Don't Censor Me
Encyclopedia
Don't Censor Me is the second studio album
released by Audio Adrenaline
. The album features the song "Big House
", which is considered the most popular song of the band.
, they describe the songs as "cheerleader songs" for their upbeat and cheerful rhythms. In the same interview, the band agrees that Don't Censor Me better approached the style and concept they wanted, when compared to their first album
, but "it still didn't hit the mark".
, Gaga Studios and Fun Attic, both on Franklin
. Recording was in charge of Steve Griffith and Joe Baldridge. Griffith, Baldridge and Dave Frank were also in charge of the mixing
, some of which was done at SoundStage, in Nashville, Tennessee
. The mastering was done by Hank Williams at MasterMix, on Nashville
too.
appeared as three "cool guys" in the video for "A.K.A. Public School".
, gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5. Portell wrote that the album "showcases the band's rising maturity both lyrically and musically" and that it "may not be Audio Adrenaline's best effort, but at the same time a stepping stone in the band's growth spiritually and musically". Portell also compared their style to Collective Soul
, Maroon 5
, and John Mayer
.
The album produced the hit singles "Can't Take God Away" and "Big House
". The latter reached number 1 on Christian radio and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career. It received the Song of the Decade title from CCM Magazine
for the 1990s.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
released by Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
. The album features the song "Big House
Big House (song)
"Big House" is a song by Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline, from their 1993 album Don't Censor Me. The song reached number 1 on Christian radio and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career...
", which is considered the most popular song of the band.
Background and concept
According to the band, the album is aimed at a young audience like they were at the time. In an interview with CCM MagazineCCM Magazine
CCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
, they describe the songs as "cheerleader songs" for their upbeat and cheerful rhythms. In the same interview, the band agrees that Don't Censor Me better approached the style and concept they wanted, when compared to their first album
Audio Adrenaline (album)
Audio Adrenaline is the first full-length album by the Christian rock band of the same name. "My God" was one of the first songs recorded by the band, which caught the attention of ForeFront Records.- Development :...
, but "it still didn't hit the mark".
Recording
Don't Censor Me was recorded in 1993 at various studios on TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Gaga Studios and Fun Attic, both on Franklin
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
. Recording was in charge of Steve Griffith and Joe Baldridge. Griffith, Baldridge and Dave Frank were also in charge of the mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, some of which was done at SoundStage, in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. The mastering was done by Hank Williams at MasterMix, on Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
too.
Track listing
All songs written by Barry Blair, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss & Mark Stuart except were noted- "Can't Take God Away" (Toby McKeehanToby McKeehanToby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, Todd Collins, Blair, Herdman, Stuart, McGinniss) - 3:59 - "A.K.A. Public School" - 3:32
- "Soulmate" - 3:37
- "My World View" (featuring Kevin MaxKevin MaxKevin Max Smith is an American singer, songwriter, and poet. He is best known for being a member of the Christian pop group dc Talk...
) - 4:24 - "Big HouseBig House (song)"Big House" is a song by Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline, from their 1993 album Don't Censor Me. The song reached number 1 on Christian radio and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career...
" - 3:33 - "Jesus & the California Kid" - 2:55
- "Don't Censor Me" - 3:15
- "Let Love" - 4:35
- "We're a Band" - 4:02
- "Rest Easy" - 4:42
- "Scum Sweetheart" - 4:09
- appears on Hit ParadeHit Parade (Audio Adrenaline album)Hit Parade is Audio Adrenaline's first greatest hits album. It features fifteen hits from the band's previous albums, plus two new songs: "Will Not Fade" and "One Like You".-Track listing:#"Will Not Fade"* - 3:49#"I'm Not the King" - 3:52...
- appears on Adios: The Greatest HitsAdios: The Greatest HitsAdios: The Greatest Hits is the final album released by Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline, and their second Greatest Hits album.- Overview :...
Band members
- Mark StuartMark Stuart (musician)Mark Allen Stuart is a Christian rock musician, and is best known for being the vocalist for the now-retired Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline.-Early life:...
– lead vocals - Barry Blair – guitars
- Bob HerdmanBob HerdmanBob Mortimer Herdman is a Christian musician, songwriter and producer more known for being a member of the band Audio Adrenaline.-Biography:...
– keyboards - Will McGinniss – bass
Additional musicians
- Kevin Max Smith (from dc TalkDc TalkDC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
) - guest vocals on "My World View" - Dave Frank – vocals, musician
- Steve Griffith – vocals, musician
- Greg Herrington – musician
- Tony Miracle - musician
- Blair Masters - musician
- Todd Collins - vocals, musician
- Nicole Coleman-Mullen – vocals
- Jimmie Lee Sloas – vocals, vocal arrangement on "Can't Take God Away"
Production and recording
- Steve Griffith - producer, engineer, mixer
- The Gotee BrothersThe Gotee BrothersThe Gotee Brothers were a Contemporary Christian Music group formed of Toby McKeehan , Joey Elwood, and Todd Collins that recorded one album in the 1990s entitled "ERACE". The album's name abbreviated "Eliminating Racism and Creating Equality", and its contents dealt with racial issues...
- producers for "Can't Take God Away" and "We're a Band" - Eddie DeGarmoEddie DeGarmoEddie DeGarmo is an American Contemporary Christian music recording artist, keyboardist, producer and singer. Became best friends with guitarist/lead vocalist Dana Key since the first grade, DeGarmo co-founded the Christian rock group DeGarmo and Key in 1978...
- executive producer - Dan R. Brock - executive producer
- Dave Frank - mixer
- Joe Baldridge - engineer, mixer
- David Hall - assistant mix engineer
- Joan Miller - production assistant
- Hank Williams - mastering
- Jeff Frazier - photography
- Jeff and Lisa Franke - design
- Carol Maxwell - makeup
Music videos
Music videos were made for the songs "A.K.A. Public School", "Big House", and "We're A Band". dc TalkDc Talk
DC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
appeared as three "cool guys" in the video for "A.K.A. Public School".
Reception
Don't Censor Me was well received by the audience selling more than 250,000 copies. Thom Granger, of AllMusic, gave the album 3 stars out of 5 calling it "more pop-savvy". Paul Portell, of Jesus Freak HideoutJesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
, gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5. Portell wrote that the album "showcases the band's rising maturity both lyrically and musically" and that it "may not be Audio Adrenaline's best effort, but at the same time a stepping stone in the band's growth spiritually and musically". Portell also compared their style to Collective Soul
Collective Soul
Collective Soul is an American rock band originally formed in Stockbridge, Georgia. Collective Soul broke into mainstream popularity with their first hit single, "Shine", which came from their debut album Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid, released in 1993...
, Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
, and John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
.
The album produced the hit singles "Can't Take God Away" and "Big House
Big House (song)
"Big House" is a song by Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline, from their 1993 album Don't Censor Me. The song reached number 1 on Christian radio and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career...
". The latter reached number 1 on Christian radio and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career. It received the Song of the Decade title from CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine
CCM Magazine was a monthly magazine published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. It was first published in July 1978, and it has always been a Christian music magazine. On January 16, 2008, Salem announced that the April 2008 issue would be the final printed issue of the...
for the 1990s.
External links
- Audio Adrenaline
- ForeFront Records
- "Big House" music video
- Don't Censor Me on AmazonAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...