The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads

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.

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 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 in the early part of the 21st century, with Pearson releasing a solo album entitled Last of the Country Gentlemen in 2011.

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
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References
  1. DiGravina, Tim. "The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads - Lift to Experience". 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. Clarke, Betty (11 May 2001). "Pop CD Releases - Culture". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. Sirota, Brent S. (21 June 2001). "Lift to Experience: The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads: Album Reviews". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  6. 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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