Rated R is the eighth studio album by American Christian rock band Red. It was released on September 29, 2023 through the band's independent label Red Entertainment in collaboration with The Fuel Music. The album was produced by Anthony Armstrong, the band's guitarist. It is the first studio album to feature the band's new drummer Brian Medeiros.[1][2][3]
| Rated R | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 29, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal, Christian rock, Symphonic rock, Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 33:50 | |||
| Label | Red Entertainment, The Fuel | |||
| Producer | Anthony Armstrong | |||
| Red chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Rated R | ||||
| ||||
Background
editThe album is produced by the band's guitarist, Anthony Armstrong, making it their first studio album to be entirely self-produced. Joe Rickard, who is the band's long-time friend and former drummer, did the mixing for the album, a role he also provided on their previous album, Declaration, as well as co-writing the lead single, "Surrogates".[4] The album also features songwriting credit from Keith Wallen, who also co-wrote "Sever", the band's second single from Declaration.
Release and promotion
editThe group's first live album, Until We Have Faces: Live and Unplugged, was released on December 2, 2022.[5] During the announcement of the live album's release, the band also announced that they will release a new album sometime in spring 2023.[6] The band went on both headlining tours and supporting tours with American bands Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH and Pistols at Dawn for January and the majority of February.[7]
On January 24, 2023, they revealed the name of the new album on their Facebook page.[8] In February 2023, the band released a snippet that shows a string recording session for the album.[9] On June 16, they revealed the album would be released on September 29, 2023, while also stating that the lead single of the album titled "Surrogates" would be available for all streaming services on August 4.[4] The band also announced they embark on the "Rated R Tour", which started in September and will carry on until 2024.[4] On August 4, the band released the single.[10][11][12] On September 1, they unveiled two singles "Cold World" and "Minus It All".[13][14] On January 9, 2024, an official lyric video for "Cold World" was released on their YouTube Channel.[15]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Album of the Year | 70/100[21] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |   [16]  [16] |
| Sputnikmusic | [17] |
| Today's Christian Entertainment | [18]
[19] |
| Cryptic Rock | [20] |
Rated R received generally favorable reviews from fans and critics, who praised the production, concept and musicianship, however criticism was aimed towards the short runtime. The songwriting received a polarizing reception.
Jesus Freak Hideout said of the album, "Rated R is far less controversial than the title implies but fitting in the sense that it is a thoroughly Red album filled with hard-hitting guitar riffs, the unmistakable emotional vocals of Michael Barnes, and an abundance of strings. A step up from the already strong Declaration (but perhaps not quite as ambitious as Of Beauty and Rage), this is a satisfying and evocative entry for the RED catalog."[16] Tyler White for Sputnikmusic said, "While Rated R feels like a stronger return to form following Declaration and Gone, the band still feels like it's reaching for what they've lost from the past. The orchestral elements are back, the production has improved, and Red has brought back their darker side, it doesn't quite meet the same peaks as Innocence & Instinct or Of Beauty and Rage. Nevertheless, this is a step back in the right direction for the band as they bring back the elements and style they were once excelling at."[17]
Cryptic Rock also praised the album, concluding: "Overall, Red does not disappoint with Rated R and continues to show that they can still spark a fire in your soul. Much like a good deal of their previous work, Rated R is, as mentioned, highly cinematic. Playing like classic movements, the vocal performance of Barnes only amplifies everything to the next level… think of it all as a cry for humankind. However, it is not all meant to be doom and gloom, because the key objective is to be a cathartic release, and raise a warning to stop, look, and listen to what is happening around us. It is easy to fall into the traps of the modern world with the bombardment of media of all types, the divisive persuasions, and the false, twisted ideals. Thankfully bands like Red remind us the most important thing is, we are alive, we should always think for ourselves, but yet broadly conscience, and think about others."[22]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Surrogates" | Anthony Armstrong, Joe Rickard | 3:00 |
| 2. | "Your Devil Is a Ghost" | A. Armstrong, Lucio Rubino | 3:11 |
| 3. | "Minus It All" | A. Armstrong | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Cold World" | A. Armstrong, Keith Wallen | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Tell Me How to Say Goodbye" | A. Armstrong, Rubino, Jeremy Thomas | 3:49 |
| 6. | "The Suffering" | A. Armstrong, Michael Barnes | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Still Bleeding" | A. Armstrong, Rubino, Barnes | 3:22 |
| 8. | "Our Time Will Come" | A. Armstrong, Wallen | 3:44 |
| 9. | "Last Forever" | A. Armstrong, Rubino, Barnes | 3:20 |
| 10. | "Emergency" | A. Armstrong, Barnes, Jason McArthur | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 33:50 | ||
Personnel
editRed
- Michael Barnes – lead vocals
- Anthony Armstrong – guitars, backing vocals, additional vocals (2), programming
- Randy Armstrong – bass, backing vocals, piano
- Brian Medeiros – drums
Additional musicians
- Teirney Armstrong – additional vocals (5)
- Elizabeth Lamb – viola
- Monica Angelo – viola
- Carole Rabinowitz – cello
- Paul Nelson – cello
- David Angell – violin
- Karen Winkelmann – violin
- Janet Darnall – violin
- Ali Hoffman – violin
Production
- Anthony Armstrong – production
- Randy Armstrong – executive producer
- Lucio Rubino – co-producer on "Tell Me How To Say Goodbye"
- Joe Rickard – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Paul DeCarli – digital editing
- Mike Plotnikoff – engineer
- Randy Beasterfield – engineer on "Surrogates"
- Clayton Blue – engineer
- Taylor Pollert – engineer
- Courtney Dellafiora – artwork, design, photography
Additional personnel
- David Davidson – string arranger
- Joe Rickard – programming
- Jay Wud – programming
- Lucio Rubino – programming
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[23] | 10 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[24] | 98 |
| US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[25] | 63 |
References
edit- ^ "Red Release New Song "Surrogates"". Indie Vision Music. August 6, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ ""Surrogates" By Red Is Setting Rock Into Full Swing". Glasse Factory. August 14, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED RELEASES FIRST STUDIO ALBUM IN THREE YEARS, RATED R, SEPT. 29". Jesus Freak Hidout. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Our album RATED R is coming out..., retrieved July 12, 2023
- ^ "RED to release live and unplugged version of popular album". RadioU. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
- ^ "RED Releases Their First Live Album Today with Another Coming in 2023". JubileeCast. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "ALTER BRIDGE Announce 2023 North American Tour With Guests MAMMOTH WVH, RED, PISTOLS AT DAWN". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "RED". Facebook. Red. January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
Our new album "RATED R" COMING SPRING 2023
- ^ Recording strings today for our new album 'RATED R', retrieved July 12, 2023
- ^ "Red releases new single, "Surrogates"". RadioU. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED Releases Surrogates, Lead Single from RATED R Album". Jesus Wired. August 4, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED to Release New Album 'Rated R'; Premiere Lead Single "Surrogates"". V13. August 17, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED Releases Double Single, 'Cold World' / 'Minus It All' + Announces Headline Tour". CCM Magazine. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "RED Releases Double-Sided Single, "Cold World" / "Minus It All"; Tickets Available Now For RED's Headline Fall "The RATED R Tour"". Sidestage Magazine. September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ RED - Cold World (Official Lyric Video), retrieved 2024-02-22
- ^ a b c Baldwin, Matt (September 22, 2023). "JFH Staff Review: Red – Rated R". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ a b White, Tyler (October 11, 2023). "Review: Red (USA) - Rated R - Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ Thigpen, Abby (September 28, 2023). "RED 'Rated R'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ Heilman, Jay (September 29, 2023). "RED 'Rated R'". Today's Christian Entertainment. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "Red - Rated R (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. September 29, 2023.
- ^ "Red - RATED R - Reviews". Album of the Year. October 12, 2023.
- ^ CrypticRock (2023-09-29). "Red - Rated R (Album Review)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
- ^ "Red Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "Top Album Sales 10-14-2023". Billboard. October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ "Top Current Album Sales 10-14-2023". Billboard. October 14, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.