Lifesong

Background and recording

Following the unexpected success of their first album, there was tremendous demand for new music from Casting Crowns. Although lead vocalist Mark Hall, who either wrote or co-wrote all the songs on the album, felt "a little worried" about the band's follow-up album, fellow recording artists Steven Curtis Chapman (who co-produced the band's first album) and Mac Powell of Christian rock band Third Day encouraged Hall to "say what God wants you to say". They also advised him to not worry about commercial expectations or whether "people are going to like it". Ultimately, Hall "absorbed" the feedback their first record had received, using it as inspiration. Lifesong focuses mainly on the "truth-can-be-a-tough-pill-to-swallow message" that "there are broken people within arm’s reach of the church, and if there is any hope of healing, it begins with people who will be the hands and feet of Jesus". Hall responded to critics who felt the band's material was "preaching to the choir" by saying "How can writing songs that challenge the church, songs that ask Christians to consider their actions, be a bad thing? After all, it’s the message that matters... Everybody is passionate about what they do, about what they feel called to, so for one to say the other’s ministry is more or less meaningful or spiritual or anything is ridiculous". Hall also felt that there were "too many walls in Christian music" and said "I think people listen to you if you’re transparent... People want to hear the truth. You just hang around church for a while, and you’ll see. People don’t want you to talk around it. They want you to tell it like it is, even if it hurts". Hall ultimately wrote songs such as "Does Anybody Hear Her" and "Stained Glass Masquerade", which "challenge believers". According to Hall, he was trying to say that he didn't think it bothers the world if people in the church sin. Rather, he felt that the world is bothered when Christians act like they don't sin.

Lifesong was produced by Mark A. Miller, with recording and mixing done by Sam Hewitt at Zoo Studio in Franklin, Tennessee. Additional recording was done at Lifesong Studio in McDonough, Georgia. The album was mastered by Richard Dodd and engineered by Dale Oliver and John Lewis Lee III. The strings on the album were arranged by Bobby Huff and were recorded at Little Big Studio by Boeho Shin and Daewoo Kim.

Composition

Musically, Lifesong is influenced by adult contemporary and pop rock music. The album also has influence from worship music in the vein of U2, with songs building into "sweeping choruses and dramatic climaxes". Much of the album's lyrical content is devoted to challenging the Christian church and indicting hypocrisy and piousness within the church. Songs such as the title track and "Father, Spirit, Jesus" have worshipful lyrics while others such as "Stained Glass Masquerade" note the inability of church congregations to share their burdens openly. "Does Anybody Hear Her" condemns the church's focus on judging rather than realizing pain and gives the message than condemning other people is wrong. "Set Me Free" is set from the perspective of "the demon-possessed man", who is calling to Jesus for relief. It also incorporates more of a rock sound than Casting Crowns normally uses.

Critical reception and accolades

Lifesong received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Kim Jones of About.com gave it five out of five stars, saying "Bottom line - my hat goes off to Casting Crowns for a job well done, once again. This is one band that doesn't soft-pedal their message, even if it is one that people enjoying a "comfort-zone" may not want to hear". Jared Johnson of AllMusic gave the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, opining "One of the brightest spots on the CCM map in 2005, Lifesong was powered by a second dose of Mark Hall's earnestly challenging worship themes and a penchant for reflective pop... From start to finish, the album showcases songwriting that is consistent, polished, and potent, furthering the septet's reputation as one of Christian music's most popular acts of the 21st century". Deborah Evans Price of Billboard said that "there is no sophomore letdown here for Casting Crowns... This is intelligent, soulful music that goes beyond mere entertainment to something deeper". David McCreary of CCM Magazine gave Lifesong an A-, opining "staying true to their approach of assimilating crisp melodies, forthright lyrics and stout vocals, the Crowns effectively blend uptempo worship anthems and emotive ballads for another well-balanced set". Russ Breimeier of Christianity Today gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, calling the music "derivative", said that "[Casting Crowns] fans will find much to love, while others continue to ponder the secret of this band's success. All can probably agree that Lifesong is a sequel in the truest sense, offering more of the same to the delight of those so touched and inspired by the music of Casting Crowns the first time".

Simon Eden of Cross Rhythms gave the album ten out of ten squares, saying "With 'Lifesong' being officially [Casting Crowns'] second release, the pressure is on to see if they can deliver. The simple answer is quite probably yes as the band use a refreshing formula that challenges the Church instead of serving up milk and cookies". John DiBiase of Jesus Freak Hideout gave it three out of five stars, opining "Overall, Lifesong is musically an assortment of experimentation and familiarity, as the band continues to offer songs with relatable messages to the church body. Frontman and chief songwriter Mark Hall's strained, shouting-style vocals is [sic] still an acquired taste, along with his straightforward and often simplistic lyrics, but Lifesong is a noteworthy second chapter in an already impressive career for this young band". Brian Mansfield of USA Today gave the album two-and-a-half out of four stars, commenting "[Casting Crowns] comes from the school of U2-influenced modern-worship music, so its songs predictably build to sweeping choruses and dramatic climaxes. The band's message is more distinctive, calling out the "happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples" to offer themselves to the lonely, the grieving, the desperate".

Lifesong and its singles received various awards and nominations. At the 48th Grammy Awards, it received the Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. It received the Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year award at the 37th GMA Dove Awards. The album's title track won the Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year and was nominated for the Dove Award for Song of the Year at the 37th GMA Dove Awards. "Praise You In This Storm" won the Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards and was nominated for the Dove Award for Worship Song of the Year at the 39th GMA Dove Awards.

Release and promotion

Lifesong was released on August 30, 2005. It sold 71,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number nine on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Christian Albums chart. It spent a total of two weeks atop the Christian Albums chart and later appeared on the Billboard Catalog Albums chart in 2007, peaking at number thirty-four. By April 1, 2006, Lifesong had sold 503,000 copies. It had sold 950,000 copies by August 25, 2007 and, as of December 5, 2009, it has sold a total of 1.2 million copies. As of March 2014, the album has sold 1.4 million copies.

Three official singles ("Lifesong", "Praise You In This Storm", "Does Anybody Hear Her") were released in promotion of Lifesong. All of the singles topped the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Hot Christian AC charts. An additional song, "Set Me Free", was released to Christian CHR radio, and peaked at number 23.

Track listing

All tracks written by Mark Hall except where noted.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes of Lifesong.