Review: David Crowder Band

David Crowder Band - "A Collision"
(Six Steps, 2005)

This one wins my vote for most innovative album of the year in its genre. Opening with the brilliantly lo-fi "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" which brings comparisons to the White Stripes, the album progresses through a series of stunningly arranged songs the likes of which any number of artists in any genre would love to be able to produce. "Come and Listen" relies on a piano and strings structure to bolster Crowder's prayerful vocals. He chooses an apt cover in Sufjan Stevens' "God Where Are You Now?" which allows Crowder ample room to bend the original to fit his unique vision -- showing in the process how Stevens' songs can work as epic arrangements or as haunting bare-bones melodies. "A Beautiful Collision" marks a 180-degree stylistic shift, as Crowder turns his ear toward alt-rock without sacrificing one hook-laden ounce of originality. And "Do Not Move" takes the album into electronic pop territory with an ear-bending hook that begs for radio airplay -- in a good way of course. All things considered, this album deserves to achieve crossover attention. However, it's more likely to go down as the best album of 2005 that few people will hear.