Crave (For King & Country album)

Crave is the first studio album by contemporary Christian duo For King & Country, released on 28 February 2012 by Fervent-Curb Records.

Crave
Studio album by
For King & Country
Released28 February 2012
Recorded2011–2012
GenreContemporary Christian music, Christian rock
Length41:47
LabelFervent/Curb
ProducerBen Glover, Matt Hales, Shaun Shankel
For King & Country chronology
For King & Country: The EP
(2011)		 Crave
(2012)		 Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
(2014)

Recording

The album was recorded at several different studios in California and Nashville, Tennessee.[1] The album reworks versions of "Missing", "Sane" and "Love's to Blame" which the band had recorded earlier.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christianity Today[2]
Cross Rhythms[3]
Indie Vision Music[4]
Jesus Freak Hideout[5]
[6]
New Release Tuesday[7]
[8]
Out Housers[9]

Cross Rhythms' Simon Eden said "as a rock album, this is quite a man's man album - powerful stadium rock with a sound like a roaring inferno."[3]

Indie Vision Music's Jonathan Andre said "Crave is not your cliché album, and I was very intrigued to listen to it, to see if their sounds on the album were similar to that of their sister, Rebecca."[4] Furthermore, Andre wrote "though not a perfect album, this is a solid one from two Australians that will definitely go far in the American industry!"[4]

Jesus Freak Hideout's Ryan Barbee said "at first listen, I was honestly expecting something unappealing and typical. I was pleasantly surprised and happily repented of my negative predisposition. The brothers have truly offered a well-crafted album in Crave, and have given listeners something fresh to hear. The lyrics have depth, the music has energy and it is balanced wonderfully. If this is how they begin, I will definitely be craving more fine songs in the future from for King & Country."[5]

Jesus Freak Hideout's Michael Weaver said "Crave is full of soaring melodies as well as a stunning mix of guitars, piano, strings, keyboard, and electronic effects."[6] In addition, Weaver wrote "Crave has something great to offer at nearly every turn."[6] Weaver summed up "Crave, as a whole is nothing short of brilliant."[6]

Christianity Today's Lisa Ann Cockrel said "Crave is full of hopeful anthems that ratify For King and Country's earnest moniker."[2] However, Cockrel wrote "More grit would have served the project well. Most tracks start with some creative promise, only to devolve into generic riffs."[2]

New Release Tuesday's Sarah Fine said "Crave is hands-down one of the best debut projects I've heard from a group in years. Creative, poignant and moving, it comes from a very raw place of heartache and hope, never backing down from the honest truth, yet never shying away from the restoration found in Christ. Musically, it's unlike anything in the genre right now. Haunting, playful and deep all at once, it could quite easily beat out many of its mainstream counterparts."[7] New Release Tuesday's Jonathan Francesco said "Crave is destined to be a classic and will hopefully prove to have legs and land on many year-end lists despite its early release."[8]

Out Housers' Jeremy Shane said "because of the pop sound, I find all of their album to be pretty listenable, and there's nothing on it I really hate. Although also because of this some of my favorite songs on Crave are probably the less poppy and more unique sounding songs."[9] The reason for the low score is because Shane only considers that "there are two or three songs on it that will be added into my regular playlists in my own music."[9] Lastly, Shane wrote "I'd recommend this album to anyone into light or pop rock."[9]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Light it Up"Matt Hales, Joel Smallbone, Luke SmallboneMatt Hales3:31
2."The Proof of Your Love"Ben Glover, Jonathan Lee, Joel, Luke, Fred WilliamsBen Glover3:17
3."Missing"Glover, Joel, LukeShaun Shankel4:16
4."Busted Heart (Hold On to Me)"Glover, Joel, Luke, Jenna TorresGlover3:18
5."People Change"Chris Antblad, GloverShankel3:53
6."Middle of Your Heart"Glover, Joel, LukeGlover3:21
7."Love's to Blame"Rebecca St. James, Joel, LukeShankel4:27
8."Fine Fine Life"Ran Jackson, Ricky Jackson, Joel, LukeShankel3:40
9."Sane"Tyler Hayes, Joel, LukeShankel3:43
10."Pushing on a Pull Door"Hales, Joel, LukeHales3:56
11."Crave"Shaun Shankel, Joel, LukeHales4:25
Total length:41:47

An expanded edition was released in 2013 containing two additional songs: "The Proof of Your Love [The Monologue Mix]" and "Hope Is What We Crave".[10]

Charts
Chart performance for Crave
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[11] 128
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[12] 4
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[13] 15

References
  1. According to the album booklet.
  2. Cockrel, Lisa Ann (1 February 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". Christianity Today. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. Eden, Simon (10 April 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  4. Andre, Jonathan (27 April 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  5. Barbee, Ryan (26 February 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  6. Weaver, Michael (16 February 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  7. Fine, Sarah (12 February 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  8. Francesco, Jonathan (21 May 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  9. Shane, Jeremy (28 February 2012). "Review: for KING & COUNTRY Crave". TheOuthousers.com. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  10. Per Amazon track listing https://www.amazon.com/Crave-KING-COUNTRY/dp/B00EHR01Y2 and back of album https://imgur.com/a/Hqdj28m
  11. "for King & Country Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  12. "for King & Country Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  13. "for King & Country Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
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