Almost There (album)

Almost There
Studio album by MercyMe
Released August 14, 2001
Recorded Ivy Park, The Indigo Room, Paradise Sound, IBC Studios
Genre Worship, pop rock
Length 43:42
Label INO
Producer Pete Kipley
MercyMe chronology
Look
(2000)		 Almost There
(2001)		 Spoken For
(2002)
Singles from Almost There
  1. "Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)"
    Released: 2001[1]
  2. "I Can Only Imagine"
    Released: 2001[2]

Almost There is the first major-label studio album by American Christian rock band, MercyMe. Produced by Pete Kipley, the album was released on August 14, 2001 by INO Records. After releasing six independent records, the band decided to pursue a record contract. The band signed with the newly formed INO Records, and were assigned to work with Kipley, who had not produced a major project before. Four of the songs on the album had previously appeared on the band's independent records; the rest were newly recorded songs. The album is a worship and pop rock album, and adopts a more radio-friendly sound than the band's independent albums.

Almost There received critical acclaim from music critics, who praised the album's songwriting; "I Can Only Imagine" received particular praise. Critics were more divided on the album's sound. Some felt the album was "innovative" or "fresh", while others felt it was middle–of–the–road or derivative. "Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)" was released as the album's lead single; however, it performed poorly on the charts. The album's second single, "I Can Only Imagine", proved to be a major success, peaking at number one on the Radio & Records Christian AC chart in 2002. Its success contributed to the album reaching the top of the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. After the song crossed over to mainstream radio in 2003, the album peaked at number 39 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. Almost There has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over 2.2 million copies in the United States. Billboard ranked it as the fourth best-selling Christian album of the 2000s in the United States.

Background and recording

MercyMe formed in 1994 by vocalist Bart Millard, guitarist Mike Scheuchzer, and keyboardist Jim Bryson.[3] The band later brought on drummer Robby Shaffer and bassist Nathan Cochran.[4] In October 1999, the band released their fifth independent album, The Worship Project.[5] The album proved successful, selling over 60,000 copies within a year, but the difficulty of selling albums directly, in addition to having to book and manage for themselves, led the band to pursue a contract with a record label. Millard was directed by a friend to contact Jeff Moseley, who had connections in the Christian music industry, for advice. After being contacted by Millard, Moseley expressed interest in the band, and within a week MercyMe was official signed to INO Records, a new record label Moseley was helming.[6] Moseley introduced the band to Pete Kipley, who would produce the album. Although Kipley had been involved on some minor projects, Almost There was his first major project.[7]

Four of the songs on Almost There ("Call to Worship", "Cannot Say Enough", "I Can Only Imagine", and "In You") had previously appeared on the band's independent records.[4] All of the other songs on the album were new songs which had not been recorded before.[8] All of the songs of the album were written by Millard or the band except "I Worship You", which was written by Kipley and Reggie Hamm.[9] The band included the song after Kipley brought it to them; although the band had wanted to write their own material, they liked the song so much that they put it as the first song on the album.[10] "Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)" was written at the request of the label, who wanted to capitalize off of the success of the popular Bruce Wilkinson book The Prayer of Jabez. The band did not want to record the song, but eventually caved.[11] MercyMe pushed the label to include "House of God"; the band felt that they had been pushed a little too far towards the adult contemporary genre, and wanted to include a more upbeat rock song.[12]

Almost There was recorded at Ivy Park, The Indigo Room, Paradise Sound, and IBC Studios. Kipley produced and programmed the record, while Skye McCaskey and Julian Kindred engineered the album. Salvo mixed all the songs on the album at Cool Springs Studio with the exception of "In You", which was mixed by Shane Wilson. Strings were recorded by the Paltrow Performance Group.[9]

Composition
How Great Is Your Love
"How Great Is Your Love" utilizes electronic and string instruments.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
House of God
"House of God" is a rock song, described as having a "nasty" guitar lick.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Almost There has been described by critics as being a worship[13][14][15] and pop rock album.[13][16][17][18] The album was noted as being stylistically similar to contemporary Christian bands like FFH.[15] In contrast to the band's independent records, which had an "organic" feel, Almost There adopts a more radio-friendly musical style,[14] although the rock style of the band's independent albums does occasionally resurface.[19] Similarities were noted between the style of Scheuchzer and U2's guitarist The Edge.[20]

The album's first song, "I Worship You" was described as "falling somewhere between adult contemporary and rock", and utilizes acoustic guitars and synthesizers.[20] "Here Am I" relates the story of people who are not being reached by Christians,[16] and "challenges the listener to go out into the world and stand up for their King".[15] "On My Way to You" is a worship song, requesting "wisdom, purity, and humility in our pursuit of holiness".[13] "How Great is Your Love" incorporates both string and electronic instruments;[15] Millard's vocals in the song utilize "effect–laden delays".[20] "I Can Only Imagine" is a ballad,[13][20] opening with just piano before building to include drums and guitar.[17] Lyrically, asks what it will be like in Heaven, standing before God.[20]

"Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)" is one of the faster songs on the album. Lyrically, the song relates to the Biblical character Jabez.[16] "Cannot Say Enough" was described as "ambient" and compared to Third Day's "Your Love Oh Lord".[16] "House of God" was noted as being one of the album's more rock–oriented songs.[15][16][18] The song utilizes "driving" guitars[21] and a "nasty" guitar riff,[18] and invites the listener to enter the house of god.[15] "Call to Worship" is a mid–tempo song led by guitar; the song was compared to the work of The Cure.[16] The final two songs on the album, "All Fall Down" and "In You", are slower–paced songs, with the latter being led by piano and strings.[15]

Release and promotion

Almost There was released on August 14, 2001.[22] "Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)" was released as the album's lead single.[16] The label aimed to give the band a wider appeal by capitalizing on the success of the popular book The Prayer of Jabez.[23] The song debuted on the Radio & Records Christian AC chart on August 31, 2001 at number 29,[24] and spent four weeks on the chart, peaking at number 27.[25] The poor chart performance of the song led to album sales that were lower than anticipated.[23] The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart on September 1, 2001,[26] and a week later entered the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, which ranks the top albums from artists who have not had an album enter the top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart, at number 39.[27]

"I Can Only Imagine" was released as the album's second single,[28] and was a major success at Christian radio.[29] The song debuted on the Christian AC chart on November 2, 2001;[30] it reached the number one position on February 22, 2002[31] and spent two weeks at the top spot. It also peaked at number 15 on the Radio & Records Christian CHR chart.[30] As a result of the single's success, Almost There experienced a "surge" in sales.[29] The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 184 on December 22, 2001,[32] and entered the top ten on the Christian Albums chart on January 19, 2002, charting at number eight.[33] The album reached the peak of the Heatseekers Albums chart on February 2, 2002, and the following week entered the top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart, charting at number 98.[29] "How Great Is Your Love" was announced as the album's third single in an interview with Billboard magazine on February 12, 2002.[29] Millard had heavily pushed INO Records to release it as a single. However, "I Can Only Imagine" stayed on the Christian charts so long that by the time it fell off, the band had to begin work on their next record, and the song ultimately wasn't released to radio.[28] Almost There was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 13, 2002,[22] signifying shipments of over 500,000 copies.[34] The band released their second album, Spoken For, on October 1, 2002.[35] More than a year after the album's release and after the release of Spoken For, Almost There remained near the top of the Christian charts.[36] Almost There ranked as the 6th best–selling Christian album[37] and the 128th best–selling album of 2002 in the United States.[38]

In 2003, the album again received increased sales as "I Can Only Imagine" became a success on mainstream radio.[39] The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 71 on the Hot 100, also crossing over to top 40 and country radio.[30] The album was certified Platinum on July 14, 2003; a month later, Almost There reached the top spot of the Christian Albums chart after 107 weeks on the chart.[40] It reached its peak of number 37 on the Billboard 200 on September 20, 2003.[41] It ranked as the 2nd–best selling Christian album[37] and 128th best–selling album of 2004.[42] By May 2004, Almost There had sold over 1.5 million copies,[43] and of April 2006 it has sold over 2.2 million copies.[44] Almost There was certified double platinum on January 20, 2005;[22] as of 2012, it is one of only eight Christian albums to have reached that milestone; others include P.O.D.'s Satellite, Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown, and Casting Crowns' self–titled debut album.[45] In its 2000s decade–end charts, Billboard ranked Almost There as the fourth best–selling Christian album of the 2000s in the United States, behind only Satellite, The Beautiful Letdown, and Alan Jackson's Precious Memories.[46]

Critical reception and accolades

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[20]
CCM Magazine[13]
Charisma(positive)[14]
Christianity Today(mixed)[16]
Cross Rhythms[47]
[18]
CrosswalkB[21]
Jesus Freak Hideout[15]
New Release Today[17]

Almost There received critical acclaim from music critics.[48] Critics praised the album's lyrical content,[13][15][17][47] with particular praise being given to "I Can Only Imagine".[13][15][17][18][47] Steve Losey of Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, praising it as "a disc that holds power" and being an "exception" rather than a "norm" in comparison to most other praise and worship releases. Losey also noted the "guitar nuances" of Scheuchzer as being similar to U2's The Edge, and praised the Byrson as [placing] intense but subtle keyboard traces within the context of each tune".[20] Adam Woodroof of CCM Magazine gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars. While Woodroof felt the album did not deliver an innovative sound, he said it "offers a breath of fresh air—and a sincerity sure to hold other artists wishing to dive into the genre accountable".[13] In a review for Charisma, Margaret Feinburg praised the album for incorporating songs from their previous independent records. Feinburg felt that "MercyMe was stripped of much of its wonderful, organic, out–of–the box sound but given new life for radio airplay", and that "Overall, MercyMe is a band that deserves to be heard".[14] Kevin McNeese of New Release Today gave the album five out of five stars, calling it "another defining album" in praise and worship music. McNeese particularly praised "I Can Only Imagine", calling it the album's highlight, but noted the other songs on the album were "penned with the same passion".[17]

The J Man of Crosswalk.com gave Almost There a B, and said that "In the ever–growing genre of modern worship, MercyMe steps up to the plate and drives a home run over the fence". He praised the album as having a "fresh sound", but felt that much of the album was "somewhat low–key".[21] Kevin Chamberlain of Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album 4 out of 5 stars. Chamberlain praised the album as being "lyrically one of the best albums out there" and said that "Every song is based on some sort of Scripture or Spiritual truth seldom found in some Christian music". However, Chamberlain felt the album's sound was average, saying it sounds like "FFH or any typical Contemporary Christian artist".[15]

Other critics gave the album a more mixed response. Megumi Nakamura of Cross Rhythms gave the album 7 out of 10 stars. Nakamura praised "I Can Only Imagine", but felt that "little else on the album that matches the huge impact of that one song".[47] In a later review for the album's "Platinum Edition" re–release, Allan Clare gave it an 8 out of 10, felt the rest of the album aside from "I Can Only Imagine" was "bland".[18] Russ Breimeier of Christianity Today felt the album was "something of a mixed bag" and described the band's sound was "a little too mellow to be rock, and a little too heavy to be pop... their particular style doesn't stray from a middle of the road sound". Breimier felt the album was not particularly good or bad, and offered a weak recommendation to fans of worship bands like By the Tree and Delirious?.[16]

In its 25th anniversary edition, CCM Magazine listed Almost There as one of '100 Albums You Need to Own'.[49] At the 33rd GMA Dove Awards, "I Can Only Imagine" won the awards for Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.[50] CCM Magazine ranked "I Can Only Imagine" as the fourth-greatest song in Christian music.[51]

Track listing

(Credits and tracklist from the album liner notes)[9]

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "I Worship You"  Pete Kipely, Reggie Hamm 3:07
2. "Here Am I"  Bart Millard, Kipely 4:20
3. "On My Way to You"  Millard, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, Jim Bryson, Robby Shaffer 4:06
4. "How Great Is Your Love"  Millard 4:14
5. "I Can Only Imagine"  Millard 4:08
6. "Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)"  Millard, Cochran, Scheuchzer, Bryson, Shaffer 4:14
7. "Cannot Say Enough"  Millard, Cochran, Scheuchzer, Bryson, Shaffer 4:47
8. "House of God"  Millard, Cochran, Scheuchzer, Bryson, Shaffer, Kipely 3:13
9. "Call to Worship"  Millard, Cochran, Scheuchzer, Bryson, Shaffer 4:51
10. "Fall Down"  Millard, Cochran, Scheuchzer, Bryson, Shaffer 3:45
11. "In You"  Millard 4:17

Personnel

(Credits from the album liner notes)[9]

MercyMe
  • Bart Millard – lead vocals
  • Mike Scheuchzer – guitars
  • Jim Bryson – keys
  • Nathan Cochran – bass guitar, background vocals
  • Robby Shaffer – drums
Additional performers
  • Paltrow Performance Group – strings
Technical/Misc.
  • Peter Kipley – producer, programmer
  • Steve McCaskey – engineer
  • Julian Kindred – engineer
  • Salvo – mixing
  • Shane Wilson – mixing
  • Elizabeth Workman – design
  • Shawn Sanders – band photos

Charts and certifications

Weekly album charts
Charts (2002) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[53] 1
Charts (2003) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[41] 37
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[40] 1
Charts (2004) Peak
position
US Catalog Albums (Billboard)[54] 3
Weekly single charts and certifications
Year Song Peak chart positions Certifications
[34]
US
[55]		 US AC
[56]		 Christ AC
[31]
2001 "Bless Me Indeed (Jabez's Song)" — — 27
"I Can Only Imagine" 71 5 1 RIAA: 2× Platinum
Year-end charts
Charts (2002) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[38] 128
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[37] 6
Charts (2003) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[42] 128
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[57] 2
Charts (2004) Peak
position
US Catalog Albums (Billboard)[58] 18
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[59] 15
Decade-end album charts
Charts (2000s) Peak
position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[46] 4
Certifications
Country Certification Units shipped
United States 2× Platinum[22] 2,000,000[34]

References

  1. ↑ "MercyMe enters SoundScan at #5 first week out". INOTOF. August 22, 2001. Archived from the original on June 9, 2002. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  2. ↑ "MercyMe fastest selling new artist in 2001". INOTOF. December 12, 2001. Archived from the original on August 11, 2002. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  3. ↑ Narrator (November 22, 2008). Faith & Fame: MercyMe (Television production). Gospel Music Channel. Event occurs at 7:35. By 1994, friends Bart Millard and Mike Scheuchzer made up their minds to pursue music wholeheartedly, and with the help of Jim Bryson, they packed their bags and moved to Oklahoma to form MercyMe.
  4. 1 2 "Meet MercyMe". ChristianBook.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  5. ↑ "WisdomWorks Resources". WisdomWorks. October 7, 1999. Archived from the original on October 7, 1999. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  6. ↑ Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Interview with Bart, Pt. 3". Almost There (Platinum Edition) (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 0:22.
  7. ↑ Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Interview with Bart, Pt. 4". Almost There (Platinum Edition) (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 0:20.
  8. ↑ Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Interview with Bart, Pt. 6". Almost There (Platinum Edition) (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 0:02.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Almost There (Media notes). MercyMe. INO Records. 2001. p. 5, 7.
  10. ↑ Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Song By Song". Almost There (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 0:36.
  11. ↑ Harold, Zack (May 7, 2014). "Meet the new MercyMe". Charleston Gazette–Mal. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  12. ↑ Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Song By Song". Almost There (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 6:58.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Woodroof, Adam (October 2001). "Almost There – Mercy Me" (PDF). CCM Magazine. p. 55. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Feinburg, Margaret (September 30, 2001). "Sight & Sound". Charisma. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Chamberlin, Kevin (September 1, 2002). "MercyMe, "Almost There" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Almost There". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McNeese, Kevin (January 30, 2008). "Almost There by MercyMe – CD Reviews and Information". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Clare, Allan (December 12, 2016). "Review: Almost There Platinum Edition – MercyMe". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bartenhagen, Marcia (November 2002). "In Review Music" (PDF). CCM Magazine. p. 52. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Losey, Steve. "Almost There – MercyMe". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 "MercyMe – Almost There". Crosswalk. Salem Web Network. October 3, 2001. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Song By Song". Almost There: Platinum Edition (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 4:52.
  24. ↑ "Christian" (PDF). Radio & Records (1,417): 107. August 31, 2001. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  25. ↑ "Christian" (PDF). Radio & Records (1,420): 90. September 21, 2001. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Christian Albums". Billboard. September 1, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Heatseekers" (PDF). Billboard 113 (36): 89. September 8, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Bart Millard (August 29, 2006). "Song By Song". Almost There: Platinum Edition (CD). INO Records. Event occurs at 3:03. I was pushing really hard for it ['How Great Is Your Love'] to be a single off the first record. But, if you know anything about MercyMe, you know we only had two singles. The first was 'Bless Me Indeed', and the second was 'I Can Only Imagine', which stayed on the charts for a year and a half or something crazy like that, so we didn't get the chance to have any more singles cause it was time to make the next record.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Hay, Carla (February 16, 2002). "After seven years, INO/Word's MercyMe is 'Almost There'" (PDF). Billboard 114 (07): 61. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 "Billboard Charted Singles" (PDF). Mikecurb.com. Curb Records. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  31. 1 2 The following sources confirm peak positions for each single on the Radio & Records Christian AC chart:
  32. ↑ "Billboard 200". Billboard. December 22, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Christian Albums". Billboard. January 19, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  34. 1 2 3 "RIAA - Certification Criteria". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Spoken For – MercyMe". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  36. ↑ Lloyd, James (October 11, 2002). "Recordings on review". Dayton Daily News  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  37. 1 2 3 "Top Contemporary Christian Titles". Billboard. December 28, 2002. Archived from the original on June 20, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  38. 1 2 "Top Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. December 28, 2002. Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  39. ↑ Bronson, Fred (August 16, 2003). "Have Mercy" (PDF). Billboard 114 (07): 58. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  40. 1 2 "Finally 'There'" (PDF). Billboard 115 (34): 55. August 23, 2003. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  41. 1 2 "The Billboard 200" (PDF). Billboard 115 (38): 68. September 20, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  42. 1 2 "Top Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. December 27, 2003. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  43. ↑ Price, Deborah Evans (May 5, 2004). "It Only Gets Better For Gospel Group" (PDF). Billboard 116 (20): 3, 83. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  44. ↑ Price, Deborah Evans (April 29, 2006). "Rocking Harder while Keeping the Faith" (PDF). Billboard 118 (17): 36–37. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Casting Crowns claims first double platinum album with debut". Jesus Freak Hideout. August 30, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  46. 1 2 "Decade-end Christian Albums (2000s)". Billboard. 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  47. 1 2 3 4 Nakamura, Megumi (November 14, 2001). "Review: Almost There – MercyMe". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  48. ↑ Harms, Tim (January 8, 2003). "FIRST-PERSON : MercyMe, Nichole Nordeman, Bebo Norman stood out in 2002". Baptist Press. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  49. ↑ "100 Albums You Need to Own" (PDF). CCM Magazine. July 2003. p. 34. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  50. ↑ Price, Deborah Evans (May 2, 2002). "Michael W. Smith, Third Day Fly High at Doves" (PDF). Billboard 114 (18): 6. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  51. ↑ Taff, Tori (2004). 100 Greatest Songs in Christian Music: The Stories Behind the Music that Changed Our Lives Forever. CCM Magazine, Integrity Publishers. p. 13. ISBN 1-59145-210-4.
  52. ↑ "Almost There (Platinum Edition)". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Heatseekers" (PDF). Billboard 114 (05): 83. February 2, 2002. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Top Pop Catalog" (PDF). Billboard 116 (7): 61. February 14, 2004. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Chart History – Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Top Contemporary Christian Titles". Billboard. December 27, 2003. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Top Pop Catalog Albums". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on May 2, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  59. ↑ "Top Contemporary Christian Titles". Billboard. December 25, 2004. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
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