Kings & Queens
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Audio Adrenaline After nearly a half-decade long hiatus, Audio Adrenaline came back in 2013 with Kings and Queens, albeit with a much-altered lineup. Featuring the vocal talents of Kevin Max (the other guy in...
Sound of the Saints
by
Audio Adrenaline If anyone else has been disappointed with the direction Audio Adrenaline has been taking recently, please let me know. Since 2006, when original lead vocalist Mark Stuart decided to disband due to vocal...
Until My Heart Caves In
by
Audio Adrenaline After nearly fifteen years with ForeFront Records, Audio Adrenaline released Until My Heart Caves In, their final studio album with Mark Stuart at the helm. Not long after the release, Audio Adrenaline...
Until the Band Caves In | Posted August-21-2015
After nearly fifteen years with ForeFront Records, Audio Adrenaline released Until My Heart Caves In, their final studio album with Mark Stuart at the helm. Not long after the release, Audio Adrenaline announced that they were breaking up, due to issues with Stuart’s vocal cords. Their final show was recorded and can be found on Live From Hawaii . . . The Farewell Concert from 2007.
Until My Heart Caves In (2005): 11 tracks, 38 minutes
For their last record, Audio Adrenaline pulled out the stops and went back to their classic sound, at least for the first few tracks. Again, you can really begin to hear the strain on Stuart’s vocals in “Clap Your Hands” and “Until My Heart Caves In,” both songs that bring back memories of songs like “I’m Not the King” and “Worldwide:One.” “King” recalls “Hands and Feet” and “Go and Be.” A lot of the other songs seem to blend into one, but they still differ from one another.
“Undefeated” has some great lyrics, like “They [my friends] stand beside me / When the world's not going my way / We may be losers / But we're winners in the end” and “Here in the valley, the valley / I know there is a mountain top / Where I can stand and sing / Love conquers all.” “All Around Me” reminds us of the worth in everyone, “I see the imprint, I see the traces / Of Your beauty on the faces / Of all the people passing by me.”
“Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher” has a line that asks God to quench our desires. Our desires may seem evil at heart because of what we do to satisfy them, but at the root our desires are given to us by God. The problem occurs when we try to satisfy them outside of God’s intended context. It’s a common misconception, but one worth mentioning.
While it may not be a spectacular album, especially compared to the rest of their albums, Audio A definitely starts this one off right. The rest of the album still features many of the great lyrics that can be found on all of the Audio Adrenaline records. If you’re into Audio A, this album is essential.
The Sound of . . . Not Audio Adrenaline | Posted August-21-2015
If anyone else has been disappointed with the direction Audio Adrenaline has been taking recently, please let me know. Since 2006, when original lead vocalist Mark Stuart decided to disband due to vocal cord damage, the Christian music world took a hard loss to one of the greats. Well, since then, the group has “rebanded” (more like rebranded), consisting of Kevin Max as the lead singer. The only original member had been bassist Will McGuinness. However, for 2015’s Sound of the Saints, the band is headed up by Stellar Kart’s Adam Agee, with no original founding members.
Sound of the Saints (2015): 11 tracks, 40 minutes
Although this album is most definitely not Audio Adrenaline-esque, I like that “Love Was Stronger,” “Miracles,” and “World Changers” echo “Kings & Queens” and some other songs from the last effort. At least they’re being somewhat consistent. “Out of the Fire” and “Saved My Soul” have a fun, upbeat vibe. The electronic feel on “Move” doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the songs and “Rejoice” and “Spirit Burn” had me yawning. Nothing special on either of them, except for some decent lyrics. “So Can I” stands out mostly because of its keys-based nature.
There are some excellent lyrics on this record. “So Can I” is a great song all-around. “Out of the Fire” has a great message, “I want the world to know / There is an antidote / A cure for this disease / You are the remedy, You are the remedy,” while “Miracles” emphasizes a great point about how God works: “It's amazing how You move / It's not always parting oceans / Sometimes it's the little moments / When You show how close You are.” “Rejoice” reminds us of Job, when Adam relates, “Mysteries and trials test my faith / Questions without answers every day / Even when life takes away / And they all say to curse Your name / I will rejoice `cause Your light leads me home” and “Spirit Burn” pleads “Holy fire fall like rain / Mark Your church to bear Your name / Come in power, come and reign / Sanctify and stir Your saints.”
However, I do have some objections. I’m not going to say that I hate this album; I don’t. But, just like Kings & Queens, it’s not Audio Adrenaline. I won’t downplay that Audio A is doing great work with the orphans of Haiti through their Hands & Feet Project. I think that’s great. But I think they need to go back to their roots and pull out some classic sounds. On this record they feature a song called “Rejoice.” If you recall, there was a song on Lift that was also by that title and they sound nothing alike. At all. I think that should be illegal, even if it was thirteen years ago. A bonus track features the new lead vocalist, Adam Agee doing a cover of “Kings & Queens.” Would it kill you to do a cover of classic Audio A?
I admit, if someone bought me this, I wouldn’t throw it directly in the trash. Maybe that’s because I’m a music collector, but that’s beside the point. As far as I know, Mark Stuart is still in on the writing process, so there’s still a sliver of hope for Audio A yet. And maybe it’s not as bad as I make it out to be. I mean, there are some decent tracks on here, they just don’t sound like their namesake. That’s what really disappoints me. Maybe I should start a petition. 7.0/10
More Like Plebians & Peasants | Posted August-21-2015
After nearly a half-decade long hiatus, Audio Adrenaline came back in 2013 with Kings and Queens, albeit with a much-altered lineup. Featuring the vocal talents of Kevin Max (the other guy in dc Talk), Dave Ghazarian on guitar, Jared Byers on drums, and Jason Walker on the keys. The only original member remaining is Will McGuinness on the bass guitar.
Kings & Queens (2013): 10 tracks, 37 minutes
So, I hope it’s not just my family that’s upset with the new direction Audio Adrenaline is headed in. The only songs that even sound at all like classic Audio A are “He Moves You Move,” “King of the Comebacks,” or “Change My Name.” They’re good songs, I’ll give them that, but if you’re going to call your band Audio Adrenaline, shouldn’t it sound like the original?
Maybe I’m being too hard on them. To be fair, at least half of the original band is still involved in the writing process. Mark Stuart still co-wrote some of the songs and Will McGuinness is still playing bass. However, I think the main reason Audio A made a comeback is because of the ministry they’re affiliated with currently. Named after their hit song, “Hands and Feet” from Underdog, The Hands and Feet Project helps Haitian orphans by offering child sponsorships and short-term mission trips to Haiti. In his own words, Stuart said, “When I lost my voice, I would have never imagined God increasing the platform of Audio Adrenaline. I would have never expected to be a voice for the Orphans of Haiti.” So, even though they don’t sound the same, they’re still doing some great work.
My favorite track on the record, “He Moves You Move” has some great lyrics about being in line with God’s will and “Believer” is along similar lines. “Kings & Queens” is essentially the soundtrack for their ministry (along with “Hands and Feet”). I like the references to a handful of their old songs in “King of the Comebacks,” in which they even feature vocals from Mark Stuart.
The only lyrical issue is that “Seeker” and “The Answer” both have a reference to God being “the Answer,” making it somewhat difficult to distinguish them.
Musically, the guitar work on “He Moves You Move” is fantastic, but it doesn’t really shine through anywhere else. “Kings & Queens” and “20:17 (Raise the Banner)” are good anthem songs, while “King of the Comebacks” and “Change My Name” get you pumped up. The last three tracks are barely distinguishable from each other.
So, while it’s not Audio Adrenaline in the strictest sense, at least this offshoot made a half-decent album. And at least they still have Mark Stuart and Will McGuinness around to hold down the fort. And you can’t argue with the good they’re doing in their ministry. Still, all that doesn’t make it a great album; maybe a good album, but not quite great. 6.5/10
They've Got to Be Worldwide By Now | Posted August-20-2015
“It’s been twelve years, the bus is still rollin’” and yet Audio A showed no signs of slowing down. Worldwide continues the band’s tradition of making solid, clean music, with an uppity edge ever since Audio Adrenaline way back in 1992. Worldwide was followed up two years later by Until My Heart Caves In, their last album with Mark Stuart as lead vocalist.
Worldwide (2003): 12 songs, 40 minutes
To start off the record, Audio Adrenaline tells us why they sing, “we’ll do it twelve more years from the rooftop screaming / ‘til the whole world knows You’re King” and “Church Punks” reminds us that God can use all of us, even the church punks. “Leaving 99” is a beautiful illustration of the parable of the lost sheep, “Worldwide: Two” encourages us to practice what we preach and help others in need and “Start a Fire” reminds us that change can start with one person’s determination to follow God’s will. “Dirty” does a great job demonstrating that we need to step out of our comfort zone and get “dirty,” but . . .
. . . I think Mark Stuart takes the metaphor a little too far when he says “Let’s get used . . . Let’s get foolish / Let’s get free.” It’s really a paradoxical illustration; being dirty makes us think of sin, not breaking out of our daily grind. In that way, I think it can be perplexing to listeners. “Miracle” says that God “ruined my life,” most likely in relation to how the world looks at life, but it could have been related in a less-confusing way.
Though their last several albums have sounded more or less very similar, the band mixes it up a little bit on this album. They incorporate Tyler Burkum a lot more into the lyrics, include more laid back songs, and have some interesting melody-line guitar licks. “Church Punks” gets a little heavy and you can hear the strain on Stuart’s vocal chords (possibly the reason for more Burkum vocals). “Worldwide: One” and “Dirty” stick to the more traditional Audio Adrenaline sound.
Overall, Worldwide is a decent album. The different sounds that the group experimented with paid off, as “Pierced” and “Leaving 99” became some of the Audio A’s big hits. Personally, I like the vibe of the “Worldwides,” as they are definitely rock-based, fun, and upbeat; trademark Audio Adrenaline. They didn’t go big on the traditional sound this time around though. I appreciate their progressive effort, but personally I think they do the rock thing better.
Probably My Favorite Audio Adrenaline | Posted August-20-2015
For 2001’s Lift, Audio Adrenaline went back to their roots and dug deep. This sound permeated the next record, 2003’s Worldwide as well. Two years later, their final album with Mark Stuart at the head, Until My Heart Caves In was released.
Lift (2001): 13 tracks, 54 minutes
Musically, Lift features guitar riffs and bass licks that define the classic Audio A sound. In this regard, Lift is especially refreshing; songs like the first three tracks, “Rejoice,” “Summertime,” and “Lonely Man.” They get you pumped up and excited, almost like . . . “audio adrenaline.” However, they have some ambient, softer songs that still “Speak to Me,” so to speak. They help to break up the record and add some dynamic. It’s a classic Audio A trick. This also demonstrates another staple of the band; their mature Christian lyrics. You begin to see them on 1997’s Some Kind of Zombie, but they transferred into Underdog and Lift as well.
“I’m Alive” features the trademark quirky lyrics in the verses, “Sometimes I wake up feeling / Like I did back in L.A. / But since I’m from Kentucky / That feeling must have been a mistake . . . Have you ever longed / To take a walk on top of a cloud / If this feeling was a chemical / I don’t think it would be allowed.” “Ocean Floor” is a beautiful song about where our sins really are: “They’re on the bottom / Of the ocean floor.” In “Rejoice” we see Audio A’s passion for the gospel in a fun, upbeat way. Sometimes our words can’t describe the greatness of God, says “Glory.”
This album is definitely clean, but there’s a few things that are worth mentioning. “Speak to Me” says “I’m in a fix / Need something quick,” so “I’ve opened up Your Word to free me,” but the Bible shouldn’t be our last resort in times of hardship. It should be part of our daily time spent with God. The chorus of “Lift” states “And I lift you up so high / I forget about the world I’m living in,” which seems almost like asceticism, something the Bible doesn’t advocate at all.
Despite those minor issues, this record is solid lyrically and fantastic musically. I really enjoy listening to it and any Audio A fan definitely will too. But even if you’re not, this album covers a lot of ground and does it in an upbeat and dynamic way; the Audio Adrenaline way.
Not Sure Why Audio A is "the Underdog" | Posted August-20-2015 Two years following the release of Some Kind of Zombie, Audio Adrenaline returned with a fifth album released on ForeFront Records. Underdog scored Audio A a few hits, including “Get Down” and “Hands and Feet.” Underdog also features a cover of Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” and a remake of one of their own songs (“DC-10” from Audio Adrenaline).
Underdog (1999): 12 tracks, 43 minutes
Although not as rock-based as Bloom or Some Kind of Zombie, Underdog does hit at the heart of Audio Adrenaline’s niche. “DC-10” and “Let My Love Open the Door” take you back to the Bloom days, while there’s also some worshipful stuff featured on this record as well. “Get Down” and “It is Well With My Soul” fit the spiritual maturity that you can see on their senior effort. Also, Mark Stuart and company allow us a trip back to Smooth Steve from “Jazz Odyssey” on “The Houseplant Song.” The band takes a lot of different routes here, with “Jesus Movement” and it’s organic, catchy sound as well as the obvious rock ‘n’ roll influence on “DC-10.” The ambient “It is Well” cover also adds substance to this record.
Audio Adrenaline never fails to deliver some clever lyrics. “Underdog” confirms this in the second verse: “What they [the world] don’t see is / That a winner is not judged / By his small size / But by the / Substitute he picks to / Run the race.” “Jesus Movement” reminds us of the worldwide community of Christians and “This Day” is a great reminder of how we need to start the day. “Mighty Good Leader” has a great premise . . .
. . . but they never really say what the Mighty Good Leader will do to help you in times of temptation, except for “take away all your sin.” Kind-of underwhelming after the great lyrics in “Some Kind of Zombie.”
While different from their previous two releases, Underdog is still authentically Audio Adrenaline, with mature Christian lyrics and a rock influence that put them out there. I really enjoy this album and the diversity that it offers musically while also remaining pure and clean in nature.
One of the Essential Audio A | Posted August-20-2015
After the success of their breakthrough album Bloom, Audio Adrenaline returned a year later with their senior effort Some Kind of Zombie. They returned to similar territory musically for 1999’s Underdog and 2001’s Lift. Worldwide appeared in 2003 and their final record, Until My Heart Caves In dropped in 2005.
Some Kind of Zombie (1997): 10 tracks, 47 minutes
Boasting a slightly different sound as the rock-inspired Bloom, Some Kind of Zombie features significant synth additions, complementing the straight rock songs like “Blitz” and “Superfriend.” The record also features a couple acoustic-driven songs, with the rest of the band chipping in to add some builds (“Lighthouse” and “Original Species”). Songs that drift toward the new style, while still remaining most definitely Audio A include “People Like Me” and “New Body.” The title track is probably the most peculiar of the ten songs. It’s got a lot of different instrumentation: distorted guitars leading into acoustic guitars, ambient keys, strings, and a delicate falsetto; it all works together to make an interesting song.
I really like the allusion to 1 Corinthians 10:13 that Mark makes in “Some Kind of Zombie” where he says, “Oh here they come / But I’m not afraid / There’s no temptation / I can’t evade,” and later he says that “. . . I’m dead to sin like / Some kind of zombie.” The clever lyrics on “Original Species” poke fun at The Origin of Species with lines like “I see a plan so grandiose / My very own Galapagos.” “People Like Me” reminds us “I hope you never believe / Just for a moment you’re better than me / The truth is that we are the same / All different people but only one name.” There are a lot of other great lyrics on this album in every song, so they’re all worth listening to.
Seeing how far they came to make it to Bloom, Audio Adrenaline made a leap of faith on this record. It distanced itself slightly from their previous effort, but still worked out in their favor. The songs demonstrate a maturity that is needed in the Christian music scene, while still maintaining a fun, upbeat vibe. Audio A has always been talented, but all aspects of their talent really shine through on Some Kind of Zombie.
Audio A is Blooming | Posted August-20-2015
As one of the premier CCM bands of the 1990’s, Audio Adrenaline has gained a loyal following over the years. Though their popularity skyrocketed after “Big House” debuted on Don’t Censor Me, Audio A had a rough start with their first and self-titled album from ForeFront Records in 1992. At first, they had an almost hip-hop vibe, like fellow band dcTalk, but eventually they evolved into a rock band, starting with Bloom. This was followed by Some Kind of Zombie in 1997, Underdog in 1999, Lift in 2001, Worldwide in 2003, and Until My Heart Caves In in 2005. They disbanded in 2006 due to lead singer Mark Stuart’s damaged vocal cords.
Bloom (1996): 13 tracks, 50 minutes
If you’re familiar with Audio Adrenaline’s music, you know that their sound on Bloom is very similar to that of the rest of their music career. Their debut and sophomore efforts were developing and maturing their sound. Bloom was a risky endeavor for Audio A, but it definitely paid off. The guitars and bass are spectacular, nor does it really get repetitive.
While at times the lyrics probably could’ve been improved upon, “Man of God” is a deep song about the ups and downs in the Christian life. If you really listen to it, Bloom has a lot of great stuff spiritually, while at some times it’s just goofy (i.e. “Jazz Odyssey”).
But what really shines on this album are the instruments. Having learned the entire album on guitar, I can attest to the genius of guitar player Barry Blair. On the heavy side are “Secret,” “I’m Not the King,” and in certain spots “See Through,” “Bag Lady,” and “Memoir.” The band does a cover of the classic rock tune “Free Ride,” and quite well, I must say. My favorite would probably be “Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus,” with classic Audio A sound and excellent lyrics to back it up. The guitar and soloing work on this song are worth noting. Will McGuinness on bass shines through especially on “I’m Not the King” and “Jazz Odyssey.”
All things considered, Bloom was a milestone for Audio Adrenaline. They developed their signature sound for this record and they were forever launched into Christian music stardom after it. In the nineteen years since its release, it doesn’t really show its age. Though the lyrics are far from spectacular, they still show Audio A’s passion for the gospel (“Secret,” “Gloryland,” and “Bag Lady”), while retaining relevance in a way that secular listeners can understand.
"Don't Censor Me" (or Audio A) | Posted June-23-2015
As one of the premier CCM bands of the 1990’s, Audio Adrenaline has gained a loyal following over the years. Though their popularity skyrocketed after “Big House” debuted on Don’t Censor Me, Audio A had a rough start with their first and self-titled album from ForeFront Records in 1992. At first, they had an almost hip-hop vibe, like fellow band dcTalk, but eventually they evolved into a rock band, starting with Bloom. This was followed by Some Kind of Zombie in 1997, Underdog in 1999, Lift in 2001, Worldwide in 2003, and Until My Heart Caves In in 2005. They disbanded in 2006 due to lead singer Mark Stuart’s damaged vocal cords.
Don’t Censor Me (1993): 11 tracks, 42 minutes
After their debut self-titled album, Audio Adrenaline began to develop the signature sound that they brought to the Christian music scene in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Don’t Censor Me was the beginning of that transformation that ultimately took shape on 1996’s Bloom. Though many of the songs don’t really stand out, “Big House” and “Jesus & the California Kid” mix it up a bit with different styles. “We’re a Band” sticks to sound displayed on Audio Adrenaline.
The heavy expression of the gospel takes a bad turn on “A.K.A. Public School” when Stuart says to us, “You don’t have to travel South . . . just run your mouth,” when we should really be thinking about how we’re approaching others with the gospel. The beginning of “Don’t Censor Me” displays some questionable behavior, but Audio A doesn’t endorse any of it.
Just like on “The Most Excellent Way” from Audio Adrenaline, “Let Love” encapsulates 1 Corinthians 13 into a song. “Rest Easy” soothes, “Rest easy / In My embrace.” “My Scum Sweetheart” is the world and “you broke my heart.” There are a lot of other good lyrics that Audio Adrenaline interject into this record, so that works toward its benefit.
Although this album can be repetitive (you definitely know that “they’re a band” by the end), the lyrics are clean and pretty solid. The music could have been more developed on some of them, but “Big House” and “Jesus & the California Kid” are refreshing twists.
More Like "Audio Assault On My Ears" | Posted June-23-2015
As one of the premier CCM bands of the 1990’s, Audio Adrenaline has gained a loyal following over the years. Though their popularity skyrocketed after “Big House” debuted on Don’t Censor Me, Audio A had a rough start with their first and self-titled album from ForeFront Records in 1992. At first, they had an almost hip-hop vibe, like fellow band dcTalk, but eventually they evolved into a rock band, starting with Bloom. This was followed by Some Kind of Zombie in 1997, Underdog in 1999, Lift in 2001, Worldwide in 2003, and Until My Heart Caves In in 2005. They disbanded in 2006 due to lead singer Mark Stuart’s damaged vocal cords.
Audio Adrenaline (1992): 11 tracks, 46 minutes
When you first listen through this record, it shows its age. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but after the initial four or five tracks, the quality goes way down. The best way to describe them is . . . annoying. Another problem is that they are extremely repetitive. You forget everything else except that you’re going to go “One step hyper . . .” They also interject a lot of spoken parts, which we could have done without. “Revolution” has a long, boring intro and the song itself isn’t really that great. However, Barry Blair saves the record from being a complete failure by slipping in some masterful guitar riffs and leads.
While the lyrics are quite repetitive, there are some good messages mixed in. A creative line at the end of the first track, “Let’s have a little fun as we crush the viper / Time to get / One step hyper.” “The Most Excellent Way” echoes 1 Corinthians 13; the love chapter. The bridge of “J.E.S.U.S. is Right” is a really great representation of falling into the trap of sin. I like the fact that they’re big about the gospel and about sharing it, but . . .
. . . Audio A really overdoes it on this record. The gospel is good, but hammering your listeners with the gospel in every song can turn them off to it (Christian or non-Christian), thereby ending up with the opposite of the desired effect. Also, the reference to being “spiritual snipers” in “One Step Hyper” isn’t necessarily the best analogy.
Far from the Audio Adrenaline most of us know and love, Audio Adrenaline is very repetitive and can almost seem annoying at times. The lyrics are a mix of good, okay . . . and repetitive. However, the guitar work that AA provides is decent. While it’s not an ideal record, it’s essential for fans of the band to see the way the band has grown over nearly 20 years of music. 6.5/10
ajkclj41112's Music and Book Reviews 
Two years following the release of Some Kind of Zombie, Audio Adrenaline returned with a fifth album released on ForeFront Records. Underdog scored Audio A a few hits, including “Get Down” and “Hands and Feet.” Underdog also features a cover of Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door” and a remake of one of their own songs (“DC-10” from Audio Adrenaline).
Audio Adrenaline never fails to deliver some clever lyrics. “Underdog” confirms this in the second verse: “What they [the world] don’t see is / That a winner is not judged / By his small size / But by the / Substitute he picks to / Run the race.” “Jesus Movement” reminds us of the worldwide community of Christians and “This Day” is a great reminder of how we need to start the day. “Mighty Good Leader” has a great premise . . .
