Come to the Well
Encyclopedia
Come to the Well is the fifth studio album by Contemporary Christian
band Casting Crowns
. Released on October 18, 2011, the album is a pop rock
, worship, and rock
album with influences from adult contemporary, pop
, and country
. The album discusses lyrical themes including forgiveness and grace, as well as commentary on denominationalism
in the church. The album met with positive to mixed critical reception, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200
, slightly below commercial expectations.
The lead single
from the album, "Courageous
", was released on July 19, 2011 and has peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs
chart, No. 2 on the Hot Christian AC chart, and No. 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart.
. The album was produced by Mark A. Miller.
, worship, and rock
. Other genres such as adult contemporary, pop
, and country
are influences on the project. "My Own Worst Enemy" is influenced by grunge
and hard rock
,, while "Spirit Wind" is influenced by bluegrass
, country
, and folk rock
. "Almost There" and "Wedding Day" have been compared to "Clocks-era Coldplay
", while "Courageous
" is a soft rock
song. "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" has been described as a 'pop
hymn
'.
Lyrical themes on Come to the Well include forgiveness and grace. Christian singer Matthew West
co-wrote several tracks on the album with Mark Hall
. "Courageous" is a call for men to live bold and uncompromising lives in their faith, and to be better fathers and spiritual leaders. The bridge of the song quotes the Book of Micah
, calling the listener to "Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God". "City on the Hill" is a commentary on denominationalism
and the issues with 'rightness' in the church, set from the perspective of two old men trying to remember what happened to the city on the hill, because it doesn't exist anymore. Lead singer Mark Hall has noted that "If I were to walk in your church right now and ask five different people, “What is the most important emphasis in your church?” each would give a different answer. One would say the proclamation of God’s Word is most important, one would say discipleship, another would say small groups, and yet another would say missions. God designed us with different personalities and preferences. Unfortunately, we often make personalities and preferences the priority," also noting that "The Apostle Paul recognized the differences in us all — some of us are a hand, some are a foot, some an eye — but we all serve a distinct and important purpose and are interdependent. We have to dwell on our like-mindedness if we are ever going forge a lasting impact for God’s Kingdom". "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" is a rebuke of the church for its emphasis on what it is against rather than what it is for. "The Well" is about the love of Jesus, and calls the listener to 'come to the well' as opposed to religion.
"Already There" is a song about God's faithfulness. Regarding the song, Hall commented that "We have a God who is not bound by time or space. To him, space and time are mere creations. A thousand years is as one day to God, so if you have anxious thoughts try to remember Philippians 4:6-9. Paul encourages us to give our worries and fears to the Lord and pray with thanksgiving. How do we pray thanksgiving when we’re anxious? I like to simply whisper, “Thank you, Lord, that you are not anxious about this.” It reminds me that God is standing at the end of my days and looking back on them. Whatever comes, he’s already there". "Spirit Wind" was inspired by a country preacher passionately preaching at what Hall described as "one of the deadest churches I had ever experienced. The song recounts the tale of Ezekiel
and the valley of dry bones, and calls out "believers living carnal lives". "Just Another Birthday" is a first-person story from the perspective of a girl calling out to see her father again, and is meant to both remind fathers of their priorities and encourage children who don’t have an involved dad on Earth. "Wedding Day" is about the Second Coming of Christ and the idea of the church being Christ's bride. "Angel" was written for Mark Hall's wife, Melanie, and references both the first time he met her and their wedding day.
"My Own Worst Enemy" is about the inner conflict with sin. "So Far to Find You" was written with Steven Curtis Chapman
for Hall's adoptive daughter Meeka Hope. Hall commented about the song that "When we traveled to China
to get Meeka Hope, Steven’s wife, Mary Beth, accompanied us. We took all our kids and they got to play with their new sister, which was great. But Meeka Hope didn’t want me to hold her. Most white men that Chinese orphans see are doctors coming to do surgery on them. She was petrified of me... Only after a tearful session of pouring out my heart to God about Meeka Hope’s refusal to come to me did I realize that I often had done the same thing to my Lord. It took several weeks before Meeka Hope warmed up to me, and in the process I came to the realization that I need Jesus way more than his blessings. We are so quick to run to him for what he can do for us. We’re so slow just to sit with him and enjoy in his presence, and my crying out to him in China was really a God moment for me". The song parallels these thoughts with those of God the Father
toward man.
from the album on July 19, 2011. It has currently peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs
chart, as well as at No. 2 on the Hot Christian AC chart, and No. 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart, and was also featured in the Sherwood Pictures
movie Courageous
.
gave the album four stars out of five, commenting that "hats off to Casting Crowns, who with Come To The Well skillfully walk the thin tightrope act of balancing a heart for ministry and discipleship with a broadly appealing (if sometimes too broadly appealing) pop rock
soundtrack", lending particular praise to the songs "Courageous" and "City on the Hill". Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday also gave thew album four out of five stars, praising the album as "the best album by Casting Crowns since Lifesong
" and calling the track "The Well" "my favorite track by this band since "Who Am I
"". Allmusic reviewer James Christopher Monger gave the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, opining that "Opening with the one-two punch of first single “Courageous” and the lush, string-laden “City on the Hill,” Come to the Well feels a little front-loaded," and that "While the album’s mid-section features some nice, emotive moments in “Already There” and “Wedding Day,” both of which echo “Clocks”-era Coldplay, tracks like the grungy “My Own Worst Enemy” and the predictable “Angel” feel a bit tacked on, despite their good intentions".
Robert Ham of Christianity Today
gave the album three stars out of five, listing "Just Another Birthday", "Spirit Wind", and "So Far to Find You" as the top tracks on the album. Ed Cardinal of Crosswalk.com
gave the album a positive review, commenting that "the group’s fifth studio album, Come to the Well, is as strong and yet relatively safe as anything it has done before", also opining that "If anything doesn’t work here, it’s the amped-up “My Own Worst Enemy” which attempts to be a hard rocker from a band that clearly does the adult contemporary thing much better. But that’s a minor quibble, and putting all art vs. ministry debate aside, Come to the Well is sure to be among 2011’s most popular and enduring Christian albums for good reason". Lindsay Williams of WatchGMC noted that "The 12 new tracks are packed with hard-hitting lyrics that, if examined closely, could be controversial. However, it’s [Mark] Hall’s gentle delivery of truth that allows for effective ministry to break through", also commenting that "Matthew West co-wrote half the tracks with [Mark] Hall, and the album is undoubtedly better for it".
, selling 99,000 copies its first week; it was blocked from the top spot by Adele
's album 21
, which sold 106,000 copies. Industry analysts had expected a No. 1 debut for "Come to the Well", which would have been the first Contemporary Christian album to peak at No. 1 on the BIllboard 200. It also debuted at No. 2 on the Digital Albums chart and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart.
In its second week, "Come to the Well" sold 30,000 copies, a 70% from first-week sales. Accordingly, it slid from No. 2 to No. 10 on the chart.
bands The Afters
and Sanctus Real
as well as new artist Lindsay McCaul was launched on September 22 in El Paso, Texas
.
Casting Crowns
Additional performers
Technical
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
band Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
. Released on October 18, 2011, the album is a pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, worship, and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
album with influences from adult contemporary, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. The album discusses lyrical themes including forgiveness and grace, as well as commentary on denominationalism
Denominationalism
Denominationalism is the division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations. Denominationalism as an ideology which views some or all Christian groups as being, in some sense, versions of the same thing regardless of their distinguishing labels, is not...
in the church. The album met with positive to mixed critical reception, and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, slightly below commercial expectations.
The lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from the album, "Courageous
Courageous (Casting Crowns song)
"Courageous" is a song by contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. Co-written by Mark Hall and Matthew West, the song lyrically calls men to be better fathers and spiritual leaders, and takes musical influence from soft rock, adult contemporary, and alternative CCM."Courageous" was released as...
", was released on July 19, 2011 and has peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs
Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States....
chart, No. 2 on the Hot Christian AC chart, and No. 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart.
Recording and production
"Come to the Well" was recorded at Zoo Studio in Franklin, TennesseeFranklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
. The album was produced by Mark A. Miller.
Music
The musical sound of "Come to the Well" is generally pop rockPop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, worship, and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. Other genres such as adult contemporary, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
are influences on the project. "My Own Worst Enemy" is influenced by grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
and hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
,, while "Spirit Wind" is influenced by bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
. "Almost There" and "Wedding Day" have been compared to "Clocks-era Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
", while "Courageous
Courageous (Casting Crowns song)
"Courageous" is a song by contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. Co-written by Mark Hall and Matthew West, the song lyrically calls men to be better fathers and spiritual leaders, and takes musical influence from soft rock, adult contemporary, and alternative CCM."Courageous" was released as...
" is a soft rock
Soft rock
Soft rock is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock music to compose a softer, more toned-down sound. Soft rock songs generally tend to focus on themes like love, everyday life and relationships. The genre tends to make heavy use of acoustic guitars, pianos, synthesizers and sometimes...
song. "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" has been described as a 'pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
'.
Lyrics
Matthew West
On July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which threatened his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through...
co-wrote several tracks on the album with Mark Hall
Mark Hall (musician)
Mark Hall, Jr. is the lead vocalist for the Georgia-based Christian rock group Casting Crowns, a seven-member group made up of all youth pastors.-Early childhood:...
. "Courageous" is a call for men to live bold and uncompromising lives in their faith, and to be better fathers and spiritual leaders. The bridge of the song quotes the Book of Micah
Book of Micah
The Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
, calling the listener to "Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God". "City on the Hill" is a commentary on denominationalism
Denominationalism
Denominationalism is the division of one religion into separate groups, sects, schools of thought or denominations. Denominationalism as an ideology which views some or all Christian groups as being, in some sense, versions of the same thing regardless of their distinguishing labels, is not...
and the issues with 'rightness' in the church, set from the perspective of two old men trying to remember what happened to the city on the hill, because it doesn't exist anymore. Lead singer Mark Hall has noted that "If I were to walk in your church right now and ask five different people, “What is the most important emphasis in your church?” each would give a different answer. One would say the proclamation of God’s Word is most important, one would say discipleship, another would say small groups, and yet another would say missions. God designed us with different personalities and preferences. Unfortunately, we often make personalities and preferences the priority," also noting that "The Apostle Paul recognized the differences in us all — some of us are a hand, some are a foot, some an eye — but we all serve a distinct and important purpose and are interdependent. We have to dwell on our like-mindedness if we are ever going forge a lasting impact for God’s Kingdom". "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" is a rebuke of the church for its emphasis on what it is against rather than what it is for. "The Well" is about the love of Jesus, and calls the listener to 'come to the well' as opposed to religion.
"Already There" is a song about God's faithfulness. Regarding the song, Hall commented that "We have a God who is not bound by time or space. To him, space and time are mere creations. A thousand years is as one day to God, so if you have anxious thoughts try to remember Philippians 4:6-9. Paul encourages us to give our worries and fears to the Lord and pray with thanksgiving. How do we pray thanksgiving when we’re anxious? I like to simply whisper, “Thank you, Lord, that you are not anxious about this.” It reminds me that God is standing at the end of my days and looking back on them. Whatever comes, he’s already there". "Spirit Wind" was inspired by a country preacher passionately preaching at what Hall described as "one of the deadest churches I had ever experienced. The song recounts the tale of Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel , "God will strengthen" , is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Ezekiel is acknowledged as a Hebrew prophet...
and the valley of dry bones, and calls out "believers living carnal lives". "Just Another Birthday" is a first-person story from the perspective of a girl calling out to see her father again, and is meant to both remind fathers of their priorities and encourage children who don’t have an involved dad on Earth. "Wedding Day" is about the Second Coming of Christ and the idea of the church being Christ's bride. "Angel" was written for Mark Hall's wife, Melanie, and references both the first time he met her and their wedding day.
"My Own Worst Enemy" is about the inner conflict with sin. "So Far to Find You" was written with Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman
Steven Curtis Chapman is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, actor, author, and social activist.After starting his career in the late 1980s as a singer/songwriter of contemporary Christian music, Chapman has since been recognized as one of the most prolific singers in the genre,...
for Hall's adoptive daughter Meeka Hope. Hall commented about the song that "When we traveled to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to get Meeka Hope, Steven’s wife, Mary Beth, accompanied us. We took all our kids and they got to play with their new sister, which was great. But Meeka Hope didn’t want me to hold her. Most white men that Chinese orphans see are doctors coming to do surgery on them. She was petrified of me... Only after a tearful session of pouring out my heart to God about Meeka Hope’s refusal to come to me did I realize that I often had done the same thing to my Lord. It took several weeks before Meeka Hope warmed up to me, and in the process I came to the realization that I need Jesus way more than his blessings. We are so quick to run to him for what he can do for us. We’re so slow just to sit with him and enjoy in his presence, and my crying out to him in China was really a God moment for me". The song parallels these thoughts with those of God the Father
God the Father
God the Father is a gendered title given to God in many monotheistic religions, particularly patriarchal, Abrahamic ones. In Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, life-giver, law-giver, and protector...
toward man.
Singles
"Courageous" was released as the lead singleLead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from the album on July 19, 2011. It has currently peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs
Hot Christian Songs
Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States....
chart, as well as at No. 2 on the Hot Christian AC chart, and No. 4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart, and was also featured in the Sherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures is an American Christian film production company in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is unusual among production companies in that it is a ministry of a local church, Sherwood Baptist Church. The company uses mostly volunteers in their productions...
movie Courageous
Courageous (film)
Courageous is an independent Christian drama film produced by Sherwood Pictures and was released to theaters on September 30, 2011. It is the fourth film by Sherwood Pictures, the creators of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. Filming in Albany, Georgia concluded in June 2010...
.
Critical
Critical reception to Come to the Well was generally positive to mixed. Tincan Caldwell of Jesus Freak HideoutJesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
gave the album four stars out of five, commenting that "hats off to Casting Crowns, who with Come To The Well skillfully walk the thin tightrope act of balancing a heart for ministry and discipleship with a broadly appealing (if sometimes too broadly appealing) pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
soundtrack", lending particular praise to the songs "Courageous" and "City on the Hill". Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday also gave thew album four out of five stars, praising the album as "the best album by Casting Crowns since Lifesong
Lifesong
-Charts and certifications:-Decade-end charts:-Awards:In 2006, the album won a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 37th GMA Dove Awards. The title song was also nominated for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year....
" and calling the track "The Well" "my favorite track by this band since "Who Am I
Who Am I (Casting Crowns song)
"Who Am I" is a song by Christian rock band Casting Crowns. This song was released as their second single off their debut album, Casting Crowns.This song was also the compilation album WOW Hits 2005.-Chart performance:-Decade-end charts:...
"". Allmusic reviewer James Christopher Monger gave the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, opining that "Opening with the one-two punch of first single “Courageous” and the lush, string-laden “City on the Hill,” Come to the Well feels a little front-loaded," and that "While the album’s mid-section features some nice, emotive moments in “Already There” and “Wedding Day,” both of which echo “Clocks”-era Coldplay, tracks like the grungy “My Own Worst Enemy” and the predictable “Angel” feel a bit tacked on, despite their good intentions".
Robert Ham of Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
gave the album three stars out of five, listing "Just Another Birthday", "Spirit Wind", and "So Far to Find You" as the top tracks on the album. Ed Cardinal of Crosswalk.com
Crosswalk.com
Crosswalk.com was a website acquired by Salem Web Network on October 4, 2002 for a reported $4.1 million.Crosswalk.com's slogan is "The Intersection of Faith and Life" and portrays the site's mission of "offering the fresh and compelling biblically-based content to Christians who take seriously...
gave the album a positive review, commenting that "the group’s fifth studio album, Come to the Well, is as strong and yet relatively safe as anything it has done before", also opining that "If anything doesn’t work here, it’s the amped-up “My Own Worst Enemy” which attempts to be a hard rocker from a band that clearly does the adult contemporary thing much better. But that’s a minor quibble, and putting all art vs. ministry debate aside, Come to the Well is sure to be among 2011’s most popular and enduring Christian albums for good reason". Lindsay Williams of WatchGMC noted that "The 12 new tracks are packed with hard-hitting lyrics that, if examined closely, could be controversial. However, it’s [Mark] Hall’s gentle delivery of truth that allows for effective ministry to break through", also commenting that "Matthew West co-wrote half the tracks with [Mark] Hall, and the album is undoubtedly better for it".
Commercial
Come to the Well debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 99,000 copies its first week; it was blocked from the top spot by Adele
Adele (singer)
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008...
's album 21
21 (Adele album)
21 is the second studio album by English recording artist Adele. Released on 24 January 2011 in the United Kingdom and most of Europe, and on 22 February 2011 in North America, the album was named after the age of the singer at the time of its production...
, which sold 106,000 copies. Industry analysts had expected a No. 1 debut for "Come to the Well", which would have been the first Contemporary Christian album to peak at No. 1 on the BIllboard 200. It also debuted at No. 2 on the Digital Albums chart and No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart.
In its second week, "Come to the Well" sold 30,000 copies, a 70% from first-week sales. Accordingly, it slid from No. 2 to No. 10 on the chart.
Tour
Casting Crowns has launched a fall tour to promote the album. The "Come To The Well Tour", a 40-city tour featuring Christian rockChristian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
bands The Afters
The Afters
The Afters are a Christian rock band founded by Joshua Havens and Matt Fuqua. Havens and Fuqua first worked together in a Starbucks coffee shop in Mesquite, Texas, where they played for customers, before deciding to form a band. They added Brad Wigg and Marc Dodd, who were also employed at the same...
and Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real
Sanctus Real is an American Christian rock band formed in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996. The group is composed of Matt Hammitt , Chris Rohman , Dan Gartley , Pete Prevost , and Mark Graalman...
as well as new artist Lindsay McCaul was launched on September 22 in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
.
Track listing
(Writing credits lifted from the inner notes of the album)Personnel
(Credits lifted from the inner liner notes of the album)Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns
Casting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
- Mark HallMark Hall (musician)Mark Hall, Jr. is the lead vocalist for the Georgia-based Christian rock group Casting Crowns, a seven-member group made up of all youth pastors.-Early childhood:...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Hector CervantesCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Juan DeVevoCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
– acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, electric guitar - Chris HuffmanCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Megan GarrettCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Melody DeVevoCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
– violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, background vocals - Brian ScogginCasting CrownsCasting Crowns is a Grammy Award and Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian/Christian Rock band. Casting Crowns was started in 1999 by youth pastor Mark Hall at First Baptist Church in Downtown Daytona Beach, Florida as part of a youth group. He now serves as a lead vocalist...
– drumDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional performers
- Bobby Huff – drums and percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Jacob Schrodt – drums and percussion
- Adam Nitti – bass
- Blair Masters – keyboards, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
- Bernie Herms – keyboards, programming
- Gregg Hobie Hubbard – keyboards
- Stu Garrard – electric guitars
- Mike Payne – electric guitars
- Jason Roller – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
- Jason Hoard – electric guitars, acoustic guitars
- Dale Oliver – electic guitars
- Adam Lester – acoustic guitars
Technical
- Mark A. Miller - producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Terry Hemmings - executive producerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
- Jason McArthur - A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
- Sam Hewitt - recording, mixing
- Billy Lord - vocal recording
- Andrew Mendelson - mastering
- David Davidson - string arrangements
- Michael Hewitt - recording, digital edits, assistant
- Eric Jackson - assistant
- Michael France - assistant
- Shelley Anderson - assistant
- Daniel Bacigalupi - assistant
- Matt Naylor - assistant, digital editing
Album charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
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Singles charts
| Year | Song | Peak Chart Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ |
Christ AC |
US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
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| 2011 | "Courageous Courageous (Casting Crowns song) "Courageous" is a song by contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns. Co-written by Mark Hall and Matthew West, the song lyrically calls men to be better fathers and spiritual leaders, and takes musical influence from soft rock, adult contemporary, and alternative CCM."Courageous" was released as... " |
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