Grace Hotel
  Overall rating: 

Album Review

There are some people who emanate truth. They unashamedly speak the truth as they know it in all its ugliness
or its glory, with conviction, confidence, and clarity. When they speak, their very souls pour from their mouths.
Artists like Larry Norman, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bono, Bill Miller, Eddie Vedder, and Shirley Caesar have
this gift. With the release of Sunsets & Sushi, I now count David Crowder among these truth-tellers.

Sunsets & Sushi is a remix album that contains songs from the band's 2003 release Illuminate. With Christian
music's creativity in serious question these days, David Crowder Band boldly goes where few artists have
dared go (and fewer have gone successfully)... the world of electronic music. Instead of approaching this album
as a dance/techno remix record, Crowder & Co. chose to follow a more ambient path that suits these songs
perfectly. Sunsets & Sushi is reminiscent of artists like Stephen Merritt/Magnetic Fields and the more accessible
moments from The Future Sounds of London.

Each song here is carefully "deconstructed" and rebuilt in an entirely different musical context from the original.
What this leaves you with are some surprisingly high quality electronic backgrounds and a big spotlight on
David Crowder's voice. I have always thought that Crowder's voice was something special, but to hear it on
this release takes it to an entirely different level. You find yourself drawn into the music and mesmerized by
Crowder's soulful, honest delivery. While I'm sure that these are the same vocal tracks used on Illuminate, they
take on a life of their own here.

Most remix albums tend to be sloppy and disjointed, never justifying their existence beyond wringing a little
more cash out of consumers, but this one bucks the trend: it flows beautifully and makes for a wonderful listen
from start to finish. This "experiment" is daring, well-produced, and creative. Though I like all of this band's
work, I'm looking forward to more of this in my CD player.

~ Mark Fisher