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B Collision: The Eschatology of Bluegrass
Artist: David Crowder* Band
Label: Sparrow/Six Step Records
Length: 7 Tracks/30.21 Minutes
The David Crowder Band plays what can best be described as a hillbilly funk with a twist of the surreal and a dash of worship. Their sequel to A Collision is the CD B Collision an abbreviated album or more accurately an EP. The recording consists of seven tracks that play for 30:21 minutes.
Two bands during the past year have attracted attention to the almost forgotten Bluegrass genre. The Annie Moses Band has sprinkled a good measure of Bluegrass into their classical and country tunes, while the David Crowder Band has lifted Bluegrass back to a position of prominence. So impressive were the artistic and production elements on A Collision that the album drew critical acclaim from Billboard, the Washington Post, Knight-Ridder, Dallas Morning News and several major music magazines.
It would be an understatement to say that this album will not appeal to everyone. If you don't have a sense of adventure and an open mind you probably won't spin this CD. If you are prepared to accept the music for its styling and want to enjoy a quality listen then give Crowder and cast a try. David Crowder is one of the more imaginative worship composers of our day and proves it once again with the release of B Collision.
Three songs in particular caught my ear, "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven," "Be Lifted," and "Wholly Yours." The third track "Wholly Yours" is a simple acoustic worship tune. Crowder has once again penned a simple worship offering without a lot of hype or the distraction of heavy guitar riffs. "Wholly Yours" is a shepherd's psalm. There isn't a lot of theological depth or mystique to his lyrics but then does worship always need to be deep and mysterious?
The rockabilly cover of Loretta Lynn's "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" is a masterpiece. The tune meanders through the dilemma of aspiring for heaven but faced with the fear of dying. The lazy instrumentals are complimented by Crowder's Texas drawl. The salvation missive is simply presented.
Eerie violin strings dominate the advent of "Be Lifted" (track six). The woodwind innocence however leaves us totally unprepared for the splendid fusion of Bluegrass, Rock and the surreal that emerge. Before we can comfortably settle in Jack Parker's banjo bids us to follow him into what can best be described as barnyard worship. The live recording in Kansas adds to the ambience. The band is joined by fellow Texans, Austin's Shane and Shane and Houston's Robbie Seay.
If you want a little different listen by one of today's most profound worship composers, musicians and vocalists, then plunk your greenbacks down for a copy of B Collision or dig your credit card from your pocket and visit your favorite online music store.
By Joe Montague, exclusive rights reserved
Joe Montague is an internationally
published journalist / photographer. His ministry is dedicated to the memory
of his late son Kent David Montague who went to heaven at the age of 18.
All copyright and distribution rights remain the property of Joe Montague.
I’ll make it easy on you
dear reader: If you loved the David Crowder Band’s 2005 masterpiece A
Collision or if you are a fan of DC*B then run (don’t walk) to buy
this CD. If you have not picked up A Collision yet, then buy it,
listen to it, digest it and THEN buy B Collision.
B Collision is a
collection of seven songs that act as the perfect postscript to DCB’s most
excellent 2005 worship opus. The CD kicks off with a new intro and two
laid back acoustic (with Banjo!) versions of A Collision favorites "Beautiful
Collision" and "Wholly Yours." Billed as "B Variants," these are minimalist
interpretations of the original songs with some nice touches added (the
aforementioned banjo, slight techno influences, toy piano sounds).
Cut three features a haunting
extended (LP) version of the classic "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven."
The album then takes a left-of-center turn with the mournful, reverent,
and joyful tones of "I Can Hear the Angels Singing/(…andeverandeverand…)"
featuring an organ backdrop and robotic/vocoder voices singing harmony
and quoting Scripture. B Collision ends on a high note with two stellar
live songs—"Be Lifted," and "I Saw the Light" (with special guest appearances
by the Robbie Seay Band and Shane & Shane.
Don’t fear the banjo folks,
on B Collision the David Crowder Band brings their innovative and
progressive worship sensibilities to the table with seven tasty helpings
of fun and memorable songs.
Visit the David Crowder
Band online: http://www.davidcrowderband.com
Barry Nothstine hosts plays
the David Crowder* Band on Soul Frequency Radio ( http://www.soulfrequency.com)
a weekly FM radio show showcasing progressive rock, instrumental rock,
power-pop, psychedelic rock, rock classics and more—great rock for the
ages!