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Awake (Skillet album)

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Untitled

Awake is the eighth album by Christian rock band Skillet. It is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated album Comatose. The album was released on August 25, 2009 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.[2] On July the 2nd the band confirmed that Awake had gone Gold in the US that day selling 500 000 units. [3]

Background

Skillet began recording for the album around October 2008.[4] The band recorded at Bay7 Studios in Los Angeles, California, with Howard Benson as the band's producer.[5] The album contains 12 songs.[6] Lead singer John Cooper wrote more than 40 songs in preparation.[7] He said that there was much pressure while recording the album: "Every time you do a record, there's pressure because you want to outdo the last record. This time it was intensified because the last project was so successful."[8]

“We’re living in hard times right now between the news that seems to get crazier every day and all the uncertainly throughout society in general,” says Cooper. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there’s hope, and sure you can choose to give up, but why not face it ‘Awake and Alive’? Life is full of challenges, and sometimes when you look deep into yourself, you can feel weighed down by sin and the ‘Monster’ that lives inside us all. But the more you realize your need for Christ, the less you focus on that, and on Him instead. Everything we sing about on this album is something someone can relate to, and if anything, the songs will let you know you’re not alone.”

John Cooper also mentioned in a fan interview that his favorite song on the album is "It's Not Me It's You" because of its 'in your face' rock. He explains that it's about getting rid of a negative influence in your life, and finally realizing that it's them that is bringing you down.

Musical style

According to band members, the album is similar to their 2006 release Comatose, featuring strings and guitars with a harder rock sound than their previous album.[9] John Cooper said that it "sounds like Skillet with some new things people may not expect." On Skillet's website, they describe their musical style as "Classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, and undeniably catchy choruses... hints of old school progressive rock mixed in with modern alternative flourishes... touches of classical influence as swelling strings intersect with sonic adrenaline rushes."[7][10]

Release and promotion

The band finished the first leg of their Awake and Alive Tour in support of Awake, which opened on September 24, 2009 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and encompassing 52 cities between September and December. They were accompanied by The Letter Black, Decyfer Down, and Hawk Nelson on the tour.[11] The band recently finished the second leg of the tour with RED and The Letter Black in April.[12][13] They also toured with tobyMac and House of Heroes on the Awake Tonight Tour in March and April,[14] and will resume the tour in November and December.

Awake was released on August 25, 2009, through Lava/INO Records,[15] and debuted at #2 on the national U.S. Billboard 200 chart.[2] It also placed on other Billboard magazine charts as #1 on Top Alternative Albums, #2 on Top Rock Albums, and #1 on the Top Christian Albums listing.[2] The album sold 68,000 copies in its first week, Skillet's best-selling and highest charting opening week to date.[16]

Awake tied Underoath's Define The Great Line and Casting Crowns' The Altar and the Door for the highest charting Christian rock album on the Billboard 200, debuting at #2.

The song "Awake and Alive" also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 100 and #16 on the Heatseakers charts. It was Skillet's first song to chart on the Hot 100.[17] The song was released to Christian CHR and rock radio in February 2010.

"Monster" and "Hero" were used on the soundtrack of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 video game, with "Monster" also being used for 2009's WWE Hell in a Cell PPV and "Hero" being used for the 2009 Tribute to the Troops show and 2010's Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

"Awake and Alive" was used by ABC's daytime drama One Life to Live as part of the show's November Sweeps Promo in November 2009 as well as in promos for the MLB's National League and American League Playoff Series.[18]

"Hero" was used in commercials for Sunday Night Football, and is currently being used in commercials for the NBA on TNT.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hero"John Cooper, Korey Cooper3:08
2."Monster"Gavin Brown, John Cooper2:59
3."Don't Wake Me"Brian Howes, John Cooper3:55
4."Awake and Alive"Brian Howes, John Cooper3:31
5."One Day Too Late"Brian Howes, John Cooper3:40
6."It's Not Me It's You"John Cooper3:24
7."Should've When You Could've"John Cooper3:31
8."Believe"David Bassett, John Cooper3:50
9."Forgiven"John Cooper3:39
10."Sometimes"John Cooper3:29
11."Never Surrender"Dave Bassett, John Cooper3:31
12."Lucy"John Cooper3:38
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Dead Inside"John Cooper2:56
14."Would It Matter" 4:12
15."Monster (Radio Edit)"Gavin Brown, John Cooper2:59

Singles

  • "Hero" was released as the album's lead single on May 19, 2009.[19]
  • "Monster" was released to mainstream rock radio on July 14, 2009.[20]
  • "Awake and Alive" was released to Christian CHR and Rock radio on February 15, 2010.[21]
  • "Forgiven" was released to Christian CHR/Rock on August 2, 2010, according to All Access.

Charts

Year Chart Peak
position
2009 U.S. Billboard 200 2[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Alternative Albums 1[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums 2[2]
2009 U.S. Billboard Top Christian Albums 1[2]

Personnel

Awards

The album was nominated for the following awards at the 41st Dove Awards

  • Rock Recorded Song Of The Year – “Hero”
  • Rock Album Of The Year – Awake
  • Short Form Video Of The Year – “Hero”
  • Short Form Video Of The Year – “Monster”

References

  1. ^ http://www.allaccess.com/christian/future-releases
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Awake – Skillet". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  3. ^ http://allaccessmagazine.com/2010/08/05/skillet/
  4. ^ "Skillet's Comatose Tour Plays To Capacity/Sold Out Crowds". Gospel Music Channel. 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
  5. ^ "Skillet's Comatose Tour Rakes In Sold Out and Capacity Crowds While Band Garners Two BMI Songwriting Awards". Jesus Freak Hideout (The M Collective). 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-05-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Track List". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
  7. ^ a b "Skillet comes to the Crown". The Fayetteville Observer. 2009-05-14. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  8. ^ Fred Phillips (2009-05-07). "Christian group Skillet comes to West Monroe". Monroe News Star. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  9. ^ Fred Phillips (2009-05-07). "Christian group Skillet comes to West Monroe (page 2)". Monroe News Star. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  10. ^ "SKILLET TO UNVEIL "AWAKE" ON AUGUST 25th". Jesus Freak Hideout. 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  11. ^ "Official Dates: Skillet's Awake & Alive Tour 2009". StereoTruth.net. 2009-07-28. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  12. ^ "Skillet's Awake & Alive Tour". Inorecords.com. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  13. ^ "Skillet Awake and Alive Tour - Skillet on Tour Featuring Red and The Letter Black - About.com". Christianmusic.about.com. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  14. ^ "Awake Tonight Tour f. TOBYMAC and SKILLET". Tobymac.com. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  15. ^ "Skillet Discography". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
  16. ^ Monica Herrera (September 2, 2009). "Colbie Caillat's No. 1, Miley Crashes Party On Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  17. ^ Awake and Alive Songfacts
  18. ^ "SKILLET'S "COMATOSE" CERTIFIED GOLD BY THE RIAA AS "AWAKE" SURPASSES 200K IN 12 WEEKS | HM". Hmmagazine.com. 2009-11-19. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
  19. ^ "What's New". ChristianRock.Net. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  20. ^ "Skillet Ready to Rise with 'Awake'". EarthTimes.Org. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  21. ^ "Future Releases for Christian Radio Stations | Free New Songs from Music Artists |". Allaccess.com. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
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