Bloom is the third studio album by the Christian modern rock band Audio Adrenaline, released on February 8, 1996 by ForeFront Records. John Hampton, who is best known for producing albums for Gin Blossoms and The Replacements, produced, mixed and engineered a majority of the album with The Gotee Brothers (Toby McKeehan of DC Talk, Joey Elway and Todd Collins) producing only three tracks. Eddie DeGarmo and Dan R. Brock served as executive producers.
Bloom was recorded in 1995 at three studios in Tennessee including Ardent Recordings, where DeGarmo & Key recorded all their albums. The album was well received by the audience and proved to be Audio A's breakthrough release. Leaving behind what the band calls their "cheerleader songs" from their first two albums, Audio A goes for a new sound with a combination of alternative rock and pop songwriting sensibilities. The band says the album's title and the music reflects the way they've matured and grown into a new phase of life.
Seven tracks were released to Christian Rock and CHR radio formats with "Secret" and "I'm Not the King" both topping the Christian Rock chart. Audio A also covers The Edgar Winter Group's 1972 hit "Free Ride" (#14 Billboard Hot 100). Bloom peaked at number 2 on the Top Christian Albums and at number 77 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine.
In 1997, Audio A earned their first Grammy nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album and was nominated for two Dove Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "I'm Not the King." The album cover was also nominated for Recorded Music Packaging. Bloom was Gold certified in 1999 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). It was Audio A's only Gold-certified album. In 2021, ForeFront reissued the album for the first time on vinyl on a clear picture LP with red and black splatter.
Track listing
All songs were written by Audio Adrenaline, except where noted.
1. Secret -3:43
2. Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus -4:27
3. Good People -3:27
4. I'm Not the King -3:54
5. Walk On Water -3:52
6. See Through -4:58
7. Free Ride (Dan Hartman) -3:23
8. Man of God -4:18
9. Gloryland -4:25
10. Jazz Odyssey (interlude) -1:22
11. Bag Lady -4:10
12. I Hear Jesus Calling -3:23
13. Memoir -4:08
NOTE: at the end of "Memoir," there is 21 seconds of silence and then a studio outtake begins and lasts for 43 seconds that is found on the CD and cassette versions.
Gold certified in 1999.
Personnel
Audio Adrenaline:
Mark Stuart -lead vocals, backing vocals
Will McGinniss -bass guitar, backing vocals
Barry Blair - lead guitars, backing vocals
Bob Herdman -keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
additional musicians:
Greg Herrington -drums
Ben Cissell -percussion
John Hampton -percussion
Eddie DeGarmo -keyboard arrangements
Todd Collins -percussion, backing vocals
Jason Halbert -Moog synthesizer on track 7
Production credits
John Hampton -producer (tracks 1 -5, 8, 10 -13)
The Gotee Brothers -producer (tracks 6, 7 and 9)
Radio singles
1996 "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" -#3 Christian CHR
1996 "Walk On Water" -#14 Christian CHR, #38 Christian AC
1996 "Good People" -#3 Christian CHR
1997 "Free Ride" -#9 Christian CHR
1997 "Man of God" -#2 Christian CHR
Previous release: Live Bootleg (1995)
Next release: Some Kind of Zombie (1997)
Watch the music video of "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" here:
Watch the music video of "Free Ride" here:
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