THE TEXAS-JERUSALEM CROSSROADS

4.5 stars. This is the greatest Christian concept album that I have ever heard. Yes I love my Neal Morse for his lyrics and powerful symphonic sound, but this is on another level. The music is a combination of Shoegaze and Post Rock with these crooning Texas vocals crying out that Jesus is returning, and he's coming to Texas! So get ready to mourn with the entire population(what's left of it) of planet Earth. Every eye will see him. Like lightening flashing from one side of the sky to the other.

This album could not possibly be more epic. No wonder they needed to make it a double disc worth over an hour and a half of music. Well, okay, on that final track they give us 14 1/2 minutes of silence then end it with post rock guitars for the final 4 plus minutes. Why? You don't need the silence to make this even more epic than it is. Losing marks here. And no, this is far from a perfect record, but it's unlike anything I have heard. This Texas trio are not conservative, judgmental Christians, more like alive Christians, living that adventerous life. And waiting, actually waiting, and looking for His return.

There's lots of humour on here, but man, some of those serious passages are so moving. He speaks the lyrics quite a bit, but the man can sing. I like the one picture I saw of him with a "Don't mess with Texas" sticker on his guitar. Lots of angel talk here, and of the coming apocalypse. Of course Texas and Jerusalem get tied into this concept. This has to be heard to be believed. So yes, despite it's flaws this recording is without question part of my "best of" Post Rock list. To have a Christian album that has music that doesn't fail miserably is such a bonus(haha) and a rare thing.

I want to quote the lyrics from the opening track to give you all an insight into their sometimes irreverent, but real world. "This is the story of three Texas boys busy mindin' their own business. When the Angel of the Lord appeared unto them saying: "When the Winston Churchills start firin' their Winston rifles into the sky from the Lone Star State drinkin' their Lone Star beer and smoking their Winston cigarettes you know the time is drawin' nigh when the Son shall be lifted on high". We told them that didn't sound very Sunday-go-ta-meetin. "What do you expect?" they said. "When God calls the crippled deaf and blind to lead the children of Israel to the promised land." The children of Israel?" we asked. "Don't you boys know nothing?- The USA's the center of jerusalem."

I also love that line in "These Are The Days" that says "And I can hardly wait to hear that great trumpet sound, pouring down across the land." Waiting...

Easily 4 stars despite the flaws. This is something.