Casting Crowns Announces Imminent Release of Surprise Double-Album Titled "People & Steeples"4/1/2017 Today, much-loved and much-lauded Christian Adult Contemporary group Casting Crowns announced the imminent release of their first double-album, dubbed People & Steeples. The announcement comes as a pleasant surprise to the CCM community, which has widely acclaimed almost every release the band has made since their hit self-titled record back in 2003. Lead vocalist and founding member Mark Hall had this to say: Since the release of 2016's The Very Next Thing, I and the group have been hard at work trying to distill what makes Casting Crowns special and make some thing truly defining for the group; something that really connects and resonates with people; something memorable and poignant that communicates the message of the Gospel. God led us back to some of our earlier works, like "Can Anybody Hear Her," and "Stained Glass Masquerade," and I truly believe He's shown us what made those songs so relevant and accessible. There was no other title we could have used, and we're both humbled and excited to announce the imminent release of our double-album People & Steeples through Reunion records! People & Steeples is a massive, epic two-hour, 23-track double album, available digitally and physically next Tuesday, both on dual compact discs and on dual 33-RPM vinyl record. This magnum opus features music that ranges from prayerful worship, ("Fall on this people / Light up our steeple") to tear-jerking moments of painful honesty ("As I sit under this steeple / Have I truly loved these people?"), to musings on practical theology ("I'll never forget that this steeple / represents the gathering of Your people"), to convicting offers of invitation ("Come kneel beneath this steeple / and become one with this people").
Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com gave the album four and a half stars, and says in his review, "People & Steeples is the most comprehensive and diverse work on the subjects of both people and of steeples. It may sound at first like this would be extremely limiting for a huge double-album, but I was frankly astonished at just how deep, rich, and complex the commentary was... A tremendously thought-provoking work." Contributing editor Matt Conner from CCM Magazine gave People & Steeples four stars and wrote, "Never before have I listened to a work of such magnitude that had such a clear and concise focus. It's accessible musically, but there's a well-defined artistic direction that most similar groups lack." As a recipient of an advance press copy, I have to personally agree with what has been said - it truly is a remarkable work of artistry, an absolute must-listen. My favorite tracks are easily "If We Are the People" and "I'll Praise You Under This Steeple." The only misstep comes in the song, "Every Man (Of the People Who Love Steeples)," which controversially uses the approximate rhyme "ripple" in one line, which breaks the flow of the song and frankly stands out awkwardly. Parents might find this baffling lyrical decision to be too much for young children, who might not yet be old enough to practice biblical discernment between true rhyme and approximate rhyme. Otherwise, People & Steeples is a phenomenal release that every music fan should check out. The news comes soon after the surprise announcement that fellow Georgia-based Christian rock supergroup Third Day would be releasing a new trance-electronica project soon, called c0m3 // 2GEt|-|3r in Q3 2017. In case you can't tell, this is a work of satire. I love Casting Crowns and Third Day and highly recommend you listen to their music loudly and often. Happy April Fools' Day!
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Clifton J. Gardner lives in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife, Courtney. He is a Registered Nurse, musician, and writer, as well as an active member of Ezra Baptist Church in Oak Grove, Alabama. Archives
January 2017
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