Spoken (band)
Encyclopedia
Beginnings
Starting in 1996, Spoken quickly became a mainstay in their local music scene due to a relentless work ethic and performance schedule. Shortly after forming, Spoken was signed to their first record deal with Metro 1 Music, on which they released 3 LPs and a greatest hits compilation. With the release of their first album, On Your Feet (1997), and continuing through their second record, …What Remains (1999), the Spoken sound was a combination of rap meets metal and a bit of melodic rock. The third full-length release, Echoes of the Spirit Still Dwell (2000) contained a heavier, more melodic approach to song writing, with songs like "Forevermore" and "This Path" generating repeated rotations on various modern rock radio and video programs across the country.A Moment of Imperfect Clarity
Spoken signed to Tooth and Nail Records to release their next album, titled A Moment of Imperfect ClarityA Moment of Imperfect Clarity
A Moment of Imperfect Clarity is the fourth album from Christian rock band Spoken. It is their first to be released on Tooth & Nail Records.-Track listing:# "Across These Waters" – 2:31# "Promise" – 4:27# "A Breath in the Fog" – 5:11...
. This, and their subsequent albums on Tooth and Nail, highlighted an evolving sound in which first melody and then a post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
sound were introduced and stressed. The band shot music videos for "Promise" and "Falling Further"
The Last Chance to Breathe
In 2005, Spoken released Last Chance to BreatheLast Chance to Breathe
Last Chance to Breathe is the fifth studio album from Christian rock band Spoken.-Track list:# "September" - 3:23# "Wind in My Sails" - 3:40# "Love in Return" - 3:36# "Everything Is Burning" - 2:59# "1992" - 4:02# "Last Chance to Breathe" - 3:58...
. The style changed even more, becoming more based on screams than heavy guitar work. A music video was shot for "Bitter Taste", a single from the album, featuring Cory Brandon Putman of Norma Jean
Norma Jean
Norma Jean may refer to:*Norma Jeane Mortenson, the given name of actress Marilyn Monroe*Norma Jean , a metalcore band from Douglasville, GA*Norma Jean , country music singer, nicknamed "Pretty Miss Norma Jean"...
.
Spoken
On September 25, 2007, Spoken released their self titled album, SpokenSpoken (album)
Spoken is the self-titled sixth studio album released by Christian hard rock band Spoken. The album was released on September 25, 2007. Radio singles released from this album include "When Hope Is All You Have" and "Trading in This Troubled Heart"....
. The sound was heavier and more mature, with both heavy vocals and heavy guitar work. Matt Baird, the lead vocalist for Spoken, said this about their sound: "Our new record has a lot of diversity. There are songs that are heavier than anything we've done before, and there is a song that is mostly piano. The songs are really all over the place as far as a similar style or genre, but it works. I think the record is extremely cohesive. I can't wait for people to hear it."
With such drastic changes in style, bands often tend to lose a majority of their original audience. Spoken's fan base, on the other hand, increased. With each album the band widened their overall appeal, while gaining more and more fans in the process.
Spoken has made multiple trips across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Averaging over 100 shows a year, they regularly see attendance into the hundreds, filling venues to capacity throughout the U.S.
Echoes of the Spirit Still Dwell re-release
In late 2008, Spoken disappeared off of the Tooth & Nail Roster at Tooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
.com, several months later the band announced that they had left Tooth & Nail and had signed a record deal with the small digital Christian label ECI/Alien Patrol Records. Spoken then announced the label was to release a digital re-release of "Echoes of the Spirit Still Dwell", an album that the band put out early in their career under extremely limited release. The band continues to tour and has plans to release another album.
Dagger (Single)
In early 2010, Spoken once again disappeared off ECI/Alien Patrol Records artist list. In August, they released a sample track on their Myspace page that included samples of songs off an upcoming release due sometime before the end of the year. They released a single called Dagger on October 15, 2010.New Album (2011)
Spoken's bass player, Jon Allen was asked about the future of Spoken and he said, "We're working on a new album and we're shooting for a Fall release date if everything goes according to plan. We don't have a title for the album yet, or even any album artwork." He goes on to say, "We have about 4 songs finished for the new CD and after we're done with our tour we'll probably finish it in one good recording session." He mentions that the new album will be the "hardest record we've ever had"."We're going for somewhat of a new sound that we haven't done before since we're basically a different band now that all of the original members, except Matt, are gone.."
Jon Allen has since left the band and was replaced by Ryan Pei. The current lineup is as follows: Matt Baird - vocals, Oliver Crumpton - drums, Jesse McDermott - guitars, and Ryan Pei - bass; the updated lineup is listed on the band's Facebook page.
Studio Albums
- On Your Feet (September 22, 1997) (Metro 1 Music)
- ...What Remains (February 2, 1999) (Metro 1 Music)
- Echoes of the Spirit Still DwellEchoes of the Spirit Still DwellEchoes of the Spirit Still Dwell is the third album released by Christian rock band Spoken. The CD was re-released by Spoken May 15, 2008 and is available on their -Track listing:# "This Path" - 3:27# "Forevermore" - 4:33# "David" - 4:54...
(October 3, 2000) (Metro 1 Music) - A Moment of Imperfect ClarityA Moment of Imperfect ClarityA Moment of Imperfect Clarity is the fourth album from Christian rock band Spoken. It is their first to be released on Tooth & Nail Records.-Track listing:# "Across These Waters" – 2:31# "Promise" – 4:27# "A Breath in the Fog" – 5:11...
(September 2, 2003) (Tooth and Nail Records) - Last Chance to BreatheLast Chance to BreatheLast Chance to Breathe is the fifth studio album from Christian rock band Spoken.-Track list:# "September" - 3:23# "Wind in My Sails" - 3:40# "Love in Return" - 3:36# "Everything Is Burning" - 2:59# "1992" - 4:02# "Last Chance to Breathe" - 3:58...
(August 30, 2005) (Tooth and Nail Records) - SpokenSpoken (album)Spoken is the self-titled sixth studio album released by Christian hard rock band Spoken. The album was released on September 25, 2007. Radio singles released from this album include "When Hope Is All You Have" and "Trading in This Troubled Heart"....
(September 25, 2007) (Tooth and Nail Records)
Music videos
Video Games
- Guitar PraiseGuitar PraiseGuitar Praise is a Christian rhythm video game for PC. Published by Digital Praise, it uses contemporary Christian music with gameplay akin to that of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, although it is only compatible with its own wired and cordless USB guitar controllers. A second guitar can be...
featuring Wind In My Sails and Falling Further (September 25, 2008) (Developed and Published by Digital PraiseDigital PraiseDigital Praise is Christian-themed video and computer game developer. It won the Addy Awards for "Mixed Media Campaign" in 2008. It has produced Dance Praise, Guitar Praise, Adventures in Odyssey computer games, VeggieTales' Dance, Dance, Dance, and other video games....
)