Customer Reviews

Until The Whole World Hears

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most people will likely buy this CD for the title track which delivers a very compelling message to spread the Gospel of Christ. This song is all over KLOVE and you can probably sing it all by heart before you even own the CD. That is all good stuff, but what I really love about this CD are the songs that come after the popular title track. These are the songs that bring me back to this CD over and over again on a single trip in the car and then have me playing it on my stereo when I get home.

"Mercy", "Blessed Redeemer" and "Glorious Day" are more worshipful and less "rocky" than we are accustomed to from Crowns, but perhaps that is part of what makes them so powerful. The 30- and 40-something crowd will recognize "Glorious Day" as a remake (by Mark Hall) of the old hymnal standard "One Day." I always loved the hymn, but man! I love this remake even more! It screams of Christ's sacrifice for and promise to us. "Mercy" and "Blessed Redeemer" each feature Crowns' female background vocalists as the lead. Both women have beautiful, unforgettable voices which only enhance the messages of their respective songs. When is the last time your really thought about God's mercy for you? "Mercy" will make you think all day long and praise God for it. It is worshipful and prayerful. "Blessed Redeemer" reminds us of Christ's painful sacrifice to save us. We don't like to think about it, but sometimes we need to.

Bottom line: Definitely worth your investment, not for the outstanding title track but for the worshipful, God-honoring music that follows it.

Casting Crowns never seem to disappoint when it comes to making faith filled, amazing songs, that stick with you throughout the day. This album starts off with the upbeat, challenging title track, "Until The Whole World Hears" -- and the album ends with a bang, thanks to "Shadow Of Your Wings". In the middle are 10 single worthy songs - from slow ballads to rocking upbeat anthems - but each song holds a distinct Biblical message.

"If We've Ever Needed You" is one highlight on the CD, and it's a song that Mark Hall says God called on him to write at 3 AM one night. "Always Enough" is a very touching song that speaks about how all we need is Jesus - His love is really all we need, and is always enough. Both of these definitely have the potential to be huge future singles.

The best part of the CD may be found in two of the more acoustic songs - "At Your Feet (I Lay My Life Down)" and "Mercy". Lyrics that speak directly to your heart, and acoustics that will give you chills. Overall, this is another awesome album...if you're a fan of Casting Crowns, I highly recommend adding this to your collection!

Casting Crowns was the group that introduced and hooked me to CCM. The music was challenging and very easy to listen to. With each album, I was challenged to improve my relationship with God and encorage others. While Lifesong was a little light, The Altar and the Door was a strong follow up. Now comes Until The Whole World Hears and, while beautifully glorying God, doesn't have much to offer and is a step back for the Crowns.

The album opens with the title track and it is by far the best track on the album and the only challenging song on it. Most of the rest of the album is slow, worship songs. Now, don't get me wrong...there is a place for these songs and what we have included here does uplift and focus on God. However, they are fairly dull tracks. Take the chorus to AT YOUR FEET...it is very weak. Being a Casting Crowns song, I expected a little more creativity and feeling and it just feels cold and impersonal. The same goes for the song MERCY. It just feels very generic and not what I expect from this group. Then there's GLORIOUS DAY. The song is full of standard clichés like "He Took The Nails For Me" and "Living He Loved Me, Dying He Saved Me." Again, this is so hard to review because these songs are nice but coming from Casting Crowns, it just feels lazy. The other songs on the album are good but still not up to the quality of past efforts. TO KNOW YOU is a good song but still, it feels incomplete, like it could be much more.

A staple of Casting Crowns is to challenge us. The first album and The Altar and the Door both included several songs to challenge our faith and were very strong. Besides the quasi-challenging title track, there is nothing else that would be considered challenging.

This is a hard album to review. I love this group and this isn't a terrible album. But isn't really "Casting Crowns" and the songs sound like warmed over worship songs.

During the first time listening to this CD I was instantly in awe. It is obvious that Casting Crowns spent time in the Throne Room of God, sitting at His feet. Wow...I have listened to the CD everyday, and everyday, I am drawn closer and closer to our Savior. Thank you Casting Crowns for being obdient and having such an amazing LOVE for God that it overflows into all the homes, cars, etc that the CD is played in....I have recommended this CD to all of my friends and family, and all have agreed... Wow...words are hard to describe.

Like so many others, I discovered Casting Crowns with their debut CD. Their mix of worship, challenge, and encouragement have made all three of their previous releases some of my favorites in recent years.

Their latest disc focuses almost exclusively on worship music. Frankly, I've always felt that was their weakest element. This disc doesn't do much to change my mind.

It's not that the lyrics and the ideas are bad. They just aren't nearly as solid as they are when they are calling out the church or encouraging us. There is no "What If His People Prayed" or even "East to West" here.

Not that the songs here are bad. "Until the Whole World Hears" is a call to keep preaching the gospel. "To Know You" reminds us of all we can have in Christ. "Holy One" is a fast praise song based partially around Psalm 63. And as a bonus 12th track, we get "Shadow of Your Wings," which is an early incarnation of that song. Frankly, I like both versions. And they have a new arrangement of the classic "Joyful, Joyful" that I really enjoy.

But my favorite song on the disc is "Jesus, Hold Me Now." What's interesting is the verses are from their song "The Prodigal" from their second disc. They've given it an all new chorus and melody. If you didn't know, you'd say they wrote this song from scratch.

The other problem this disc has is the music. Too many of the songs use the same tempo and instruments. It lets them blend together instead of standing out so I can really connect with them.

After listening to it constantly for two days, I can say I like it. I just don't love it like I have their previous releases. Hopefully, this is an anomaly and not a sign of things to come from this great group.

I spend a lot of time in my car and have been waiting, not very patiently, for this release. Casting Crowns can bring me into the presence of the Lord like no other group. The lyrics speak with such reverence. Their music is just my style. I am so blessed by this CD. It will be worn out no doubt. I might as well order a back up now.

They've made an egregious error with this album. SIX of the songs have the exact same (or a very similar) intro bars! Listen to the first couple seconds of: "Always Enough" "At Your Feet" "Glorious Day" "Jesus, Hold Me Now" "Mercy" "To Know You". They all share the same unimaginative, pulsing keyboard background.

Casting Crowns produces some of my favorite worship songs, including "Who am I" and "East to West". But this album is a disappointment, not only intrinsically, but also as a reflection on the band as a whole. I realize now that "Who am I" and "East to West" ALSO have a similar intro. I feel no inspiration in any of the songs in this album and just like the cover, the music is colorless.

There's no question Casting Crowns and their music are faithful and Christ centered and that their music reflects that. As songwriters, volcalists and musicians they are at the top of the contemporary Christian music genre. So why did I describe this as not quite as satisfying as previous efforts?

Well, every group has some signature or hallmark that people identify with. Chris Tomlin - worship leader; Toby Mac - hip hop; Matthew West - real life;, etc. To me, Casting Crowns sung bodly in both word and music. Unvarnished truth with a beat. Upon hearing "storm hells rusty gate", "stop asking Oprah what to do", "ear pleasing candy man...a prophet in an Armani suit", "what if his people prayed" you want to jump out of your seat and yell "YES!" - finally, someone willing to boldly proclaim the Gospel (in word and music) regardless of the convential wisdom.

This album takes a step back from that. The music is lower key and the lyrics are more subdued - in a worshipful way. That is not to say it isn't as good, it's just different in a way that might disappoint those who liked the "get after it" attitude of The Altar and the Door.

I bought this because of that one song-"Oh, Glorious Day." The rest of the CD is not up to their usual standards. I was disappointed. They've done lots of stuff better than this. The one song is great, though.

As usual, this is another great CD from Casting Crowns! Every song has great meaning and some are very challenging. I don't think there is one song I don't like!