I Know a Ghost

In September 2018, Crowder announced that his studio album I Know a Ghost, set to be the follow-up to American Prodigal (2016), was slated for release on November 9, 2018, with the issuing of singles "Red Letters" and "Wildfire" in the lead-up to the album's release.[2] Crowder attributed his influences in making the music on the album to the Southern hip hop scene in Atlanta, as well as books such as Slave Songs of the United States, African American Heritage Hymnal and others.[3]

According to Timothy Monger of AllMusic, the sound of the album as ranges from "porch-stomping folk and country to electronica, hip hop, and more straightforward worship pop."[4] Jonathan Andre of 365 Days of Inspiring Media referred to the album as "worship/country/bluegrass project."[5] John Barber of CCM Magazine called the album a "South-ern rock record."[6] Michael Weaver of Jesus Freak Hideout observed that while "I Know a Ghost has some of that same swamp rock sound," it's "overwhelming musical theme here is hip-hop."[7] Timothy Yap of JubileeCast said of the album: "This record is a melting pot of an array of diverse sounds from nu-folk, rock, African native chants, country, EDM, bluegrass and pop," describing the sounds as a mixture of Rend Collective, Stryper, and Chris Tomlin.[8] Kelly Meade of Today's Christian Entertainemt noted the "diverse blend of genres ranging from gospel, to rock, to country to rap and everything in between."[9]

"I Know a Ghost" is the first track on the album,[6] a "stirring 2 minute guitar led opener," where Crowder is "wrestling with the notion that he still stuffs up and still makes mistakes, and still does the pig headed things he does even if he does know 'a ghost' aka Jesus Christ."[5] This is followed by "Wildfire" which has a swamp rock sound,[7] that is "complete with a chorus of crickets, frogs & other creatures interspersed throughout the track,"[9] as Crowder "relays to us the notion that wildfire from Jesus set us free from sin."[5] "Golgotha Hill (King of Love)" is "an acoustic guitar led slow ballad,"[5] with "a little of that hip-hop feel,"[7] which narrates "a graphic depiction of Jesus being whipped and tortured on the way to the cross."[8] "Crushing Snakes" has a "trap-like beat" while the singers conjure up "images of warriors ready for battle as we face the world with God on our side knowing He has the ultimate victory in the end."[9] "Red Letters" is a "typical Crowder radio song,"[7] which speaks of "Christ's salvific work."[8] "Let It Rain (Is There Anybody)" has "a 70s-soul feel updated with a current R&B soul,"[8] with the singers highlighting "the importance of keeping the Lord at the center of everything in your life."[9] "Everyday I'm Blessed" is "gospel infused with a hymn like structure."[5] "I'm Leaning on You" is an "R&B flavored" track.[7] "No Rival" is an "electronic prominent guitar led mid-tempo ballad,"[5] which "has reverberations of native African chants with the call and response from Crowder and a choir of male voices."[8] "Child of God" has "banjo-plucking, foot-stomping strains" of Southern music.[6] "Happy Day" is a "frenetic banjo led" song.[7] "Night Like This" is a "full-on country" track,[5] with a campfire singalong feel reminiscent of Rend Collective.[8] "La Luz" is a "part southern, part hip-hop, and part Latin" song.[7] "The Sinner's Cure" is a song that "runs the gamut from piano balladry to heavy rock to EDM,"[8] which "prompts your heart to ponder the big questions in life that we all can struggle with at times as you come to God in prayer."[9] "Hundred Miles" is a worship song,[7] about "giving thanks for God’s merciful love that will never fail us."[9] "Ghost" is the closing track on the album,[6] that is infused with "country/southern gospel/jazz/pop/rock/worship,"[5] and is "an ode to the power of the Holy Spirit."[8]

In the United States, I Know a Ghost earned 15,000 equivalent album units in its first week of sales, and as a result debuted at No. 2 on the Top Christian Albums Chart dated November 24, 2018.[22] The album concurrently registered on the mainstream Billboard 200 chart at No. 43.[23]

• Lyrics and sheet music for the album on PraiseCharts