Don't Censor Me
| Don't Censor Me | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Audio Adrenaline | ||||
| Released | October 1, 1993 | |||
| Recorded |
1993 Gaga Studios, Franklin, Tennessee Fun Attic, Franklin, Tennessee | |||
| Genre | Christian rock | |||
| Length | 42:39 | |||
| Label | ForeFront | |||
| Producer | Steve Griffith and The Gotee Brothers | |||
| Audio Adrenaline chronology | ||||
| ||||
Don't Censor Me is the second studio album released by Audio Adrenaline. The album features the song "Big House", which is considered the band's most popular song.[1][2]
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 Magazine, 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".[3]
Recording
Don't Censor Me was recorded in 1993 at various studios in Tennessee, Gaga Studios and Fun Attic, both in 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.[4]
Track listing
All tracks written by Barry Blair, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Mark Stuart except were noted.
| Album release | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Can't Take God Away" | Toby McKeehan, Todd Collins, Blair, Herdman, Stuart, McGinniss | 3:59 |
| 2. | "A.K.A. Public School" | 3:32 | |
| 3. | "Soulmate" | 3:37 | |
| 4. | "My World View" (featuring Kevin Max of dc Talk) | 4:24 | |
| 5. | "Big House" | 3:33 | |
| 6. | "Jesus & the California Kid" | 2:55 | |
| 7. | "Don't Censor Me" | 3:15 | |
| 8. | "Let Love" | 4:35 | |
| 9. | "We're a Band" | 4:02 | |
| 10. | "Rest Easy" | 4:42 | |
| 11. | "Scum Sweetheart" | 4:09 | |
Total length: |
42:39 | ||
Personnel
Band members
- Mark Stuart – lead vocals
- Barry Blair – guitars
- Bob Herdman – keyboards
- Will McGinniss – bass
Additional musicians
- Kevin Max (from dc Talk) - guest vocals on "My World View" and "A.K.A. Public School"
- 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 Brothers - producers for "Can't Take God Away" and "We're a Band"
- Eddie DeGarmo - 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 Talk appeared as three "cool guys" in the video for "A.K.A. Public School".[5][6][7]
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |  [9] |
Don't Censor Me was well received by the audience selling more than 250,000 copies.[10] Thom Granger, of AllMusic, gave the album 3 stars out of 5 calling it "more pop-savvy".[11] Paul Portell, of Jesus Freak Hideout, 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.[12]
The album produced the hit singles "Can't Take God Away" and "Big House".[13] The latter reached number 1 on Christian radio,[14] and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career.[15][16][17] It received the Song of the Decade title from CCM Magazine for the 1990s.[18]
Don't Censor Me: Extended Play Remixes
In 1994, this remix album was released. It contained two remixes of "Can't Take God Away" and one each of "We're a Band" and "Big House".
Track listing
- "Can't Take God Away (Eternal Life Mix)" 5:54
- "Can't Take God Away (House Mix)" - 6:42
- "We're a Band (Hardcore Mix)" - 6:00
- "Big House (Aquatic Dub Mix)" - 4:08
References
- ↑ Don't Censor Me review on Jesus Freak Hideout; Portell, Paul
- ↑ Audio Adrenaline profile on AllMusic; Ankemy, Jason
- ↑ 100% Adrenaline on CCM Magazine; Selby, Marykay (April 1996)
- ↑ Don't Censor Me slip cover; Audio Adrenaline (1996)
- ↑ A.K.A. Public School video on YouTube
- ↑ "Big House" music video on YouTube
- ↑ "We're a Band" music video on YouTube
- ↑ AllMusic review
- ↑ Jesus Freak Hideout review
- ↑ 100% Adrenaline on CCM Magazine; Selby, Marykay (April 1996)
- ↑ Don't Censor Me review on AllMusic; Granger, Thom
- ↑ Don't Censor Me review on Jesus Freak Hideout; Portell, Paul
- ↑ Audio Adrenaline profile on AllMusic; Ankemy, Jason
- ↑ "Audio Adrenaline: Until Their Heart Caves In and Beyond". Soulshine.ca. 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ↑ Paul Portell & John DiBiase. "Audio Adrenaline, "Don't Censor Me" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Audio Adrenaline > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ↑ Granger, Thom. "Don't Censor Me > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ↑ Jones, Kim. "Audio Adrenaline Releasing Final Album On August 1". About.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.