Bloom (Audio Adrenaline album)
Bloom is the third studio album released by Audio Adrenaline. In 1999, the album was certified Gold by RIAA.[1]
| Bloom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 20, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Studio | Ardent Recordings, Memphis, TN The Salt Mine, Brentwood, TN House of Insomnia, Franklin, TN | |||
| Genre | Christian rock | |||
| Length | 50:29 | |||
| Label | ForeFront | |||
| Producer | John Hampton | |||
| Audio Adrenaline chronology | ||||
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| Alternate cover | ||||
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Concept
Bloom represented a departure from the band's previous efforts into a more straightforward rock with hints of grunge music.[2] According to the band, both the title and the music reflects the way they've matured and "grown into a new phase of life".[3]
Recording
Bloom was recorded in 1995 at various studios in Tennessee: Ardent Recordings in Memphis, The Salt Mine in Brentwood, and House of Insomnia in Franklin. Producer, John Hampton, was in charge of the recording and mixing. The mastering was done by Ken Love at MasterMix, Nashville, Tennessee.[4]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [6] |
Bloom was well received by the audience becoming the first album of the band to be certified gold by RIAA.[7] John DiBiase, of Jesus Freak Hideout, gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5, calling it "a brave and risky album for the band that only proved to be an ultimately wise stylistic change... it's among their best, and a dang good 90's rock album." Paul Portell, also of Jesus Freak Hideout, gave it 3.5 stars out of 5, and wrote that the album "showed Audio A's growth and potential... No 90's Christian rock fan should be without this monumental project." Sherwin Frias, of Jesus Freak Hideout too, praised the band's improved songwriting and called the album "fantastic" and "essential for any AudioA fan".[8]
Commercial performance
The album peaked at No. 77 on Billboard 200.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Secret" | Barry Blair, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Mark Stuart | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus[a][b]" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 4:27 |
| 3. | "Good People" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 3:26 |
| 4. | "I'm Not the King[a]" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 3:53 |
| 5. | "Walk on Water[a]" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 3:52 |
| 6. | "See Through" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 4:58 |
| 7. | "Free Ride" | Blair, Dan Hartman, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 3:23 |
| 8. | "Man of God" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 4:18 |
| 9. | "Gloryland" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 4:24 |
| 10. | "Jazz Odyssey" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 1:22 |
| 11. | "Bag Lady" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 4:11 |
| 12. | "I Hear Jesus Calling" | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 3:22 |
| 13. | "Memoir" (The song "Memoir" ends at 4:06. After approximately 21 seconds of silence [4:06 - 4:27], an untitled hidden track begins: it is a brief studio out-take.) | Blair, Herdman, McGinniss, Stuart | 5:10 |
| Total length: | 50:37 | ||
- a appears on Hit Parade
- b appears on Adios: The Greatest Hits
Personnel
Audio Adrenaline
- Mark Stuart – lead vocals
- Will McGinniss – bass, vocals
- Bob Herdman – guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Barry Blair – guitar, vocals
Additional musicians
- Jason Halbert – Moog synthesizer (7)
- Greg Herrington – drums
- Todd Collins – percussion montage, backing vocals
- John Hampton – percussion montage
- Ben Cissell – percussion montage
- Eddie DeGarmo – keyboard arrangements
Production
- John Hampton – producer, engineer, mixing at Ardent Recordings, Memphis, Tennessee
- The Gotee Brothers – producers
- Eddie DeGarmo – executive producer
- Dan R. Brock – executive producer
- Erick Flettrich – engineer
- John Painter – engineer
- Jef Curtiss – engineer
- Todd Collins – additional engineering on "See Through"
- Reid Waltz – additional engineering on "See Through"
- Ken Love – mastering at Master Mix, Nashville, Tennessee
- John Falls – photography
- Rusty Rust – aluminum photography
- Kerri McKeehan Stuart – art direction
- Brad Talbott – design
References
- RIAA website
- Bloom Reviews on Jesus Freak Hideout
- 100% Pure Adrenaline on CCM Magazine; Selby, Marykay (April 1996)
- Bloom slip cover; Audio Adrenaline (1996)
- AllMusic review
- Jesus Freak Hideout review
- RIAA website
- Bloom review on Jesus Freak Hideout; John DiBiase, Paul Portell, and Sherwin Frias
- Bloom on Billboard