Casting Crowns                                                                         Grade: C+

“Lifesong Live”

Beach Street/Reunion Records

CD and DVD set

            I was real cynical about reviewing yet another concert set based on a current release.  While I like Crown’s music, my copy of their “Live at Atlanta” disk is still in its cellophane wrapper.  If you have “Lifesong,” you have all but one of the songs on this new live set.  The production is just fine.

            The bonus track “Set Me Free” has an interesting lyric; “I live among the dead. . .Jesus rescue me.”

            I was won over while watching the DVD, especially the testimony of lead singer Mark Hall.  The DVD allows you to play back the songs without the introductions, I say don’t as those introductions are central to the concert experience. They are worth watching as all of us can relate to Mark’s stories.  It’s also interesting to see the variety of ages in the audience, Casting Crowns’ music appeals to many people.

            The only thing holding me back from giving this set a higher rating is the fact that it’s sorta skimpy on music.  The CD is just over 32 minutes long, while the DVD, when the testimony is taken away, clocks in at 28 minutes.  Another annoying thing with the DVD is that the Bonus Material is authored such that every time a segment is completed, you’re taken back to the menu, you can’t play all the bonus material at once.

- Rob S.

www.castingcrowns.com