Alive Again is the second studio album by contemporary Christian musician Matt Maher, released on September 22, 2009.[1] It is his second album with Essential Records. It reached #6 on the Billboard Christian albums chart, and reached #128 on the Billboard 200.[2] The single "Alive Again" became the top selling Christian and Gospel single on iTunes Rewind. The song "Hold Us Together" was the No. 1 K-LOVE song of 2010.[3]
| Alive Again | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 22, 2009 | |||
| Studio | The Smoakstack (Nashville, Tennessee)
| |||
| Genre | Contemporary Christian music, worship | |||
| Length | 55:30 | |||
| Label | Essential | |||
| Producer | Paul Moak | |||
| Matt Maher chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | Positive[4] |
| Christian Music Review | (4.1/5)[5] |
| Christianity Today |   [6] |
| Cross Rhythms | [7] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [8] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [9] |
| Louder Than the Music |  [10] |
Allmusic's Jared Johnson said this album "Matt takes a big leap forward on this record and offers some of the better-written praise & worship tracks to come along in some time."[4]
Christian Music Review's Laura Chambers alluded to the album as having "no actual weeds; it is the senses and condition of the listener that alone determine the resonance each song will have."[5]
Christianity Today's Andrea Bailey Willits noted that "discriminating ears long for intelligent worship songs cut from slightly darker cloth, and Matt Maher heeds that cry with an unselfconscious sophomore effort."[6]
Cross Rhythms's Carl Grimsditch told of this album that "overall this is well crafted worshipful music."[7]
Jesus Freak Hideout's Roger Gelwicks said he "can't honestly say that Alive Again is that unique of a worship experience."[8] However, he said "anyone looking for solid, unique worship would be wise to look there, but if you were a fan of Matt Maher's first outing, his follow-up will suit you just fine."[8]
Jesus Freak Hideout's Sara Kelm called this "a decent offering from this worship leader."[9] But she was highly critical, when she said "it could easily be transitioned from the album to a church worship setting, even stereotypically bringing down the volume for a chorus before ramping it up again. That's the major problem with this album, if one could call it that. This collection of songs is nothing special. Most of the songs, while having nice melodies, do not strike me as particularly different or challenging. The album has a common worship sound, with no real risks taken. Plus, the last half of the album seems weighed down with mellow songs, slowing the pace considerably."[9] Furthermore, she noted "if you want a worship album that is something different and new in terms of style and sound, look around at some of the other worship albums released this year. But if you liked Maher's first album and just really like the basic 'worship album' feel, this would be a good album for you."[9]
Louder Than the Music's Jono Davies said this album "is a very clean and powerful worship album and over time has grown on me as one of my favorite albums of the year."[10] In addition, Davies noted that "overall a wonderful album, not scared to sing out the name of Jesus in the lyrics."[10]
Accolades
editIn 2010, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Praise & Worship Album of the Year at the 41st GMA Dove Awards. The title song was also nominated for Worship Song of the Year.[11]
Track Listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Alive Again" | Maher, Jason Ingram | 3:59 |
| 2. | "Shout of the King" | Maher, Sarah Reeves | 4:06 |
| 3. | "Sing Over Your Children" | Maher, Ingram | 4:17 |
| 4. | "Hold Us Together" | Maher, Steve Wilson | 3:27 |
| 5. | "No Greater Love" | Maher, Audrey Assad, Chris Tomlin | 3:02 |
| 6. | "Love Comes Down" | Maher, Assad, Michael Gungor, Paul Moak | 4:43 |
| 7. | "Flesh and Bone" | Maher, Marc Byrd, Sarah Hart | 6:05 |
| 8. | "Remembrance (Communion Song)" | Maher, Matt Redman | 5:18 |
| 9. | "Letting Go" | Maher, Moak | 5:27 |
| 10. | "You Were on the Cross" | Maher, Assad, Kenny Butler | 5:15 |
| 11. | "Christ Is Risen" | Maher, Mia Fieldes | 4:56 |
| 12. | "Garden" | Maher, Assad | 4:51 |
| Total length: | 55:30 | ||
Personnel
edit- Matt Maher – vocals, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, vibraphone
- Audrey Assad – acoustic piano, backing vocals
- Cason Cooley – acoustic piano, electric piano, Omnichord
- Christopher Stevens – programming, backing vocals
- Tyler Burkum – guitars, electric guitar, backing vocals
- Paul Moak – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, pedal steel guitar, bass, backing vocals
- Tony Lucido – bass, Moog bass
- Jeremy Lutito – drums, percussion, programming
- Will Sayles – percussion
- Claire Indie – cello
- Chris Carmichael – strings, string arrangements
- Blaine Barcus – backing vocals
- Addie Davis – backing vocals
- Nina Williams – backing vocals
- Jamie Lee Wilson – backing vocals
Production
edit- Paul Moak – producer, engineer, recording
- Christopher Stevens – producer, mixing
- Jake Hartsfield – assistant engineer
- Scott Hundley – assistant engineer
- Justin March – assistant engineer
- Richard Dodd – mastering at RichardDodd.com
- Blaine Barcus – A&R
- Heather Hetzler – A&R coordinator
- Tim Parker – art direction, design
- Tec Petaja – photography
- Heather Cummings – hair stylist, make-up
- The Brown Book Agency – management
Charts
editAlbum
edit| Chart (2011) | Peak positions |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 128[12] |
| US Billboard Christian Albums | 6[13] |
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christian | |||||||
| 2009 | "Alive Again" | 12[14] | |||||
| 2010 | "Hold Us Together" | 6[14] | |||||
| 2011 | "Christ Is Risen" | 18[14] | |||||
References
edit- ^ "Music News, June 2009: ARTIST-WORSHIPPER MATT MAHER RELEASES SOPHOMORE ALIVE AGAIN SEPT. 22". Jesusfreakhideout.com. June 15, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ "Music Charts, Most Popular Music, Music by Genre & Top Music Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ "Top Christian Songs - Positive Encouraging K-LOVE". Klove.com. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Johnson, Jared. "Review: Alive Again". Allmusic. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Chambers, Laura (September 11, 2009). "Review: Alive Again". Christian Music Review. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Willits, Andre Bailey (September 1, 2009). "Review: Alive Again". Christianity Today. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Grimsditch, Carl (December 22, 2009). "Review: Alive Again". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Gelwicks, Roger (September 20, 2009). "Review: Alive Again". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Kelm, Sara (September 20, 2011). "Review: Alive Again". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Davies, Jono (October 26, 2009). "Review: Alive Again". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees announced Archived July 7, 2012, at archive.today on The Tennessean (February 18, 2010)
- ^ Billboard (January 13, 2012). "Matt Maher Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ Billboard (January 13, 2012). "Matt Maher Album & Song Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c Billboard (January 13, 2012). "Matt Maher Album & Song Chart History: Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2012.