The Altar and the Door
The Altar and the Door | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 28, 2007 | |||
Recorded | Various locations in the United States | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Rock, pop rock | |||
Length | 51:27 | |||
Label | Beach Street/Reunion | |||
Producer | Mark A. Miller | |||
Casting Crowns chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Altar and the Door | ||||
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The Altar and the Door is the third
The Altar and the Door received positive to mixed reviews from critics upon its release. Particular praise was given to the lyrics and the album's overall concept, but some critics felt the album's sound was mediocre and uninventive. The album received the award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the
Background and recording
The main ideas for The Altar and the Door were inspired roughly eighteen months before the album's release. Lead vocalist
The Altar and the Door was produced by Mark A. Miller. Most of the
Composition
Musically, The Altar and the Door has more influence from
Lyrically, The Altar and the Door deals with Christian themes.[7] "Slow Fade" deals with how moments of compromise and mistakes can lead to a "downward spiritual spiral";[8] it urges listeners to make the right choices.[9] "East to West" is about forgiveness and the skepticism with which humans accept it.[3] "What This World Needs" calls the Christian church out for making Jesus' message confusing by adding things to it;[3] it also looks at the current state of society.[8][9] "Prayer for a Friend" is a "simple" song of intercession.[9]
Critical reception and accolades
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [5] |
Billboard | (positive)[8] |
Christian Broadcasting Network | [11] |
CCM Magazine | [9] |
Christianity Today | [6] |
Cross Rhythms | [7] |
Jesus Freak Hideout | [10] |
USA Today | [12] |
The Altar and the Door received positive to mixed reviews upon its release. Jared Johnson of
Andree Farias of Christianity Today gave the album a two-and-a-half out of five stars, Farias praised Mark Hall's lyrical style and the album's lyrical concept and themes, but he criticized the music as being "meandering melodies and an all-too-solemn disposition" and said "core fans will undoubtedly support this album, but those expecting the vitality and radio-friendliness of the band's previous releases will find it a relatively challenging listening experience".[6] Justin Mabee of Jesus Freak Hideout gave it two-and-a-half out of five stars, calling the lyrical content "slightly better [than the band's previous works]" but deriding the music as "more of the same".[10]
At the
Release and sales
The Altar and the Door was released on August 28, 2007.
In the United States, The Altar and the Door ranked as the 144th best-selling album and the fourth best-selling Christian album of 2007.[28][29] It was the 95th best-selling album and best-selling Christian album of 2008[30][31] and the 25th best-selling Christian album of 2009.[32] The Altar and the Door was the 18th best-selling Christian album of the 2000s decade[33] and has sold over 1,000,000 copies in the United States.[34]
Singles
Three singles were released from The Altar and the Door.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "What This World Needs" | Steve Fee | 11:09 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "White Dove Fly High (Bonus Track)" | 3:48 |
12. | "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (Bonus Track)" | 3:16 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[4]
Casting Crowns
Additional musicians
String Section
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Production
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Chart positions
Album
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Singles
|
Certifications
Country | Certification | Units shipped |
---|---|---|
United States | Platinum[25] | 1,000,000[26] |
References
Notes
- Hot 100.
Footnotes
- VNU Media). July 1, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Salem Publishing: 26–29. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c Cummings, Tony (October 9, 2007). "Casting Crowns: Exploring compromise in 'The Altar And The Door'". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b The Altar and the Door (Media notes). Casting Crowns. Beach Street/Reunion. 2007. pp. 4, 7.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Farias, Andree (September 13, 2007). "Casting Crowns: The Altar and the Door (Beach Street/Provident) - Christian Music Today". Christianity Today. Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on September 13, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Lawrence, Mark (August 7, 2007). "Casting Crowns – The Altar And The Door". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Price, Deborah Evans (September 1, 2007). "The Billboard Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 35. Prometheus Global Media. p. 55. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Salem Publishing: 39–40. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-05-05. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Mabee, Justin (August 23, 2007). "Casting Crowns, 'The Altar and the Door' Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Jones, Jennifer E. "The Altar and the Door". Christian Broadcasting Network. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b Mansfield, Brian (August 27, 2007). "This week's reviews: Ben, Joc, Emily, Ledisi, Crowns, Lyle & PE". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 2, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ Gannett Company. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ E! Online. NBCUniversal. December 6, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ^ "Complete List of Nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards". E! Online. NBCUniversal. December 3, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (September 5, 2007). "Three Weeks at No. 1 for 'High School Musical 2'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Christian Albums (September 15, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Digital Albums (September 15, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- Gannett Company. September 6, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Mayfield, Geoff (September 15, 2007). "SoundScan Offers Sneak Peaks; Soul Hits Target". Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 37. Prometheus Global Media. p. 109. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Hasty, Katie (September 12, 2007). "'High School Musical 2' Still Tops On Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Chart dates for The Altar and the Door on the Christian Albums chart:
- September 15: "Christian Albums (September 15, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- September 22: "Christian Albums (September 22, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- September 29: "Christian Albums (September 29, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- October 6: "Christian Albums (October 6, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- October 20: "Christian Albums (October 20, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- October 27: "Christian Albums (October 27, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- November 3: "Christian Albums (November 3, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- November 17: "Christian Albums (November 17, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- November 24: "Christian Albums (November 24, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- December 1: "Christian Albums (December 1, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- December 29: "Christian Albums (December 29, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- April 5: "Christian Albums (April 5, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith; Pietroluongo, Silvio (September 2, 2010). "Chart Moves: Katy Perry, Vampire Weekend, Cee-Lo, Taylor Swift". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Chart dates for The Altar and the Door on the Catalog Albums chart:
- September 11: "Catalog Albums (September 11, 2010)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- September 18: "Catalog Albums (September 18, 2010)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- September 25: "Catalog Albums (September 25, 2010)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- October 9: "Catalog Albums (October 9, 2010)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- October 16: "Catalog Albums (October 16, 2010)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Gold and Platinum Database". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012. Note: User must input the artist name to attain the cited data.
- ^ a b "RIAA – Certification Criteria". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Price, Deborah Evans (March 3, 2014). "Casting Crowns Rock Live at Billboard, 'Thrive' as Christian Music's Biggest Band: Video". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ a b "Year-end Billboard 200 (2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Archived from the original on September 23, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Year-end Christian Albums (2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Year-end Billboard 200 (2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Year-end Christian Albums (2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Year-end Christian Albums (2009)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Decade-end Christian Albums (2000s)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ Wildsmith, Steve (November 11, 2011). "Casting Crowns members more concerned with the bigger picture than sales success". The Daily Times. Blount County Publishers LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Trust, Gary (April 23, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Which Carrie Songs to 'Play'?". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Bubbling Under Hot 100 (September 15, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Hot Christian Songs Decade-end (2000s)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Christian Songs (May 31, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ Jessen, Wade. "Soft AC/INSPO National Airplay". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved June 18, 2005.
- ^ "Christian Songs (December 20, 2008)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "Billboard 200 (September 15, 2007)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ "Catalog Albums (September 11, 2010)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
- ^ "Casting Crowns Album & Song History (Christian Songs)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 17, 2012.