| Citizens | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 12, 2013 [1] | |||
| Recorded | 2011-13 | |||
| Genre | Christian rock, indie, Christian alternative rock | |||
| Length | 48:42 [2] | |||
| Label | BEC/Mars Hill [1] | |||
| Producer | Brian Eichelberger [2] | |||
| Citizens chronology | ||||
| ||||
Citizens is the first studio album by Christian rock band Citizens, which was released on March 12, 2013 by BEC Recordings and Mars Hill Music, and the producer on the album is Brian Eichelberger. This album has seen critical success.
Zach Bolen of Citizens gave an interview to Worship Leader and were asked "Citizens will be your first full-length album. What are your hopes for this record? What are you most excited to share with listeners?" [3]
Our hope is that it would be an encouragement to local churches all over the world and that it would bring about heart transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. When people listen to the album what they will hear is the gospel being proclaimed. When we sat down and wrote these songs we prayed that the Holy Spirit would help us to do things that we were not capable of doing. This album is a total working of the Holy Spirit and to that we can trust in Him to bring about whatever fruit this album is meant to produce.
— Zach Bolen of Citizens, Worship Leader [3]
Zach Bolen of Citizens was asked the question in the same interview with Worship Leader that "You have said you write to bring healing and peace to your community, how do you accomplish something like that with music?" [3]
I don't know that I would word it quite like that, except to say that Jesus is peace and healing to both sinners and sufferers. People need to hear the gospel and next to its transformational power the most influential ways of distributing that truth is through preached Word and music. Music in particular is a universal language used throughout the entire world that has a way of allowing you to communicate gospel truth to anyone, who will listen. Music is an amazing gift from God that must never become the object of our affection, but rather a gift we use to outwardly express gratitude to our Creator. (Eph 2:10; Col 1:16)
— Zach Bolen of Citizens, Worship Leader [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| CCM Magazine |   [4] |
| Christian Music Zine | 4.25/5 [5] |
| Cross Rhythms |   [6] |
| Indie Vision Music | [7] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |  [8] |
| Louder Than the Music | [9] |
| New Release Tuesday | [10] |
Citizens has received all favorably positive reviews from five critics. At CCM Magazine , Matt Conner told that "the new movement of worship music out of Mars Hill is one of the most imaginative and important shifts within the Christian music industry in years, and Citizens is the latest example alongside The Modern Post and Ghost Ship. Citizens echoes Passion Pit or Two Door Cinema Club comparisons with their club rock groove, and gospel-centric lyrics on each tune bolster their theological importance." [4] Tyler Hess of Christian Music Zine found that Citizens are "appear[ing] to be putting forth an attempt to buck that trend" of what the standard worship album is to be. [5] In addition, Hess alluded us to "ponder what a worship song would sound like with an indie rocker up in front", and add to that "a return to energy and excitement, not just when there are 50,000 people at a festival, but even contained in a studio production" because that is what the album contains. [5] Hess was critical in noting that this "isn't like this is the best album ever created", which means "this album isn't perfect", yet the album "it is simply a step in the right direction, with a huge sound that gives the rest of us a little something to look forward to in the years to come." [5]
Indie Vision Music's Jonathan Andre highlighted that "both musically and lyrically" that the project is "a treasure". [7] Also, Andre called this album "a breath of fresh air in terms of worship and praise in an industry full of similar artist styles and tired and overused themes and messages throughout the many radio and church hits throughout the years." [7] At Louder Than the Music, Jono Davies surmised that "to be fair to Citizen[s], this rock album lets some amazing lyrics pour out of the songs. What Citizen have done is shown that we can still worship God to amazing rock 'n roll songs that punch above their weight." [9] At Jesus Freak Hideout, Ryan Barbee vowed that "Citizens is an album made for the Christian who has wanted to sing gospel-centered lyrics but not sacrifice artful music on the altar of conformity." [8] Additionally, Barbee evoked that the band has "not only offered up some great tunes - they are paving a new road in music", which is truly "a game-changer." [8]
Jonathan Francesco of New Release Tuesday surmised that "while the song titles for their self-titled debut might not indicate a very original project, the music is actually surprisingly fresh." [10] Francesco noted that "there are numerous musical highpoints on the album that will help it to standout [sic] from the pack. Lyrically, though, it's pretty much the standard fare", but the album "more than accomplishes what it set out to accomplish." [10] Lastly, Francesco found that "Citizens manage to find a workable balance between catchy pop music and uplifting praise and worship." [10] Cross Rhythms' Josh Dipple found that the release "can't be faulted for its energy, with songs that long to be played to big crowds at summer festivals, played expertly by a band who have obviously been studiously taking notes, watching the likes of Kings Of Leon and The Strokes." [6]
Readers of Reel Gospel [11] voted Citizens the inaugural winner of Reel Gospel Readers' Album of the Year in 2013. [12]
On March 23, 2013, the album was the sixth most sold Billboard Top Heatseekers album. [13]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sweetness of Freedom" | Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger | 3:19 |
| 2. | "In Tenderness" | W. Spencer Walton | 4:02 |
| 3. | "Hail the King" | Bolen, Eichelberger | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Made Alive" | Bolen, Eichelberger | 3:26 |
| 5. | "I Am Living in a Land of Death" | Bolen, Eichelberger | 6:21 |
| 6. | "Jesus!" | Bolen, Eichelberger | 3:49 |
| 7. | "I Surrender All" | Judson W. Van DeVenter | 6:06 |
| 8. | "Sins of My Youth" | Bolen, Eichelberger | 3:47 |
| 9. | "Psalm 18" | Bolen, Eichelberger | 4:18 |
| 10. | "Praise to the Lord" | Joachim Neander | 3:59 |
| 11. | "Oh God" | Bolen | 5:50 |
| Total length: | 48:42 | ||
Album
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Christian Albums ( Billboard ) [2] | 20 |
| US Top Heatseekers ( Billboard ) [2] [13] | 6 |
Aftermath, formerly known as This Means Love, is the second studio album by Australian Contemporary Christian band Hillsong United. Production for the album began in March 2010 at Studios 301 in Sydney, Australia. It was announced on 10 November 2010, that coinciding with the Aftermath album release in February, Hillsong United would tour the United States and Canada in February and March 2011.
Give Us Rest; or, A Requiem Mass in C is the sixth and final studio album and their eleventh overall album release from the David Crowder Band. This album was released on January 10, 2012 through sixstepsrecords. The album charted at the following during the week of January 28, 2012: No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart, No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and Digital Albums charts. The first single to come from the album is "Let Me Feel You Shine".
Response is the fourth commercial studio album by contemporary worship musician Phil Wickham. It was released on October 4, 2011 by label Fair Trade Services, his fourth album released under that label. The album was produced by Brown Bannister and Pete Kipley.
Zion is the third studio album by Australian contemporary worship music band Hillsong United. It was released on 22 February 2013 for Australia, and was released by 26 February 2013 internationally, under Hillsong Music and Sparrow Records. Production for the album began in March 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Michael Guy Chislett and band member Joel Houston oversaw production of the album, with the latter serving as executive producer.
Made is the sixth studio album by Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, which was produced by Seth Mosley and guitarist Jonathan Steingard. It was released on April 2, 2013 on the Fair Trade Services record label.
Citizens, formerly known as Citizens & Saints, are an American Christian rock band from Seattle, Washington.
Lights Out is the first studio album by the Christian contemporary Christian music band Silverline, which was released on April 9, 2013 by Dream Records, and the producer on the album was Ben Kasica.
The Ascension is the fifth commercial studio album from Christian singer and songwriter Phil Wickham. The album was released on September 24, 2013 by Fair Trade Services, and was produced by Pete Kipley. The album has seen commercial charting successes as well as garnering critical acclamation from music critics.
Heart is the second studio album from Christian rock band The City Harmonic, which was released on September 3, 2013 through Integrity Media, and was produced by the band in association with Jared Fox. It received a nomination for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2014, but lost to Trees by Tim Neufeld.
The Good King is the debut studio album by contemporary worship music band Ghost Ship, and it was released on June 11, 2013, by the joint label partnership of BEC Recordings and Mars Hill Music venture. This album was commercially successful and critically acclaimed.
I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home) is the debut studio album from Christian rock band The City Harmonic, which was released on October 18, 2011 by Kingsway Music, and produced by The City Harmonic in association with Jared Fox. The album received commercial charting success as well as critical acclaim. At the Juno Awards of 2013, the album won the award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
The Water & the Blood is the third studio album from Christian indie musician Dustin Kensrue, which was released on September 30, 2013 by BEC Recordings and Mars Hill Music, and the album was produced by Brian Eichelberger. The album has seen commercial and critical success.
Songs for Christmas was the first holiday studio album from contemporary worship musician Phil Wickham, and the album released on October 28, 2010 by INO Records. The album has seen commercial charting success, as well as, it has garnered critical acclamation from music critics.
Oh for Joy is the first holiday studio album and tenth album overall from Christian rock group David Crowder Band, and was produced by the band as well. The album was released on October 4, 2011 by sixstepsrecords, and has attracted generally positive critical attention.
What We Stand For is the third studio album by American Christian music band The Museum. The album released on May 6, 2014 by BEC Recordings.
Join the Triumph is the second studio album by Citizens & Saints, after their previous album Citizens was released when they were originally named Citizens. The album came out on November 11, 2014 on BEC Recordings.
Becoming Who We Are is the first studio album from Kings Kaleidoscope with label partner Tooth & Nail Records. It is their third offering after 2014's Live in Color (EP) on Bad Christian Records and 2013's independently made Joy Has Dawned (EP). The album came out on October 28, 2014.
As Family We Go is the fifth studio album by Rend Collective. Sparrow Records alongside Capitol Christian Music Group released the album on 21 August 2015.
Costly is the second studio album by Ghost Ship. BEC Recordings released the album on August 28, 2015.
Beyond Control is the second studio album by Kings Kaleidoscope. BEC Recordings alongside Gospel Song Records released the album on July 1, 2016.
{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)