Oh for Joy

Oh for Joy is the first holiday studio album and tenth album overall from Christian rock group David Crowder Band, and was produced by the band as well. The album was released on October 4, 2011 by sixstepsrecords, and has attracted generally positive critical attention.

Oh for Joy
Studio album by
David Crowder Band
ReleasedOctober 4, 2011 (2011-10-04)
GenreChristian rock, Christmas music, worship
Length35:37
Labelsixsteps
ProducerDavid Crowder Band
David Crowder Band chronology
Summer Happiness
(2010)		 Oh for Joy
(2011)		 Give Us Rest
(2012)

Background and release

The album was released on October 4, 2011 by sixstepsrecords, and it was produced by the band themselves. This was the first Christmas studio album from the group.[1]

Musical style

AllMusic's James Christopher Monger felt that Oh for Joy echoed the sextet's "winning blend of ambient gospel and ethereal electro-pop."[2]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Alpha Omega NewsA[3]
CCM Magazine[4]
The Christian Manifesto[5]
Christian Music Zine[6]
Cross Rhythms[7]
Jesus Freak Hideout[8]
[9]
Louder Than the Music[10]
New Release Tuesday[11]
The Phantom Tollbooth[12]

Oh for Joy received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Jesus Freak Hideout, Ryan Barbee gave the album four-and-a-half stars, and stated that the band did justice to the material of these songs.[8] Jono Davies of Louder Than the Music rated it the same as Barbee, and noted how the band crafted these into "fresh intriguing tracks."[10] At Christian Music Zine, Tyler Hess rated it four stars, and he evoked that the album had "high quality of musicianship".[6] Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout rated it the same as Hess, and commented that the album was a "success".[9]

At New Release Tuesday, Sarah Fine rated it a perfect five stars, and proclaimed the album to be a "must-own".[11] Tom Frigoli of Alpha Omega News graded the album an A, and wrote that "Fans of the band won't be disappointed!"[3] At Allmusic, James Christopher Monger rated the album three-and-a-half stars, and he felt that the band made "each moment count."[2] Jamie Lee Rake of The Phantom Tollbooth rated it as Monger, and wrote that the band could "have made it a bit more fun."[12]

However, Cross Rhythms' Ben Lloyd rated it six out of ten squares, writing that the album "give[s] the impression of a band winding down slowly."[7] At CCM Magazine, Grace S. Aspinwall rated the album three stars, writing that the album was "not a stroke of genius, but it is solid, festive and classic."[4] The Christian Manifesto's Matt Jerles rated it like Aspinwall, and felt that "While Oh For Joy started off a little slow for me, once it got good, it got really good."[5]

The album reached a peak of #6 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart and #82 on the Billboard 200.[13][14]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Joy to the World"George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts3:00
2."The First Noel"—5:26
3."Go, Tell It on the Mountain"John Wesley Work, Jr.4:40
4."Angels We Have Heard on High"—2:07
5."O come, O come, Emmanuel"—4:50
6."O Holy Night"Adolphe Adam, Placide Cappeau, John Sullivan Dwight, Leonard Cohen5:03
7."Silent Night"Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr6:18
8."Carol of the Bells/Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)"Robert Kinkel, Paul O'Neill, Jon Oliva4:13
Total length:35:37

Personnel
  • David Crowder – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, programming
  • Jack Parker – electric guitar, banjo, keys, backing vocals, programming
  • Mark Waldrop – electric guitar, glockenspiel, backing vocals, programming
  • Mike Dodson – bass, piano, keys, programming
  • Mike Hogan – violin, programming
  • B-Wack – drums, programming

Charts
Chart (2013) Peak position
US Billboard 200[13] 82
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[14] 6

References
  1. Sarachik, Justin (October 4, 2011). "The David Crowder Band Releases New Christmas Album 'Oh For Joy'". CP Entertainment. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  2. Monger, James Christopher (October 4, 2011). "Oh for Joy - David Crowder Band". Allmusic. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  3. Frigoli, Tom (November 25, 2011). "David Crowder Band - Oh For Joy". Alpha Omega News. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  4. Aspinwall, Grace S. (December 1, 2013). "David Crowder Band: Oh For Joy (sixsteps Records)". CCM Magazine. p. 32. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  5. Jerles, Matt (November 28, 2011). "Oh For Joy". The Christian Manifesto. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  6. Hess, Tyler (October 4, 2011). "David Crowder*Band – Oh For Joy (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  7. Lloyd, Ben (November 17, 2011). "Review: Oh For Joy - David Crowder Band". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  8. Barbee, Ryan (October 3, 2011). "David Crowder*Band, "Oh For Joy" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  9. Fryberger, Scott (October 3, 2011). "David Crowder*Band, "Oh For Joy" Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  10. Davies, Jono (October 15, 2011). "Reviews - David Crowder Band - Oh For Joy". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  11. Fine, Sarah (October 11, 2011). "What A Way To Go Out!". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  12. Rake, Jamie Lee (December 9, 2011). "David Crowder*Band - Oh For Joy". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  13. "David Crowder Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  14. "David Crowder Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
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