Invisible Empires
Invisible Empires | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 18, 2011 | |||
Genre | Contemporary Christian music, acoustic, folk | |||
Length | 41:00 | |||
Label | Fair Trade/Columbia | |||
Producer | Steve Hindalong, Stephen Leiweke | |||
Sara Groves chronology | ||||
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Invisible Empires is the seventh studio album and tenth album overall from Christian singer and songwriter Sara Groves, and it released on October 18, 2011 by Fair Trade and Columbia Records. The producers on the album were Steve Hindalong and Stephen Leiweke. This release became critically acclaimed and commercially successful.
Background
The album released on October 18, 2011 by Fair Trade and Columbia Records, and it was produced by Steve Hindalong and Stephen Leiweke. This was the seventh studio album and tenth overall from the songstress.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Alpha Omega News | A+[3] |
CCM Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Christian Manifesto | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christian Music Zine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christianity Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Cross Rhythms | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Jesus Freak Hideout | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Louder Than the Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
New Release Tuesday | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Phantom Tollbooth | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Invisible Empires garnered critical acclaim from
Mark Sherwood of
At New Release Tuesday, Kevin Davis rated the album five stars, affirming that "Truly, every song is amazing."[11] The Phantom Tollbooth's Bert Saraco rated it four tocks, and felt that "In a day when every other artist is playing with auto-tuning and sampled sounds Sara Groves has once again delivered an album of music for, and by, human beings."[12] Michael Dalton of The Phantom Tollbooth rated it four tocks, noting that the music is "appealing" because of the deep spiritual "depths" it plunges into, which writing that "Groves has not labored in vain", and stating that we should "Listen and be in awe of what God can do with an open hand and heart."[13]
At Louder Than the Music, Jono Davies rated the album four-and-a-half stars, alluding to how "As much as I genuinely love this album and the voice that is Sara Groves, at times if you're not in the mood for this kind of soft melodic music you can see that the album songs can easily flow too easily into one another."[10] However, Davies finished by stating that "It will make you smile, cry, and think, well basically the whole album makes you do that."[10] Tom Frigoli of Alpha Omega News graded the album an A+, telling that he "left refreshed, inspired, and unable to get those catchy songs out of my head" on yet "Another excellent album from Sara Groves."[3] At The Christian Manifesto, Lydia Akinola rated the album five stars, proclaiming that "The album is full of fantastic tracks."[5]
Commercial performance
For the
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Miracle" | Sara Groves | 3:37 |
2. | "Obsolete" | Groves, Ben Howard | 3:42 |
3. | "I'll Wait" | Groves | 3:51 |
4. | "Scientist in Japan" | Groves, Andy Gullahorn | 4:51 |
5. | "Open My Hands" | Groves, Alli Rogers | 3:17 |
6. | "Precious Again" | Groves | 3:58 |
7. | "Eyes on the Prize" | Groves, Alice Wine | 4:43 |
8. | "Without Love" | Groves | 4:13 |
9. | "Right Now" | Groves | 0:48 |
10. | "Mystery" | Groves | 4:07 |
11. | "Finite" | Groves, Jill Phillips | 3:53 |
Total length: | 41:00 |
Charts
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[14] | 96 |
US | 6 |
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[16] | 2 |
US | 25 |
References
- ^ a b Jones, Kim (October 18, 2011). "Sara Groves - Invisible Empires Christian Music Review". About.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Monger, James Christopher. "Invisible Empires - Sara Groves". Allmusic. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Frigoli, Tom (October 26, 2011). "Sara Groves - Invisible Empires". Alpha Omega News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Greer, Andrew (October 1, 2011). "Sara Groves: Invisible Empires (Fair Trade Services)". CCM Magazine. p. 40. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Akinola, Lydia (October 18, 2011). "Sara Groves | Invisible Empires". The Christian Manifesto. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ Hess, Tyler (October 17, 2011). "Sara Groves – Invisible Empires (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Whitman, Andy (October 18, 2011). "Sara Groves: Invisible Empires". Christianity Today. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Sherwood, Mark (November 4, 2011). "Review: Invisible Empires - Sara Groves". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Caldwell, Alex "Tincan" (October 17, 2011). "Sara Groves, "Invisible Empires" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b c Davies, Jono (November 1, 2011). "Reviews - Sara Groves - Invisible Empires". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Davis, Kevin (May 5, 2012). "Sara Groves [Invisible Empires]". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Saraco, Bert (September 19, 2011). "Groves, Sara - Invisible Empires". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ a b Dalton, Michael (October 29, 2011). "Groves, Sara - Invisible Empires (Michael Dalton)". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2014.