Casting Crowns

“Between the Altar and the Door”

Beach Street Records

10 tracks @ 51:31

Grade = A-

            The Internet social network MySpace served as a catalyst for the Crowns’ third disk of all-original material.  Lead singer Mark Hall visited the pages of some kids in his youth and got disheartened as a result.

            Hall says, “Seeing the antithesis of what was being proclaimed at church and what was really going on with my kids didn’t make me angry or frustrated.  It just made me hurt for them and how stuck out there they feel and how they don’t know what else to do but to try and fit in.”

            That’s where the title of this record comes from, being a Christian in the world.  Hall says, “When we’re at the altar, everything makes sense.  We know what we’re supposed to do . . .how we’re supposed to live.  But somewhere between the altar and the door, when we leave and go out into our lives, it all leaks out and everything get gray again.  The Christian life is the journey between the altar and the door, trying to get things you’ve got in your head, into your hands, feet, into your life.”

            I really like Crowns.  They don’t monkey around with generic lyrics, worrying about crossing over, getting stuck in the Christian music “ghetto.”  They stick to their stance with their message and whatever happens, happens.  And while they deal with topics such as accountability, they don’t strike me as angry, preachy or haughty but sincere and compassionate.

            All of the songs in their new record list at least five Bible texts, encouraging listeners to look this stuff up and read it.  For the band’s thoughts on this, one need only listen to the song “The Word is Alive,” one of the tracks on this CD.

            Many of the other songs tie into the title of the record; “Every Man,” “Slow Fade,” “Somewhere in the Middle.”  With its rock music edge, “What This World Needs” takes on a tone of urgency.

            There is an awkward balance between the rock-tinged songs and the softer Adult Contemporary numbers.  Also, I’m not a big fan of hidden tracks (such tracks can give a false sense of how much music is actually on a disk).  However, the track here is very uncharacteristic for the Crowns’ sound yet is hauntingly beautiful as the Crowns build a relationship with North Korea.

Rob S.

www.CastingCrowns.com