Some Kind of Zombie is the fourth studio album by the Christian modern rock band Audio Adrenaline, released on November 18, 1997 by ForeFront Records. This is the first album to feature new guitarist Tyler Burkum, replacing guitarist Barry Blair who left Audio A to focus more behind the scenes as a producer. Blair did contribute to co-writing and playing lead guitar on the title track. It is also the first to feature Ben Cissell as the official drummer.
Some Kind of Zombie as an album concept and its title song is based on Scripture, specifically in Colossians 3, where it talks about "giving life over to God." The inspiration came from singer Mark Stuart's experience living with his missionary parents in Haiti, where voodoo is heavily practiced. According to Stuart, the message is that "you can be dead to your old self after becoming a new person through religion."
The album was recorded at two studios in Tennessee: Ardent Recordings in Memphis and Shakin' Studios in Franklin. It was produced by John Hampton and follows the success of their previous album Bloom. Some Kind of Zombie's sound is alternative rock with some grunge mixed in and has a heavier sound. It was preceded with the title song as the lead single released weeks in advance. It topped the Christian Rock chart. A remix version of the title song is only found on the CD version as a bonus track.
"Blitz" features members of the Christian ska band The O.C. Supertones with lead singer Matt Morginsky providing guest vocals. A CHR remix version of "Chevette" is only found on the compilation album WOW 1999. Some Kind of Zombie debuted and peaked at number 5 on the Top Christian Albums and number 99 on the Top 200 Albums charts in Billboard magazine. In 1998, Audio A won a Dove Award for Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year for the title song. The following year, they were nominated for Rock Album of the Year and Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year for "Blitz." Some Kind of Zombie earned the band their second Grammy nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album.
ForeFront will reissue and remaster Some Kind of Zombie on vinyl as a limited edition through Girder Music featuring a zombie virus green picture LP, limited to just 300 copies. It will be released on April 18, 2025.
Track listing
All songs were written by Mark Stuart, Bob Herdman and Will McGinniss, except where noted.
1. Chevette (Mark Stuart, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Brian McSweeney) -4:21
2. New Body (Mark Stuart, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Brian Kotzur, Carlos
Pennell) -3:58
3. Some Kind of Zombie (Mark Stuart, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Barry Blair)
-4:46
4. Original Species -4:33
5. People Like Me -3:15
6. Blitz (featuring The O.C. Supertones with guest vocals by Matt Morginsky) -4:14
7. Lighthouse -5:02
8. Flicker -3:55
9. God-Shaped Hole -4:09
10. Superfriend -3:06
11. Some Kind of Zombie (Criscoteque Mix) -4:41
Personnel
Audio Adrenaline:
Mark Stuart -lead vocals
Will McGinniss -bass guitar, backing vocals, yak back
Tyler Burkum -guitars
Bob Herdman -keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
Ben Cissell -drums, percussion
additional musicians:
Barry Blair -guitars on track 3
The O.C. Supertones (guest musicians on track 6):
Matt Morginsky -guest vocals
Dave Chevalier -tenor saxophone
Dan Spencer -trombone
Darren Mettler -trumpet
Carlos Pennell -guitars on track 8
Jeanette Sullivan -additional backing vocals on track 8
Carl Marsh -string arrangements (tracks 2 -5 and 9)
Production credit
John Hampton -producer (tracks 1 -10)
Scott Humphrey -producer (track 11)
Accolades
Dove Award -Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year ("Some
Kind of Zombie")
Radio singles
1997 -1998 "People Like Me" -#2 Christian CHR
1998 "God-Shaped Hole" -#17 Christian CHR
1999 "New Body" -#11 Christian CHR
Next release: Underdog (1999)
Watch the music video of "Some Kind of Zombie" here:
Watch the music video of "Blitz" featuring The O.C. Supertones here:
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