Coming Up to Breathe
Coming Up to Breathe | ||||
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INO | ||||
Producer | Brown Bannister | |||
MercyMe chronology | ||||
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Singles from Coming Up to Breathe | ||||
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Alternative covers | ||||
Coming Up to Breathe is the fourth
Coming Up to Breathe received positive reviews from critics. It was also nominated for
Three singles were released in promotion of Coming Up to Breathe.
Background
According to lead vocalist Bart Millard, MercyMe had started as a rock band and had wanted to make a rock record.[1][2] Following the success of their breakthrough single "I Can Only Imagine", a ballad, they were advised to "duplicate ['I Can Only Imagine'] on the next two records".[2] Millard says they felt that they were at a point where "we are known more for ballads than the rock band we wanted to be".[2] With the consent of their label, which felt there was a trend towards heavier music, MercyMe decided to make an "edgier" record.[1] In particular the band focused on up-tempo songs; Millard noted that while the songs are still pop rock songs, the band tried to put a bit more edge into them.[2] Additionally, the band decided to work with producer Brown Bannister, who had produced the group's Christmas record and Millard's solo album Hymned No. 1, as opposed to Pete Kipley, who had produced the band's previous three albums.[1] Bannister's producing style was different from Kipley's; while Kipley was a hands-on producer, "involved in every part of the song",[1] Bannister would wait until the band had "run down all [their] avenues" before giving input.[1] The band felt Bannister was an "amazing encourager" and were satisfied with the Christmas album Bannister had produced with them; although they felt Kipley did a great job on their previous records, improving themselves as a band and as songwriters, they felt it was "time for a change".[1] Another factor in the decision to use Bannister was his previous recording experience; Bannister had produced one of Millard's favorite albums, White Heart's 1989 album Freedom.[1] The different approach the band took with Bannister resulted in a sometimes "radical" approach, with the band "taking songs apart, putting them back together and, at times, totally reinventing them".[1] One song, "Something About You", shifted from "an aggressive rock song to a soaring anthem".[1]
The tracks on Coming Up to Breathe were recorded in
Composition
Although Coming Up to Breathe possesses an overall heavier tone than MercyMe's previous albums, it has been described as an extension or a shift in presentation rather than a total departure.
As a whole, the album does not mention Jesus directly by name; the only song to do so, "Bring the Rain" uses his name in the refrain "Jesus, bring the rain".[5] "I Would Die for You" is also a tribute to a teen who died after serving on a mission field.[7] "One Trick Pony" is a response to MercyMe's critics who argue that the band recycles the same song over and over.[7] "So Long Self" is about bidding farewell to sinful nature,[8] while "Hold Fast" is a reminder of God's presence through difficult times.[4] "Something About You" and "3:42 a.m. (Writer's Block)" both relate to the difficulty of writing a song about an omnipotent God.[7]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [6] |
Billboard | (positive)[9] |
CCM Magazine | B−[10] |
Cross Rhythms | [11] |
Christianity Today | [7] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [8] |
USA Today | [12] |
Coming Up to Breathe received positive reception from music critics. Steve Losey of
Lauren Summerford of Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "unlike anything we've heard from [MercyMe] so far" and "undeniably strong project from MercyMe".[8] She suggested that some of the lyrics off the album are too predictable, but said that "some places [on the album] display some of the best songwriting we have heard from the band so far".[8] Brian Mansfield of USA Today gave the album two-and-a-half out of four stars, opining that it "has the feel of a blockbuster rock album" but suggesting that the Christian songwriting on the record would limit its success.[12]
Coming Up to Breathe was nominated for
Singles
Three singles were released in promotion of Coming Up to Breathe. "So Long Self" was released on March 18, 2006[16] as the lead single from the album. It was added by fifty-two Christian AC stations in its first week, a record for the most first-week adds in the history of Christian AC radio.[17] It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart, spending a total of four weeks at the top of that chart.[18][19][20][21] It also appeared on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number sixteen.[22] "So Long Self" ranked at number ten on the 2006 year-end Hot Christian Songs chart.[23]
The second single from Coming Up to Breathe, "Hold Fast" was released on September 4, 2006.[24] It peaked at number three on the Hot Christian Songs chart[25] and at number twenty-seven on the Adult Contemporary chart.[26]
The final single from the album, "Bring the Rain", was released on March 24, 2007.[27] It peaked at number one on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[28] It ranked at number five on the 2007 year-end Hot Christian Songs chart[29] and at number forty-nine on the decade-end Hot Christian Songs chart.[30] An album cut, "No More No Less", spent one frame on the Hot Christian Songs chart, debuting and peaking at number thirty.[25]
Release
Coming Up to Breathe was released on April 25, 2006.
An acoustic version of the album, Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic, was released in late 2007 and peaked at number 22 on the Christian Albums chart.[37]
Track listing
All tracks are written by MercyMe[3]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Coming Up to Breathe" | 4:18 |
2. | "So Long Self" | 4:03 |
3. | "Hold Fast" | 4:38 |
4. | "Something About You" | 4:55 |
5. | "You're To Blame" | 4:14 |
6. | "No More No Less" | 5:46 |
7. | "Where I Belong" | 4:39 |
8. | "Bring the Rain" | 5:30 |
9. | "Last One Standing" | 3:39 |
10. | "One Trick Pony" | 3:26 |
11. | "3:42 A.M. (Writer's Block)" | 3:35 |
12. | "Safe and Sound" | 3:43 |
13. | "I Would Die For You" (hidden track "Have Fun In Life" appears at the end of the album[38]) | 12:49 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album liner notes[3]
MercyMe
Additional performers
Choir on "Bring the Rain"
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Production and design
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Charts and certifications
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References
- ^ Salem Publishing: 28–32. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-03-04.
- ^ a b c d Price, Deborah Evans (April 29, 2006). "Rocking Harder while Keeping the Faith". Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 17. pp. 36–37. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ INO Records. 2006. p. 7.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ a b c Banister, Christa (April 27, 2006). "MercyMe Is Ready To Rock". Crosswalk.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ a b Sanneh, Kelefah (April 27, 2006). "Christian Rock and Mainstream Music Move Closer Together". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Breimeier, Russ (April 25, 2006). "Coming Up to Breathe". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on April 25, 2006. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c d Summerford, Lauren (April 22, 2006). "MercyMe, "Coming Up to Breathe"". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c Price, Deborah Evans (May 6, 2005). "Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 18. pp. 37–38. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ Salem Publishing: 82f. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
- ^ a b Cummings, Tony (April 25, 2006). "MercyMe - Coming Up to Breathe". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ Gannett Company. Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- Grammy Awards. Archived from the originalon 2009-11-08. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- About.com. Archived from the originalon July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for 39th GMA Dove Awards". Christian Broadcasting Network. February 14, 2008. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- VNU Media). March 18, 2006. Retrieved May 27, 2012.[dead link]
- ^ Camacho, Justin (March 23, 2006). "MercyMe Breaks Radio Record With 'So Long Self'". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2006.
- ^ "Christian Songs (July 15, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Songs (July 22, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Songs (July 29, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Songs (August 5, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ "So Long Self - MercyMe". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ "Year-end Christian Songs (2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Going for Adds – Christian AC". Radio & Records (VNU Media). September 4, 2006. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ a b c "MercyMe Album & Song Chart History (Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
- ^ "Hold Fast - MercyMe". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ "Going for Adds – Christian AC". Radio & Records (VNU Media). March 24, 2007. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Songs Archive (August 25, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ "Year-end Christian Songs (2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - )
- ^ a b "Godsmack Earns Second No. 1 With 'IV'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ "Coming Up to Breathe - MercyMe". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Christian Albums". Billboard. 2006. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "Christian Albums". Billboard. 2007. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved April 9, 2016.
- ^ a b "RIAA - Certification Criteria". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Albums Archive (December 29, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- ^ "'Ask MercyMe' - Barry (Answers)". MercyMe.org. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Billboard 200 (May 15, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ "Christian Albums (May 13, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ "Rock Albums (May 20, 2006)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ "Alternative Albums (September 15, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
- ^ "MercyMe Album & Song Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2012.