Give Us Rest

David Crowder*Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 10, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Six Step Records
• ASIN: B006DICWHW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Christian > Pop & Contemporary
  • #25 in Music > Pop > Adult Contemporary

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Named among the "most thoughtful, progressive and exciting acts in contemporary Christian music" by The New York Times, the popular yet unconventional David Crowder*Band released their last GRAMMY® nominated album Church Music in 2009 which debuted at No. 1 on the Christian retail chart scanning over 35,000 units. This gave David Crowder*Band their largest street week to date ranking in at No. 11 on the Billboard Top 200. David Crowder*Band's latest music video for "SMS (Shine)" nabbed coverage on NBC's The Today Show, Fox & Friends, USA Today, Billboard and Paste Magazine online as well as a GMA Dove Award win for "Short Form Video of the Year." The video was also recognized at the LA Film Festival in 2011. Along with the group's 9 GMA Dove Awards and 22 nominations, the band was the first Christian artist to be named MSN.com's Artist of the Year in 2006. The band is also part of the Passion Movement, participating in university student gatherings in the US and around the world. The group's leader David Crowder is further an acclaimed author, having penned two books, including his acclaimed, highly personal, Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, But Nobody Wants to Die: Or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass).

Product Description

David Crowder*Band delivers their final album, Give Us Rest or (a requiem mass in c [the happiest of all keys]), an epic, triumphant 2 CD album that poetically illustrates that in death something new is reborn. The album showcases the band's unique music style and touches on worship, pop, rock, bluegrass and electronic genres. It features 34 tracks, including the first single "Let Me Feel You Shine".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Implausibly Long Review of an Album with an Implausibly Long Title, January 10, 2012

By 

Taylor Berglund - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Give Us Rest Or (A Requiem Mass In C [The Happiest Of All Keys]) [+Digital Booklet] (MP3 Download)

David Crowder's final album, "Give Us Rest", was inspired by a requiem mass, or a "mass of the dead", frequently celebrated in the context of a funeral (according to Wikipedia). With a history of such incredible albums as "A Collision" and "Church Music", which are two of my all-time favorite albums by Crowder, could their final album possibly be their greatest yet?

First, a few quick initial impressions (for those who don't want to read the entire review):

* The album is much more musically diverse than their last album, "Church Music", which could be a positive or negative depending on your viewpoint. As a whole, this album sounds less cohesive and single-minded musically, which means that occasionally it "flows" a bit oddly. Personally, I appreciate the musical diversity. In this sense, it's much more like the highly diverse "A Collision", to which "Give Us Rest" is a direct successor.

* There are very few - if any - radio-ready K-LOVE singles off this album. Nothing sounds 'standard', like "How He Loves" off Church Music or "Everything Glorious" on Remedy. Likely singles, if any, would include "Come Find Me" (possibly the most radio-ready of any track), current single "Let Me Feel You Shine", and perhaps "Fall On Your Knees" or "After All (Holy)". However, these are NOT corporate worship songs, as every song - being highly intricate and unique and wonderful in its own way - would be a challenge to pull off by a standard worship band. For those looking for more corporate worship staples or K-LOVE-style songs, I would not recommend this album. (Instead, I would suggest DCB's earlier album "Remedy" or Gungor's "Beautiful Things", both of which are phenomenal in these areas)

* This album seems a bit slower in tempo than "Church Music" or "A Collision", although it certainly does have its moments. Or, put another way, since this album is 34 tracks, there's the normal number of upbeat songs, but the "additional" slots are filled largely by instrumentals and slower, very personal songs of worship. Not a bad shift, it's just different than the very upbeat, dance/techno-inspired "Church Music".

* The first disc is very experimental and techno-driven, sounding similar to "Church Music". The second disc has a bent toward bluegrass, as explored on segments of "A Collision".

SONG-BY-SONG (For more detail and personal opinion; the instrumental interludes have been skipped, although they all flow wonderfully and help bridge the many musical styles employed by the songs)

OH GREAT GOD, GIVE US REST - The song starts very slow and beautifully, as a poignant plea to God to save us from the troubles of this world. Around the halfway mark, the song morphs into an uptempo cry to the heavens ("Let it shine!... come to life"), before dialing back down once again to just Crowder and his piano at the end. A very epic beginning to the album. 4.5/5

COME FIND ME - Possibly my favorite song on the entire album. The songs positively explodes with exuberance and glee, as Crowder sings of how finding God (or, rather, God finding him) led to the true beginning of his life. The song, in this context, fits very well within the album's exploration of life and death. This is one of the few tracks on the album I could see on the radio, in the way "Here is Our King" caught on with a similar acoustic-electronic blend. 5/5

GOD HAVE MERCY (KYRIE ELEISON) - "Kyrie Eleison" is Latin for "Lord, have mercy". The lyrics express just this: a desperate plea for mercy. The lyrics are simple but effective. One of the more instrumental-heavy, eclectic songs on the entire record (and that's saying something!), and the conclusion goes on for over a minute and a half. A bit long in my opinion, but still good! 3.5/5

WHY ME? - Here, Crowder explores the question of "why? Why does God find *me* worthy of his grace?" It's very slow and simple, and may be one of my least favorite on the project, although it's by no means "bad". 3/5

FALL ON YOUR KNEES - Another radio single candidate, although it's like nothing the band has done before. The chorus ("Fall on your knees / Forgiven and clean / Forgiven and free / Oh my God, it's too wonderful") keeps us progressing on the album's path of new life through salvation, as the believer fully accepts the grace of God ("Oh, reverent love, burn us up / Until what I was is gone"). 4/5

LET ME FEEL YOU SHINE - Phenomenal. When the single released last year, it became one of my favorite songs of all-time. Very catchy, and touching on a theme I've been working through myself, wanting to really know and feel God, not just know about Him. The opening lines are among my favorites: "This place is trying to break my belief / But my faith is bigger than all I can see". 5/5

BLESSEDNESS OF EVERLASTING LIGHT - This is a very "Church Music"-y song, but it boasts an oddly playful feel. The best way I can describe it is almost circus-esque, even though that feels wrong. The arrangement is really on display here, and the lyrics cover the same topic as "Kyrie Eleison" earlier. 4/5

SEQUENCES - Oh my goodness. These are really quite terrific, and flow together flawlessly (it's impossible to tell where one ends and another begins without cheating and looking at which is playing). 5/5, with more detailed thoughts on each below.

01 - The refrain "Day of wrath / Oh, day of mourning" repeats as intense rock music (akin to Church Music's "God Almighty, None Compares) plays in the background.

02 - A chorus chants in Latin for the entire song. It feels like the soundtrack to a Star Wars film. Very intense, although I have no idea what they're singing...

03 - A very chill instrumental. Sets the stage for...

04 - A very chill acoustic song by the band. Recounts the death of Christ and thanks God for coming. Very pleasant.

05 - ...And then it gets all intense on us again. Crowder growls - yes, you read that right - through the verses ("You left me in the dark"), and the target of these seemingly angry lyrics appears is not very clear. It seems to be God, as the song concludes with a sudden shift to calm music and a simple plea: "Oh, save a place for me / To Your right hand up raise me"

06 - There's another tonal shift here, and we're back to acoustic guitar. The first time I heard the song, I didn't even realize that the song consists of only one lyric: "I bow low with all my heart". Very reverential.

07 - I don't know how to describe the music... let's just say it's very "Crowder-ish". The lyrics are, once again, "Spare us, Oh God", returning to a common theme on the album (explored previously by "Blessedness..." and "Kyrie Eleison").

OH MY GOD - The first real song of Disc 2, and we can already hear the bluegrass influence (which is going to be VERY prevalent on this disc) returning. The theme of life and rebirth in Christ returns once more, with lyrics like "Death will lose and we will win / I'm born all over". One of my favorites on the album. 5/5

I AM A SEED - This song, curiously, shares the same backing music (as far as I can tell) as "Oh My God", allowing a very easy musical transition. This song explores the idea of rising again, like a seed pushed into the ground that will grow into a tree. I don't like it quite so much as "Oh My God", but it's still a very strong track, and despite the similarities with "Oh My God", the music somehow never gets old. 4.5/5

AFTER ALL (HOLY) - After getting a pre-release copy of the album from Passion 2012, a friend messaged me, saying "You *have* to check out this track. It's my favorite." I understand why. One of the few "Church Music"-flavored songs on Disc 2, this song just sits in complete awe and wonder at our Lord and Savior, with lyrics like "Oh, I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars / But they're never bright enough after all". The writer, unable to wrap his mind around God, settles for a chorus of just declaring "You're holy", and concluding with "I can't comprehend / You're infinitely beautiful". The musical arrangement, mid-tempo throughout, suits it just perfectly. 5/5

THERE IS A SOUND - What a peculiar track. The musical arrangement starts off slow, drops out altogether, then builds up to a strong chorus, before shifting altogether for an incredible breakdown and then dropping out once again, before returning. The song's lyrics glorify God, continuing Disc 2's lyrical theme. 3.5/5

OH, GREAT LOVE OF GOD - The best way to describe how this song sounds? The whole song sounds like the end of Church Music's "How He Loves", with the standard band 'climaxing' music accompanying praiseful music. 3.5/5

OUR COMMUNION - Chill until about halfway, like the opener "Oh Great God..." Curiously, when it suddenly becomes uptempo, they repeat the lyrics from the 'slow' part of "Oh Great God". 3.5/5

SOMETIMES - A "building" song, starting out slow and gradually (not abruptly, like the prior track) growing more intense until a sonic climax. Very good lyrically, but pretty standard fare. 3.5/5

A RETURN - The lyrics are from the perspective of one who's fallen away and wants God to come find him once more. The language calls to mind the story of the Prodigal Son, with a refrain of "The Son has come home". Very interesting. 4/5

OH, MY GOD I'M COMING HOME - Reminiscent of "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" off A Collision, if extended for an entire song. Curious choices in the production of the song make it feel overlong, as Crowder's voice slowly fades as the song goes on. 3.5/5

LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS / TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS - One of the few songs that finishes sounding similar to how it began. If you liked such songs as "I Saw the Light" from A... Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too many cooks in the sound board kitchen, February 9, 2012

By 

J. A. Lee (Pasadena, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Give Us Rest (Audio CD)

Hey folks, been a long time Crowder fan - appreciate their influence and how many times I've entered into personal worship and adoration of the Lord through their music and ministry...but this last album of theirs...it's taking a while to sink into and get used to. Perhaps I need a few more listening sessions...but it's just not doing it for me. Perhaps they've become OVERPRODUCED like there are too many cooks at the mixing board...all of these additives and sounds quirks and I guess I just miss the rock and roll worship sound of their band. Perhaps I'm displaying my age, but I was eager to enjoy this album and I will miss them being around, but I haven't quite gotten there yet. Another part of me also appreciates their live stuff with the Passion series...I find that with other bands like United Live - their studio work is subpar compared to the live music with other worshippers. Crowder's band is always better live, it seems, than in the studio. Yes, the latter sounds sharper and cleaner, but the live stuff just gets to that heavenly place...which for me is why I enjoyed the band in the first place. Sorry fans, just my opinion.

Peace and grace to the Crowder Band and their families.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy Other Version, January 10, 2012

By 

homer43229 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Give Us Rest Or (A Requiem Mass In C [The Happiest Of All Keys]) (MP3 Download)

Accidently bought this version instead of the one with the PDF. Why do you even sell this?

Anyhow, a spectacular, bittersweet finish to an amazing career of talented, down-to-earth musicians.

You will be missed!