Lift to Experience - The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads
(Bella Union)
It seems like a lot of music magazines are praising the names of Lift to Experience's debut album, The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads, but what about me? Who is speaking for me? Where is my music magazine all about what I like and don't like? Thank goodness for fakejazz.com, where everyone's opinion is equally important (which means, since this is fakejazz,
everyone's opinion is completely unimportant).
Ever since my friends first saw Lift to Experience and told me about how "thick," "powerful," and "amazing" their live show was and how the band somehow managed to take their balls off and tack them onto the wall of the club, each and every night, I have been excited. When The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads was finally available, I rushed out and bought it. I wasn't expecting it to be the second coming of Jesus or anything, but I was expecting to at least like it...
After putting both CDs into my stereo, I sat and listened. I listened to them loud, I listened to them quiet, I listened to them with headphones on, I listened to them with headphones off. I tried eight (8) different permutations of listening arrangements, and I still couldn't enjoy The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads. "Why?" I screamed, "Why can't I enjoy this album? I love Texas and God and guns as much as anyone!" I ran, crying like a baby, to my roommate's room (who had also purchased the new album). "Dick," I said (because his name is Dick). "Dick, why don't I enjoy the new Lift to Experience album?" Dick sat there and laughed at me. Dick was amazed I could make it through the album 8 whole times, because he couldn't make it through it once. Still, there had to be something I was missing, so I ran into my other roommate's room and asked him to give it a few listens. "Gil," I said (because his name is Gil). "Gil, listen to this and tell me what I am missing." He was glad to get the album since he was interested in hearing it too, but that didn't last too long; he returned it the next day saying, "No thanks."
The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads is simply all style and no substance. The record is even divided into two CDs despite the fact that it only contains about 83 minutes of music (only slightly more than what can be fit on one CD), just so they can name each disc separately. It isn't the worst record I have heard; it just isn't a good one. The recording of the record is far from thick and powerful, and the vocals are mixed too high and placed out in the open. You have to wonder if this is an intentional effect or just the result of a studio incapable of capturing the essence of a band. Either way, the music comes off limp. Live, it may have the power and meat that I had heard about, possibly even covering up the laughable lyrics, but as it is, The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads is a wussy, ego-driven slab of Texas tripe.
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