The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads is the debut studio album from Denton, Texas-based indie rock trio Lift to Experience. The double album was released on June 26, 2001, and is thus far the only full-length recording from the band. A concept album about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ[6] that "casts Texas as the Promised Land,"[4] it was produced by guitarist/vocalist Josh T. Pearson, and mixing was handled by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie, both of Cocteau Twins fame.[5][7] The album was released on Guthrie and Raymonde's record label Bella Union. Receiving very little attention upon release, the album gradually found an audience via the internet and has developed a minor cult following.
| The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | June 26, 2001 |
| Recorded | 1999 |
| Studio | 70hrtz Studio, Argyle, Texas |
| Genre | Indie rock, shoegaze, post-rock[1] |
| Length | 93:22 |
| Label | Bella Union |
| Producer | Josh T. Pearson |
| Singles from The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads | |
| |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Almost Cool | (8/10)[2] |
| The Austin Chronicle |  [3] |
| The Guardian Unlimited | [4] |
| Pitchfork | (7.8/10)[5] |
The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads was described by AllMusic reviewer Tim DiGravina as "blend[ing] My Bloody Valentine's sonic feedback with Kitchens of Distinction's swirling atmosphere and the grace of Jeff Buckley", with DiGravina adding, "What could have been a tiresome exploration of awkward religious theories is instead a spellbinding journey into the heart of human emotion and guitar dynamics."[1] Although Lift to Experience never officially announced a disbandment, the band splintered shortly after the album's release, with Pearson re-emerging as a solo artist in the 2010s.
The album was remastered and reissued for its 15-year anniversary by Mute Records on February 3, 2017.[6] The album was reissued across three separate formats, all featuring revised artwork: a 2-CD set; a double vinyl LP set pressed on blue and red colored vinyl; and a deluxe 4-LP box set including the band's first demo EP and live recordings. The reissue coincides with the band's reunion and performance at Meltdown Festival 2016 curated by Elbow frontman Guy Garvey.[6]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Josh T. Pearson (words) and Lift to Experience (music)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Just as Was Told" | 6:43 |
| 2. | "Down Came the Angels" | 5:40 |
| 3. | "Falling from Cloud 9" | 4:33 |
| 4. | "With Crippled Wings" | 9:58 |
| 5. | "Waiting to Hit" | 5:20 |
| 6. | "The Ground So Soft" | 7:06 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 7. | "These Are the Days" | 8:41 |
| 8. | "When We Shall Touch" | 4:20 |
| 9. | "Down with the Prophets" | 6:41 |
| 10. | "To Guard and to Guide You" | 5:24 |
| 11. | "Into the Storm" | 10:14 |
| 12. | "The Hidden Song" (Included as a hidden track following 14:06 of silence after "Into the Storm" on CD editions; "Into the Storm" lasts 28:56 in total) | 4:45 |
Credits edit
- Musicians
- Josh T. Pearson – guitar, vocals
- Josh Browning – bass
- Andy Young – drums, cymbals
- Scott Danbom – fiddle
- Production
- Josh T. Pearson – producer
- Dave Willingham – engineer, recording, mastering
- Simon Raymonde – mixing (at September Sound)
- Robin Guthrie – additional mixing (at September Sound)
- Breanne Trammell – photography
- Karen Raymonde – sleeve design (from an original concept by Lift to Experience)[8]
- Remaster credits
- Mixed by Matt Pence at Echo Lab, Argyle, Texas
- Additional engineering by Dan Williams at Studio Mute, London, England
- Mastered by Dave McNair at Dave McNair Mastering, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Vinyl cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl, Memphis, Tennessee
- Reissue design by Louise Hendy
- Art direction by Josh T. Pearson with Paul A. Taylor
References edit
- ^ a b c DiGravina, Tim. "The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads - Lift to Experience". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ "Lift to Experience - The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ Chamy, Michael (15 March 2002). "Review: Lift to Experience - Music - The Austin Chronicle". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ a b Clarke, Betty (11 May 2001). "Pop CD Releases - Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ a b Sirota, Brent S. (21 June 2001). "Lift to Experience: The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads: Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ a b c Lindsay, Cam (11 November 2016). "The second (or first) coming of Lift to Experience". Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ Chamy, Michael (31 May 2001). "Cloud 9 and Rising: Denton's Lift to Experience head for the promised land, with gun in hand". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ Adapted from the liner notes of the original CD release