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Amazon.co.uk
On the cover of their wryly titled debut album The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads, Texan trio Lift To Experience look, initially, like a standard-issue alternative country act: they're wearing big hats and embroidered shirts and slightly faraway stares, looking for all the world like they've just survived a pillaging of their wagon train out on the road to El Paso. However, it takes only a couple of tracks for Lift To Experience to suggest that there is much more going on here. These are country songs only in terms of their spirit of place and unswerving holy righteousness. The music that contains them is a heady, freewheeling guitar trip heavily influenced by such definitively modern, and definitively British, acts as Cocteau Twins and (especially) My Bloody Valentine. Singer Josh Pearson's fluttering treble has doubtless already earned him more comparisons to Jeff Buckley than he knows what to do with, but to criticise him on that score would be similar for damning a young footballer for playing like Pele. Wherever Lift To Experience are going, they'll be worth following. --Andrew Mueller
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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
One listen to disc 2 of Texas Jerusalem Crossroads will leave you stunned, wondering what influences and upbringings brought about this genius band. Lyrically, LTE are all about.. religious revelations (it's the apocalypse and Texas is the promised land) and hidden messages. They are bringing the message to Europe in April and May in anticipation of their debut album's release.
Lift to Experience and centro-matic are wave 2 of the Texas Invasion that brought you And You Will Know Them by the Trail of Dead, Spoon, and At the Drive In last year. While Lift to Experience sound more like Spiritualized than their Texas neighbors, these bands share a common theme of intensity that is unrivaled.
This double album will leave you staring into space wondering where these boys get off telling YOU about the promised land.
If singer/guitarist Josh Pearson's deluded charismatic rantings are to believed, Texas is, literally, the reason.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lift to Experience - The apocalypse has come and a rock music hurricane crashes out of Texas!
16 May 2009
Format:Audio CD
"Is the world really ready for a 75-minute progressive country-emo concept album by three God-fearing ranch hands about Texas being the Promised Land?" asked NME on the release of this album in 2001. The answer unfortunately was a resounding no, since Josh Pearson's masterwork has been largely ignored or at best comes up in those rather sad "great lost album" polls.
In honesty everything about the album sounds wrong and completely over the top. It is littered with biblical references throughout (songs with titles like "Down with the Prophets" or "Grounds so soft" which is based on 1st Corinthians). Half the songs exceed 10 minutes and Josh Pearson and the crew on the album's cover look like they should be selling snakebite or fleecing the sick. Pearson is about 7 feet tall and his height is as large as his ambition. Then there is the central plot with Texas emerging from some apocalypse as a geographical "Noah's arks" with its epicentre in the town of Denton. Do I hear the call for a straightjacket? It all broadly sounds like pseuds corner and should be an utter disaster, but isn't, its Josh T Pearson's "teenage symphony to god" . In fact these two cds can barely contain the scope and scale of vision underpinning this concept and on times it feels as big and awe inspiring as the lone star state itself. References are of limited value but contextually we are in the territory of My Bloody Valentine, Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai but sound tracked to a voice so soft that the ghost of Jeff Buckley is evoked.
In addition care is needed not to create the impression that this album is somehow the heavy rock soundtrack for the Christian right and an ode to the bible belt. Pearson songs are full of humour and utterly preposterous.... Read more ›
In honesty everything about the album sounds wrong and completely over the top. It is littered with biblical references throughout (songs with titles like "Down with the Prophets" or "Grounds so soft" which is based on 1st Corinthians). Half the songs exceed 10 minutes and Josh Pearson and the crew on the album's cover look like they should be selling snakebite or fleecing the sick. Pearson is about 7 feet tall and his height is as large as his ambition. Then there is the central plot with Texas emerging from some apocalypse as a geographical "Noah's arks" with its epicentre in the town of Denton. Do I hear the call for a straightjacket? It all broadly sounds like pseuds corner and should be an utter disaster, but isn't, its Josh T Pearson's "teenage symphony to god" . In fact these two cds can barely contain the scope and scale of vision underpinning this concept and on times it feels as big and awe inspiring as the lone star state itself. References are of limited value but contextually we are in the territory of My Bloody Valentine, Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai but sound tracked to a voice so soft that the ghost of Jeff Buckley is evoked.
In addition care is needed not to create the impression that this album is somehow the heavy rock soundtrack for the Christian right and an ode to the bible belt. Pearson songs are full of humour and utterly preposterous.... Read more ›
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Rhys Evans
Format:Audio CD
This is one of the most awesome records I have ever heard. It hits its first moment of perfection 2 minutes and 50 seconds into opener "Just as was told" and surprises throughout by maintaining the high standard. "These are the Days" and "Into the Storm" standout, but any song would make most other bands envious. The otherworldly lyrical content and riffing ranging from bone-crunching to ethereal serve to provide pop music about as close to Verdi as one can expect. This isn't to say that it suffers from the cod-operatic posturing of Queen or death metal acts. LTE are of an altogether higher art. No other reviews seem to mention it, but LTE remind me mostly of Mogwai. By Mogwai, I mean the band that existed before they took a wrong turn. The band that could convey fear, anguish, happiness, anger and a whole host of other emotions all at once in a wave of feedback. Lift To Experience have got what Mogwai lost. Praise the Lord it's back!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By R. sherratt
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this when it first came out couple of years ago, still dont know that much about the band but know that cd2 is worth the five stars alone. Cd1 is good but put both together & its a mind blowing experiance, took me one or two listens to get it & lost it moving house but had to get it again. Country music meets punk Brit style, sounds good to me I had to buy it twice
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
this is a great album by a great band, the band only made this one album but its a classic. very clever idea for a concept album. the music/lyrics are very original. no wonder John Peel said he liked the band, 10/10
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
`The Texas Jerusalem Crossroad' is one of those albums that you get the most from when you listen to it in it's entirety. When you pick out individual tracks it doesn't sound that impressive, but when played as a whole it builds in such a way that it leaves a lasting impact.
With a sound that reminds me of Jeff Buckley, Lift to Experience weave an album of surprising depth and it is definitely an album that improves with repeated listening. It felt a little inaccessible first time round, but before long you get what all the fuss is about and you are drawn into the imagery and atmosphere it creates.
If I had to pick out some tracks I particularly like then it would have to be `Falling from Cloud 9' and `Down With the Prophets', but like I say this is really an album that blends into one and has greatest impact when played from beginning to end. If, like me, you feel a little put off first time round, then I can suggest you persevere with it and give it another few listens, perhaps through headphones with increases the atmosphere it creates. This way you can also hear the stereo production and tiny nuances that make this album something more than ordinary. Well worth a try at some point and doubt believe the hype or doubters until you've tried it for yourself.
Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.
With a sound that reminds me of Jeff Buckley, Lift to Experience weave an album of surprising depth and it is definitely an album that improves with repeated listening. It felt a little inaccessible first time round, but before long you get what all the fuss is about and you are drawn into the imagery and atmosphere it creates.
If I had to pick out some tracks I particularly like then it would have to be `Falling from Cloud 9' and `Down With the Prophets', but like I say this is really an album that blends into one and has greatest impact when played from beginning to end. If, like me, you feel a little put off first time round, then I can suggest you persevere with it and give it another few listens, perhaps through headphones with increases the atmosphere it creates. This way you can also hear the stereo production and tiny nuances that make this album something more than ordinary. Well worth a try at some point and doubt believe the hype or doubters until you've tried it for yourself.
Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Texas Jerusalem Crossover
great album. interesting to find the earlier josh t. pearson to be just as good as the recent album. great service
Published 6 months ago by N Ros
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dreary
Nah ! - This dreary and self-indulgent album in no way deserves the accolades heaped upon it. Franky, its a load of dross. Read more
Published 17 months ago by daviesnc
1.0 out of 5 stars
Are you serious?
Picked this up with high hopes after reading all the reviews...... then I listened to it...... then I had to check it was the same album! Read more
Published 19 months ago by Tony T
5.0 out of 5 stars
lost masterpiece
A piece of work that was ahead of its time when released. This album as now earned a cult status. Josh T Pearson from this high point in his musical career disappeared for 10 years... Read more
Published on 6 May 2011 by Mr. Steven R. Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
all the way
Remember to let the last track on disc 2 play all the way through as it kicks back in with about 4 minutes to go!!
Published on 20 April 2011 by Allan Mcfadyen
1.0 out of 5 stars
Should never be allowed near a studio again!!!
I purchased this cd on a recommendation,somebody up there doesn't like me.It is without doubt one of the WORST bands it has ever been my misfortune to hear. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by L. Tannette
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just as was told
If you've got this far, then you know all, this but if you;ve never experienced this they you are in for a treat because you'd be a fool to get this far and not imediately buy this... Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by Lord Rockingham III
5.0 out of 5 stars
Serious, fun, hit-home truth music!
I was skeptical when I first received this album as a gift, I heard a few seconds when I was busy then turned it off. Read more
Published on 7 Aug 2006 by E. Stepney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Texas-Jeruselam Crossroads
This album is possibly one of the unique and innovative albums of all time. From start to finish it is a ride through the collective conscience of poeple trapped in Americas bible... Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2004 by Stranded Geordie
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