[WhiteRob]

David Crowder Band, one of the most sought after bands on college campuses and beyond, garners the No. 1 position for the first time ever this week on the SoundScan® Christian Retail chart. The band’s critically acclaimed sophomore recording, Illuminate, released Sept. 16 and scanned 13,935 units in its first week at retail, more than doubling the record-breaking debut of the band’s freshman project, Can You Hear Us?.

Remarkably, David Crowder Band songs are featured on two additional projects landing on the Christian Retail Top 10 sales chart this week. The band’s fan favorite, “Our Love Is Loud,” on Wow Worship Yellow, lands at No. 4, while the band’s live versions of “Stars” and “O Praise Him (All This For A King)” are on Passion: Sacred Revolution- Songs From OneDay03, which is No. 8 on the chart and has remained among the top 10 since its Aug. 19 debut.

As the band impacts Christian music sales, it is further gaining momentum at radio with its studio version of “O Praise Him (All This For A King).” Radio stations across the country have already added the single to rotation, while the largest Christian music network, K-LOVE Radio Network, is also giving the song a significant boost by adding it to rotation this week. “O Praise Him (All This For a King)” is featured on Illuminate, which was produced by the band, as well as Charlie Peacock (dcTalk, Switchfoot), Mitch Watkins (Joe Ely, Abra Moore) and Zach Lind.

Here is what the media are already saying about Illuminate:
"Upbeat and incorporating more rock elements, Illuminate takes the "worship" music genre giant leaps forward in creativity and humble honesty." - Relevant Magazine (Nov/Dec 2003)

“Album No. 2 for David Crowder Band continues to prove Crowder’s uncanny ability to connect with this generation. This is the kind of record that grows on you ‘til nearly every song is a favorite. No sophomore slump in sight, Illuminate marries sincere songwriting with contagious choruses.” – Release (Oct/Nov 2003)

“It blew me away. Illuminate is quite possibly the best album I've heard this year. David Crowder's music is a rocking, passionate journey into praise that needs to be heard by every worshipper.” – Matt Degen, Orange Co. Register

“Though several tracks stand out, the whole Illuminate project is a work of art…Illuminate marks a new and bold step forward…” – CBA Marketplace (Oct 2003)

“Crowder and company steer clear of po-mo rock clichés and rusty worship formulas to forge a truly exciting stylistic synthesis that bodes well for the next phase of pop and praise. All of this adds up to an extraordinary effective aural adventure, punctuated with some surprising emotional and intellectual modulations and a welcome sense of that rarest of all Christian music commodities – fun.” – Worship Leader (Sept/Oct 2003)

“…poetic richness…and the musicianship is outstanding…” – Robb Redman, Author of The Great Worship Awakening (Worship Leader Sept/Oct 2003)

“On their sophomore release, the David Crowder Band takes their successful singer/songwriter/worship leader style into new territories, both musically and lyrically…Illuminate is a rewarding listen…musical and adventurous…” – Musicforce.com (September)