Illuminate (CD - 2003)

Dave Crowder Band: David Crowder (vocals, acoustic guitar & electric guitar,

piano); Jack Packer (electric guitar, Wurlitzer piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Moog sythesizer); Mike D (electric guitar, bass, programming); Jason Solley (electric guitar, background vocals); Hogan (violin, sound effects); Jeremy Bush (synthesizer, drums, percussion, programming).

Additional personnel: Gary Burnette, Jerry McPherson, Mitch Watkins (electric guitar); Bob Mason (cello); Charlie Peacock (keyboards, programming); Zach Lind (drums); Chris Eaton, Nirva Scott (background vocals).

Producers include: David Crowder Band, Charlie Peacock, Mitch Watkins, Zach Lind.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Personnel: David Crowder (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, background vocals); Jack Parker (electric guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ, Moog synthesizer); Mike D. (electric guitar, bass guitar, programming); Jason Solley (electric guitar, background vocals); Gary Burnette, Jerry McPherson, Mitch Watkins (electric guitar); Bob Mason (cello); Charlie Peacock (keyboards, programming); Jeremy Bush (drums, percussion, programming, sound effects); Zach Lind (drums); Chris Eaton, Nirva Dorsaint (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Shane D. Wilson.

Recording information: The Art House.

Photographer: Dan Winters.

Arranger: David Crowder.

On their sophomore release, Illuminate, the members of the David Crowder Band leave no one in the dark regarding their collective talents. This 16-song set rides a sonic edge that is helping lead modern worship into new, uncharted territory. The six-man group is unabashed in putting 21st century, Christ-centered optimism to a brilliant innovative sound. The songs have as much depth as you would expect from a group that blends three guitars, an electric fiddle, a punching bass, and endless drum loops. Lead man David Crowder adds a layer of poignant thoughtfulness with his ponderous lyrics. Their collective synergy cannot be hidden, as verses rise to chilling anthems in toe-tappers like "How Great" and "No One Like You." The first single, "O Praise Him (All This For a King)," climbs to ecstatic climax in hailing the regality of the Savior. The guys don't get carried away, though; they lay down enough quiet spots like "Only You" and "All Creatures #2," for you to digest the passionate testimonies that drip from every beat. Even the reprises and interludes have something to say: the instrumental "Coming Toward," for example, could be a soundtrack for spiritual awakening. Don't expect these guys to do anything quietly. There's too much in them begging to be heard. ~ Jared Johnson

Even though David Crowder is ostensibly a Christian rock artist, he's first and foremost a contemporary singer-songwriter. Accordingly, one doesn't even begin to disseminate the spiritual content of his lyrics until after fully experiencing his sonic blueprint. With help from his apparently close-knit band, he's fashioned a sound that's not far from that of David Gray. Folk-rock acoustic guitars and soulfully emotive vocals mix with burbling synthesizers and drum loops, adding a more expansive touch along the way via some wide-screen electric guitars a la the Wallflowers. Moving through ILLUMINATE, the influence of everyone from Dave Matthews to Dashboard Confessional can be felt, but only in fleeting moments before moving on to something else. Add in some substantive, faith-oriented lyrics, and you've got a band difficult to pigeonhole, but easy to like. minimize