Seven (Brooke Ligertwood album)

Seven is the first live album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Brooke Ligertwood and her seventh solo album overall. It was released on 25 February 2022, via Sparrow Records and Capitol Christian Music Group.[1] The album features a guest appearance by Brandon Lake. The album was recorded on 11 November 2021, at The Belonging Co in Nashville, Tennessee. Ligertwood collaborated with Jason Ingram in handling the production of the album.[2]

Seven
Live album by
Released25 February 2022 (2022-02-25)
Recorded11 November 2021
VenueThe Belonging Co, Nashville, Tennessee, US
GenreContemporary worship music
Length56:35
Label
Producer
Brooke Ligertwood chronology
B Sides
(2018)
Seven
(2022)
Eight
(2023)
Singles from Seven
  1. "A Thousand Hallelujahs"
    Released: 14 January 2022
  2. "Honey in the Rock"
    Released: 25 March 2022

The album has been supported by the release of "A Thousand Hallelujahs" and "Honey in the Rock" as singles. "A Thousand Hallelujahs" peaked at number 44 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart. "Honey in the Rock" peaked at number seven on the Hot Christian Songs chart. "Nineveh" was also released as promotional single.

Seven debuted at number 36 on the New Zealand Top 40 Albums chart, and at number 15 on the Top Christian Albums chart in the United States. Seven received two GMA Dove Award nominations for Worship Album of the Year and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards.[3]

Background

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In October 2021, Ligertwood announced that she would be releasing Seven, a live worship album, in 2022.[4] The album recording was held on 11 November 2021, at The Belonging Co, a church in Nashville, Tennessee.[5] Seven marks Ligertwood's first solo live project, and the seventh overall release in her solo career.[4] Her previous solo releases were billed under her maiden name, Brooke Fraser, while concurrently serving as part of Hillsong Worship as a worship leader and songwriter, co-writing critically acclaimed worship songs such as "What a Beautiful Name," and "King of Kings."[6] The album also marks her first solo album of original music since Brutal Romantic (2014) and the first to explore explicitly Christian and biblical themes.

In the process of creating the album, Brooke Ligertwood co-wrote the songs with her husband and longtime collaborator Scott Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, as well as Steven Furtick and Brandon Lake among others.[7] The album features a band spanning the worship movement, with musicians from Hillsong, Bethel and Vineyard, along with 30 piece choir.[4] Ligertwood has said that Seven cannot be placed within the context of her Brooke Fraser catalogue because the collection of songs was intended for the church, thus inspiring the title, and that the album being her seventh solo record was incidental.[8] Ligertwood elaborated that the title of the album was drawn from the bible in Revelation 1, wherein John the Apostle received instruction to write down his vision and send letters to the seven churches, expressing that she also had written down what she had been given and sending it to the church.[9] Ligertwood emphasised that she had no desire to release a worship album under her own name, but ended up doing so "because of how the songs came about and the way I knew it needed to be made and released into the world."[8]

Release and promotion

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Singles

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"A Thousand Hallelujahs" was released as the lead single of Seven on 14 January 2022,[10] accompanied with its live music video.[11] "A Thousand Hallelujahs" debuted at number 44 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[12]

"Honey in the Rock" with Brandon Lake was impacted Christian radio stations in the United States on 25 March 2022, as the second single from the album.[13] "Honey in the Rock" peaked at number seven on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[12]

Promotional singles

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"Nineveh" was released as the first and only promotional single from the album on 4 February 2022,[14] accompanied with its live music video.[15]

Reception

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Critical response

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
365 Days of Inspiring Media5/5[16]
JubileeCast5/5[17]

Timothy Yap of JubileeCast wrote a positive review of the album, saying "If you are looking for worship songs that delve deeper than the recycled lyrical tropes and cliches, give this album a go. These songs are creatively and poetically worded and they are thoughtfully and prayerfully executed."[17] In a NewReleaseToday review, Jasmine Patterson commended Ligertwood's effort on the project, saying: "Brooke Ligertwood makes bold choices on this album that are so refreshing. I so appreciate her fearlessness to take risks and lead God’s people where He’s calling us to go through the messages of these songs. Every moment on Seven is holy and precious. This album will lead you into an experience with God in both personal and corporate times of worship."[18] Gerod Bass of Worship Musician magazine wrote a positive review of the album, saying "Brooke Ligertwood writes with depth and forethought and her delivery of these songs are sweet and honest. I would have liked one or two more upbeat tracks, but this is still a really good album."[19] Jonathan Andre in his 365 Days of Inspiring Media review opined that "Seven is one of my favourites of 2022 thus far, and needs to be listened to, at least once, by anyone who’s a fan of Brooke, worship music, or both. Well done Brooke for Seven. Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for this album, in the upcoming weeks and months ahead."[16]

Accolades

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Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref
2022 GMA Dove Awards Worship Album of the Year Nominated
Recorded Music Packaging of the Year Nominated

Commercial performance

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Seven debuted at number 36 on the New Zealand Top 40 Albums chart.[21] In the United States, Seven debuted at number 15 on Top Christian Albums chart dated 12 March 2022.[22]

Track listing

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Seven track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ancient Gates"
5:25
2."Banner"
  • B. Ligertwood
  • Ingram
  • S. Ligertwood
3:59
3."A Thousand Hallelujahs"
5:09
4."Communion"
  • B. Ligertwood
  • Ingram
  • S. Ligertwood
6:21
5."Communion (Meditation)"
  • B. Ligertwood
  • Ingram
  • S. Ligertwood
6:31
6."Nineveh"
4:28
7."Burn"
  • B. Ligertwood
  • Furtick
4:51
8."Honey in the Rock" (with Brandon Lake)
  • Brandon Lake
  • B. Ligertwood
  • Mitch Wong
4:44
9."I Belong to Jesus (Dylan's Song)"
  • B. Ligertwood
  • Chris Davenport
5:40
10."King Jesus"B. Ligertwood9:27
Total length:56:35
SevenApple Music bonus video content[23]
No.TitleLength
11."A Thousand Hallelujahs" (live in Nashville, TN/2021)5:11
12."Nineveh" (live in Nashville, TN/2021)4:28
13."Honey in the Rock" (with Brandon Lake; live in Nashville, TN/2021)4:46

Charts

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Release history

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Release history and formats for Seven
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 25 February 2022 [23]

References

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  1. ^ Chavez, Adriana (25 February 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Releases Solo Album 'SEVEN'". Vacancy Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  2. ^ Clarks, Jessie (25 February 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Drops Live Solo Album 'SEVEN' - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  3. ^ Yap, Timothy (11 August 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Responds to Her GMA Dove Awards Nominations : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Yap, Timothy (25 February 2022). "You Can Be Part of Hillsong's Brooke Ligertwood Upcoming Live Album "SEVEN" : News : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Brooke Ligertwood - Nashville, TN, The Belonging Co, Nashville, 11 November 2021". StayHappening. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  6. ^ "JFH News: Brooke Ligertwood Hosts Powerful Evening for Live-Recording of New Album, "Seven"". Jesus Freak Hideout. 12 November 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  7. ^ Longs, Herb (13 November 2021). "Brooke Ligertwood Hosts Powerful Evening For Live-Recording Of New Album 'Seven' - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b Madeline, Crone (25 February 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Marries Theology and Art on 'SEVEN' - American Songwriter". American Songwriter. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ "JFH News: Brooke Ligertwood Releases New Solo Album, "Seven"". Jesus Freak Hideout. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  10. ^ Cluver, Ross (14 January 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Releases New Solo Single 'A Thousand Hallelujahs' | CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  11. ^ Clarks, Jessie (14 January 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Releases "A Thousand Hallelujahs (Live)" - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Brooke Ligertwood". Billboard. Hot Christian Songs Chart History. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Capitol CMG Radio on Instagram: "Check out Brooke Ligertwood performing "Honey In The Rock" on the @kellyclarksonshow 🍯 🪨 IMPACTING THIS FRIDAY!…"". Instagram. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  14. ^ Clarks, Jessie (4 February 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Drops "Nineveh" From Forthcoming Live Solo Album - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  15. ^ Cluver, Ross (4 February 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood Drops 'Nineveh' from New Album 'SEVEN' | CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  16. ^ a b Andre, Jonathan (26 June 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood – SEVEN | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b Yap, Timothy (24 February 2022). "Brooke Ligertwood "SEVEN (Live)" Album Review : Exclusives : JubileeCast". JubileeCast. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  18. ^ Patterson, Jasmine (1 March 2022). "Seven (Live) by Brooke Christian CD Book Reviews | NRTeam Member KevinDavis_NRT | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  19. ^ Bass, Gerod (17 March 2022). "Now Hear This". Worship Musician Magazine March 2022. Adolph Agency Incorporated. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  20. ^ "2022 Winners | The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  21. ^ a b "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Top Christian Albums - Billboard". Billboard. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b "SEVEN (Live) by Brooke Ligertwood on Apple Music". Apple Music. United States. Apple Inc. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "Brooke Ligertwood Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Brooke Ligertwood Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Top Christian Albums – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  28. ^ "Top Christian Albums – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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