The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads
Studio album by
Lift to Experience
ReleasedJune 26, 2001
Recorded1999
Studio70hrtz Studio, Argyle, Texas
GenreIndie rock, shoegaze, post-rock[1]
Length93:22
LabelBella Union
ProducerJosh T. Pearson
Singles from The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads
  1. "These Are the Days"
    Released: December 3, 2001
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Almost Cool(8/10)[2]
The Austin Chronicle[3]
The Guardian Unlimited[4]
Pitchfork(7.8/10)[5]

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 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

All tracks are written by Josh T. Pearson (words) and Lift to Experience (music)

Part one: Texas
No.TitleLength
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
Part two: Jerusalem
No.TitleLength
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

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

  1. 1 2 3 DiGravina, Tim. "The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads - Lift to Experience". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Lift to Experience - The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. ↑ Chamy, Michael (15 March 2002). "Review: Lift to Experience - Music - The Austin Chronicle". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. 1 2 Clarke, Betty (11 May 2001). "Pop CD Releases - Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 Sirota, Brent S. (21 June 2001). "Lift to Experience: The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads: Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Lindsay, Cam (11 November 2016). "The second (or first) coming of Lift to Experience". Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Adapted from the liner notes of the original CD release
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