the money! Glory to God for the wonderful gift of music that He gave His children to enjoy.

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