Daniel Doss Band’s “Greater Than Us All” is a worship album by a worship band in a long line of worship albums made by worship bands. The effort isn’t bad, per se, but they’re not necessarily anything new. Settling in to that Casting Crowns/Mercyme mold, they keep good company, but they didn’t manage to rise to the heights of a David Crowder. Still, there are some real gems to be found on Daniel Doss Band’s debut album on Sparrow Records. It will not be long before high school and college ministries add some of these songs to the rotation. Hopefully, it will be a little while longer before the old folks get a hold of things and start butchering the music. Come on. You know it’s true.

“Great God” starts things off and is a likable enough track, but it’s not amazingly evocative. “God in Me” is more of the same, though the piano line at the front end of the track and the vocals work well. “Hold On” is a powerful ballad that will likely give hope to anyone thinking of giving up. The problem is that songs of hope that are of this caliber are often too complex to make it into the Sunday worship line-up. But, it would make for a heck of a special selection. “Abba Father” sounds a bit like worship from the early 90’s, instrumentally-speaking. It’s reminiscent of groups like the short-lived Jason Ingram Band, which isn’t surprising given Ingram’s contribution to the writing process. I liked JIB way back then, but it doesn’t translate so well today given the caliber of the worship-saturated genre of Christian music. “Lord Reign” and “Light is Shining” are definite gems on this album. The lyrics and delivery are pretty strong. Doss seems most comfortable on mid-tempo pieces and reaches to the heights on songs like these. The violins “Love Like Rain” are pleasant.

So won’t You reign/Reign in my life/I’ve tried to hold on but I’ve fallen/So won’t you reign/Reign in my heart/Fill all the spaces I’ve not given/Here on this day/I surrender my will/Here as I pray/If only you will/Lord reign

Unfortunately, the tail end of the album tends to sound too much like the front half. It’s like we’ve heard it before. So, as I liked a great deal of the songs on the front end of the record, the songs aren’t bad. I just felt like we were treading old territory. I wish Doss and Co. had taken a few more risks with their sound, but that is not to be found. The thing that makes someone like David Crowder so well loved by the masses is their willingness to experiment with various types of music. The power of music does not lay merely in lyrics. It also lies in the variety of musical types that exist. Upbeat bluegrass evokes a different feel than a somber ballad. Rock & Roll evokes a different feel than classical. And you hear much of the same with Daniel Doss Band, which is sad as when you listen to the album and take in Doss’ amazing vocal range you become instantly aware of the potential for more. Hopefully, more risks will be taken with their second studio effort.

Overall, I’d say “Greater Than Us All” is a fair album. You’ll likely be singing some of these songs in church and enjoy them. But, while it is certainly worth adding to your collection, the Daniel Doss Band could have done so much more than they have given.

You can read more reviews by C.E. Moore at www.thechristianmanifesto.com.

Production: 7
Lyrics: 7
Message: 10
Overall Quality: 6

Track Listing
1. Great God
2. God In Me
3. Hold On
4. Abba Father
5. Blessed Is The One
6. Lord Reign
7. Light Is Shining
8. Love Like Rain
9. Sing Your Name
10. Great Dreamer
11. I Need You