Ordinary Dreamers
Encyclopedia
Ordinary Dreamers is the second full-length studio album
by Christian hip hop
band Group 1 Crew
. It was released on September 16, 2008 through Fervent Records
. The album charted at #15 on Billboard
s Top Heatseekers
chart. The album was produced by Chris Stevens. The first single from Ordinary Dreamers was the song "Keys to the Kingdom", released in mid-2008.
.
, one of the same labels as their previous record Group 1 Crew
. It debuted at #15 on Billboards Top Heatseekers
chart. The first radio single released off Ordinary Dreamers was the song "Keys to the Kingdom", within about a month of the album's release. The song entered R&R
's Christian CHR
chart on September 19, and as of October 3 had reached #23.
critics. Christianity Today
reviewer Andree Farias was positive about the album, claiming that it "establishes them as power players in Christian urban pop". The magazine noted that as "one slight thumbs down" the album sometimes falls into offering "saccharine melodies", specifically on the songs "Change" and "Our Time". Jesus Freak Hideout
was also fairly positive, though noting that "the first album was a better place to start", and that it would have been "nice to see something replace" the two tracks ("Keys to the Kingdom" and "I See You") that were also released on the band's remix EP No Plan B EP
from late 2007. Cross Rhythms
magazine, however, highly praised Ordinary Dreamers for its production and lyrics, giving the album a 9/10 rating.
The album's genre is a combination of rap/hip hop
, R&B and alt rock styles as well as pop
influences. The lead single "Keys to the Kingdom" has been defined as having "shifting gears, thick guitar
riffs and a plodding vibe". The track "Critical Emergency" features a horn
piece played by Lucy Bonilla.
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...
by Christian hip hop
Christian hip hop
Christian hip hop is hip hop music characterized by a Christian worldview, with the general purposes of evangelization , edifying members of the church and/or simply entertaining.-History:Since hip-hop started in the 1970s, various hip-hop artists have...
band Group 1 Crew
Group 1 Crew
Group 1 Crew is a Christian hip hop band signed to Fervent Records and Warner Bros. Records. They made their debut with their hit song "Can't Go On" on WOW Hits 2007. Soon after they released their first EP I Have a Dream . The band released their self-titled debut full-length studio album, Group 1...
. It was released on September 16, 2008 through Fervent Records
Fervent Records
Fervent Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Fervent was bought by Word Records in 2005.-Current Artists:* BarlowGirl* Big Daddy Weave* Chris August* Francesca Battistelli* Group 1 Crew* Sidewalk Prophets...
. The album charted at #15 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart. The album was produced by Chris Stevens. The first single from Ordinary Dreamers was the song "Keys to the Kingdom", released in mid-2008.
Background
The album's release date and title was announced in August 2008. It was produced by Chris Stevens and Andy Anderson. Ordinary Dreamers includes two tracks, "I See You" and the incredible track "Keys to the Kingdom", which were from the band's December 2007 remix release, No Plan B EPNo Plan B EP
No Plan B EP is an EP from Christian hip hop band Group 1 Crew. It was released on December 18, 2007 through Fervent Records.- Track listing :# "No Plan B " – 3:53# "Let It Roll " – 3:27# "Put Like That " – 4:13...
.
Release
The album was released on September 16, 2008 in the United States on Fervent RecordsFervent Records
Fervent Records is a Contemporary Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Fervent was bought by Word Records in 2005.-Current Artists:* BarlowGirl* Big Daddy Weave* Chris August* Francesca Battistelli* Group 1 Crew* Sidewalk Prophets...
, one of the same labels as their previous record Group 1 Crew
Group 1 Crew (album)
Group 1 Crew is the first full-length studio album from Group 1 Crew. It was released on February 20, 2007 under Fervent Records, Curb Records, and Word Records.-Track listing:#"Love is a Beautiful Thing"#"No Plan B"#"A Lot in Common"#"Can't Go On"...
. It debuted at #15 on Billboards Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart. The first radio single released off Ordinary Dreamers was the song "Keys to the Kingdom", within about a month of the album's release. The song entered R&R
R&R
R&R may refer to:* R&R , a music trade magazine* R&R , acronym for Rest and Recuperation* "R&R" , an episode of the science fiction TV show*R&R , a fictional nightclub in EastEnders...
's Christian CHR
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
chart on September 19, and as of October 3 had reached #23.
Critical reception
The album was received relatively well amongst Christian musicChristian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
critics. Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
reviewer Andree Farias was positive about the album, claiming that it "establishes them as power players in Christian urban pop". The magazine noted that as "one slight thumbs down" the album sometimes falls into offering "saccharine melodies", specifically on the songs "Change" and "Our Time". Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus 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...
was also fairly positive, though noting that "the first album was a better place to start", and that it would have been "nice to see something replace" the two tracks ("Keys to the Kingdom" and "I See You") that were also released on the band's remix EP No Plan B EP
No Plan B EP
No Plan B EP is an EP from Christian hip hop band Group 1 Crew. It was released on December 18, 2007 through Fervent Records.- Track listing :# "No Plan B " – 3:53# "Let It Roll " – 3:27# "Put Like That " – 4:13...
from late 2007. Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
magazine, however, highly praised Ordinary Dreamers for its production and lyrics, giving the album a 9/10 rating.
Music and lyrical themes
The album's title Ordinary Dreamers is based on the concept of dreaming to do extraordinary things even as an ordinary person. Lead singer Blanca Reyes said, "It's telling our fans 'there's no difference between you and us'."The album's genre is a combination of rap/hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, R&B and alt rock styles as well as pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
influences. The lead single "Keys to the Kingdom" has been defined as having "shifting gears, thick guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
riffs and a plodding vibe". The track "Critical Emergency" features a horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
piece played by Lucy Bonilla.
Track listing
- "Movin'" – 3:18
- "Our Time" – 3:27
- "Gimme That Funk" – 3:11
- "Tonight" – 3:51
- "Keys to the Kingdom" – 3:59
- "Closer" – 4:42
- "Bring the Party to Life" – 4:08
- "iContact" – 4:06
- "I See You" – 3:53
- "Critical Emergency" – 3:45
- "I Had a Dream" – 3:41
- "Live Out Loud" – 4:24
- "Change" – 3:11
- "Livin' the Life" – 3:36