Coming Up to Breathe
Encyclopedia
Coming Up to Breathe is the fifth major label, full-length studio album from MercyMe
. Released in on April 25, 2006, the album was intended by MercyMe to be edgier and heavier than their previous efforts. Coming Up to Breathe received almost universally positive reviews from critics, and sold 58,000 copies its first week, MercyMe's biggest sales week at the time. It peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200
, No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, No. 5 on the Rock Albums chart, and No. 13 on the Alternative Albums chart. Coming Up to Breathe was certified
gold by the RIAA
in 2007, signifying shipments of over 500,000 copies. It was also nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
at the 49th Grammy Awards, and for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards.
Three singles were released in promotion of Coming Up to Breathe. Lead single
"So Long Self
" peaked at No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart, and spent four weeks atop that chart; it also peaked at No. 16 on the the Adult Contemporary chart. The third and final single from the album, "Bring the Rain
", also peaked at No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. The second single from the album, "Hold Fast
", peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and at No. 27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Additionally, an album cut, "No More No Less", peaked at No. 30 on the Christian Songs chart.
band when they started out. The group's label, INO Records
, gave the band permission to record a heavier record, due to musical trends towards heavier music at the time; The record label's president, Jeff Moseley, also told the band that "maybe the guitars need to be a little hotter". With the circumstances lined up, MercyMe recorded what guitarist Mike Scheuchzer described as "fun music". Scheuchzer also described the album as "a little more organic", as opined that "I think we’ve captured who MercyMe is live better on this record than we have in the past". MercyMe also decided to switch producers, replacing Pete Kipley with Brown Bannister
. Bannister had previously worked with the band on their Christmas album The Christmas Sessions
, and although the group considered Kipley a 'seventh member of the band', they felt it was time for a change. The band was particularly impressed with Bannister's experience as a rock producer, as he had produced White Heart
's record Freedom
, a personal favorite of lead singer Bart Millard. They were also attracted to Bannister's encouraging role and more laid-back approach, which allowed the band to run through their avenues before Bannister would give his input. The different approach allowed the band to reassemble and reinvent songs.
The tracks were recorded in Allaire Studios in Shokan, New York
, which had previously hosted artists including Norah Jones
, Tim McGraw
, and David Bowie
. Overdubs were recorded at Oxford Sound in Nashville, Tennessee
. Strings
were recorded at Abbey Road Studios
in London
, England
by the London Session Orchestra. Recording sessions at Allaire started in October of 2005, and lasted a month.
of the album more, mixing what one critic described as "adult contemporary
ballads with stylized arrangements and some good rockers", while another noted the album had an overall mid-tempo sound, "mild to moderately aggressive with a few ballads thrown in".
The tracks "Last One Standing", "You're To Blame", and "Coming Up to Breathe" have been described as having a 'Brit rock' feel resembling Delirious
. "Something Like You" has been compared to the sound of U2
(particularly the song "Where The Streets Have No Name
"), while "3:42 a.m. (Writer's Block)" has been described as 'soulful classic rock'. "One Trick Pony" has been described as one of the more diverse cuts from the album, which has a more southern
-influenced and 'bluesy' sound. The guitars in the bridges of "Last One Standing" and "Hold Fast
" have been compared to the Foo Fighters
and Coldplay
, respectively. "No More No Less" has a radio-friendly pop rock
sound, but features a gospel
-influenced backing choir near the end of the song that has been compared to The Temptations
. Ballads on the album include "Bring the Rain
", "Safe and Sound", and "I Would Die For You".
" is about bidding farewell to sinful nature, while "Hold Fast" is a reminder of God's presence through difficult times. "Something About You" and "3:42 a.m. (Writer's Block)" both relate to the difficulty of writing a song about God.
. The album beat out MercyMe's previous best sales week (56,000 copies), which came following the release of their 2004 album "Undone
". "Coming Up to Breathe" also peaked at No. 5 on the Rock Albums chart and No. 13 on the Alternative Albums chart during its chart run. Coming Up to Breathe ranked at No. 6 on 2006 year-end Christian Albums chart, and at No. 14 on the 2007 year-end Christian Albums chart. In 2007, the album was certified
Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
, signifying shipments of 500,000 copies.
An acoustic version of the album, Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic, was released in late 2007 and peaked at No. 22 on the Christian Albums chart.
gave the album five out of five stars, commenting that "I am by nature (being a musician myself) somewhat hard to impress when it comes to music... but I can honestly say that I was blown away by this one". He further commented that "All of the songs offered here are great from start to finish". Steve Losey of Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, and opined that "In a concerted effort to revert back to the days when they were more a rock band and less of a hitmaking machine, MercyMe delivers", further noting that "MercyMe is able to rock on portions of each song but they always bring it back to a memorable chorus or a hooky verse. That's the formula that has always worked for them, and it does here, too". Cross Rhythms
reviewer Tony Cummings gave the album nine out of ten stars, and opined that "Throughout the album the melodies are strong, Bart's voice retains its rough-hewn bluesy quality while the production by studio maestro Brown Bannister
is an exemplary example of pitching rock at Top 40 radio", while also commenting on the album's string arrangements. In a positive review of the album, Ed Cardinal of Christian Music Today commented that "Despite MercyMe's best efforts (so far), this project doesn't seem destined to become a classic and probably won't match the double-platinum sales of 2001's Almost There (which includes "I Can Only Imagine
"). That said, Coming Up to Breathe still represents a huge leap forward for MercyMe and is easily their best album yet".
Lauren Summerford of Jesus Freak Hideout
gave the album four of five stars, commenting that "Coming Up to Breathe is an undeniably strong project from MercyMe". Summerford argued, however that [Coming Up to Breathe] does have its slight flaws. Occasionally the lyrics from the latest batch of songs seem to be predictable. That's not to say the whole album comes off with that "overused" feeling; in fact, some places display some of the best songwriting we have heard from the band so far. It's just those few disappointing spots that seem all the more unfortunate because we know what the band is capable of penning". Brenten Gilbert of CMCentral.com gave the album a positive review, opining that "Coming Up to Breathe is considered to be the first true rock endeavor from the group known most for their big, heartfelt, inspirational ballads ("I Can Only Imagine", "Homesick
"). However, the album doesn't so much represent a departure from the "MercyMe" sound as it does a shift in presentation and perhaps focus. The poppy, contemporary rock sounds that are evident on this new release have always been there in the past - it's simply that they weren't as well publicized". Gilbert also stated that "[Coming Up to Breathe] brings MercyMe another step forward, cementing them as one of the biggest names in Christian music".
Coming Up to Breathe was nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
at the 49th Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards.
MercyMe
Additional performers
Technical/Misc.
Notes
MercyMe
MercyMe is an American Christian rock band founded in Greenville, Texas. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, keyboardist James Bryson, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul....
. Released in on April 25, 2006, the album was intended by MercyMe to be edgier and heavier than their previous efforts. Coming Up to Breathe received almost universally positive reviews from critics, and sold 58,000 copies its first week, MercyMe's biggest sales week at the time. It peaked at No. 13 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...
, No. 1 on the Christian Albums chart, No. 5 on the Rock Albums chart, and No. 13 on the Alternative Albums chart. Coming Up to Breathe was certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
in 2007, signifying shipments of over 500,000 copies. It was also nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
The Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album was awarded from 1991 to 2011. From 1991 to 1993 it was awarded as Best Pop Gospel Album.The award will be discontinued from 2012 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
at the 49th Grammy Awards, and for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards.
Three singles were released in promotion of Coming Up to Breathe. 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...
"So Long Self
So Long Self
"So Long Self" is a song written and performed by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by MercyMe, the song is musically a power pop song with a lyrical theme revolving around a breakup with sin...
" peaked at No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart, and spent four weeks atop that chart; it also peaked at No. 16 on the the Adult Contemporary chart. The third and final single from the album, "Bring the Rain
Bring the Rain
"Bring the Rain" is a song written and performed by MercyMe. It is the third radio single released in promotion of their 2006 studio album, Coming Up To Breathe.- Charts :- Year-end charts :- Decade-end charts:-Awards:...
", also peaked at No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. The second single from the album, "Hold Fast
Hold Fast (song)
Hold Fast is a song written and recorded by Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. It was released as the second single from their 2006 album Coming Up to Breathe.-Composition:...
", peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart and at No. 27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Additionally, an album cut, "No More No Less", peaked at No. 30 on the Christian Songs chart.
Background
MercyMe had considered themselves a rockRock 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...
band when they started out. The group's label, INO Records
INO Records
INO Records, also known as Fair Trade Services, is an American record label based in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, specializing in Contemporary Christian music . It is distributed through Sony Music Entertainment, and was owned by Integrity Media until June 2011. When Integrity Media sold its assets...
, gave the band permission to record a heavier record, due to musical trends towards heavier music at the time; The record label's president, Jeff Moseley, also told the band that "maybe the guitars need to be a little hotter". With the circumstances lined up, MercyMe recorded what guitarist Mike Scheuchzer described as "fun music". Scheuchzer also described the album as "a little more organic", as opined that "I think we’ve captured who MercyMe is live better on this record than we have in the past". MercyMe also decided to switch producers, replacing Pete Kipley with Brown Bannister
Brown Bannister
Brown Bannister is a CCM producer and songwriter. Bannister released one album of his own, Talk to One Another, in 1981 on NewPax Records. It was reissued on the Reunion Records Label five years later, featuring a newer recording of the album's final cut, "Create In Me A Clean Heart"...
. Bannister had previously worked with the band on their Christmas album The Christmas Sessions
The Christmas Sessions
The Christmas Sessions is the fourth major label, full-length studio album and first Christmas album from MercyMe, that was released on September 27, 2005 through INO Records...
, and although the group considered Kipley a 'seventh member of the band', they felt it was time for a change. The band was particularly impressed with Bannister's experience as a rock producer, as he had produced White Heart
White Heart
White Heart, also listed as Whiteheart, was a Contemporary Christian Music pop-rock band which formed in 1982. White Heart's discography includes thirteen albums, the most recent of which was released in 1997. Original members Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl worked with a continually-changing cast...
's record Freedom
Freedom (White Heart album)
Freedom is the sixth album by Christian rock band White Heart and the last with Sparrow Records. Produced by Brown Bannister, it was also the last album for Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy and Chris McHugh.-Track listing:# "Bye Bye Babylon" – 4:09...
, a personal favorite of lead singer Bart Millard. They were also attracted to Bannister's encouraging role and more laid-back approach, which allowed the band to run through their avenues before Bannister would give his input. The different approach allowed the band to reassemble and reinvent songs.
Shokan, New York
Shokan is a hamlet located in the Town of Olive in Ulster County, within the Catskill Park. The population was 1,252 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, which had previously hosted artists including Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
, and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. Overdubs were recorded at Oxford Sound in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
were recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by the London Session Orchestra. Recording sessions at Allaire started in October of 2005, and lasted a month.
Music
Although Coming Up to Breathe possesses an overall heavier tone than MercyMe's previous albums, it has been described as an an extension or a shift in presentation rather than a total departure. The rock sound of the album has been described as "poppy" and "contemporary", and the guitars are more prominent. In particular, guitar solos are more prominent in the album. Millard noted that the band "really focused on up-tempo songs," also stating that "I don't think we are trying to reinvent the wheel, it's just trying to put a little more edge into what we are creating". The band varied the tempoTempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of the album more, mixing what one critic described as "adult contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
ballads with stylized arrangements and some good rockers", while another noted the album had an overall mid-tempo sound, "mild to moderately aggressive with a few ballads thrown in".
The tracks "Last One Standing", "You're To Blame", and "Coming Up to Breathe" have been described as having a 'Brit rock' feel resembling Delirious
Delirious?
Delirious? were an English Christian rock and worship band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion...
. "Something Like You" has been compared to the sound of U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
(particularly the song "Where The Streets Have No Name
Where the Streets Have No Name
"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's third single in August 1987. The song's hook is a repeating guitar arpeggio using a delay effect, played during the song's introduction and...
"), while "3:42 a.m. (Writer's Block)" has been described as 'soulful classic rock'. "One Trick Pony" has been described as one of the more diverse cuts from the album, which has a more southern
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
-influenced and 'bluesy' sound. The guitars in the bridges of "Last One Standing" and "Hold Fast
Hold Fast (song)
Hold Fast is a song written and recorded by Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. It was released as the second single from their 2006 album Coming Up to Breathe.-Composition:...
" have been compared to the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and 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...
, respectively. "No More No Less" has a radio-friendly 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...
sound, but features a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
-influenced backing choir near the end of the song that has been compared to The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. Ballads on the album include "Bring the Rain
Bring the Rain
"Bring the Rain" is a song written and performed by MercyMe. It is the third radio single released in promotion of their 2006 studio album, Coming Up To Breathe.- Charts :- Year-end charts :- Decade-end charts:-Awards:...
", "Safe and Sound", and "I Would Die For You".
Lyrics
"Bring The Rain" and "I Would Die For You" both trail into a 'praise chorus' anchored by Millard's vocals; the latter is also a tribute to a teen who died after serving on a mission field. "One Trick Pony" is a response to MercyMe's critics who argue that the band recycles the same song over and over. The title track likens life without God to being in bondage, while "No More No Less" is about being honest with others. "So Long SelfSo Long Self
"So Long Self" is a song written and performed by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by MercyMe, the song is musically a power pop song with a lyrical theme revolving around a breakup with sin...
" is about bidding farewell to sinful nature, while "Hold Fast" is a reminder of God's presence through difficult times. "Something About You" and "3:42 a.m. (Writer's Block)" both relate to the difficulty of writing a song about God.
Singles
Three singles were released in promotion of Coming Up to Breathe. The first single, "So Long Self", spent four weeks atop the Christian Songs chart, and also peaked at No. 16 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The second single from the album, "Hold Fast" peaked at No. 3 on the Christian Songs chart, as well as at No. 27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. "Bring the Rain" was released as the final single from the album, and peaked at No. 1 on the Christian Songs chart. Additionally, an album cut, "No More No Less", peaked at No. 30 on the Christian Songs chart.Release
Coming Up to Breathe was released on April 25, 2006. Coming Up to Breathe sold 58,000 copies in its first week, debuting atop the Christian Albums chart and at No. 13 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...
. The album beat out MercyMe's previous best sales week (56,000 copies), which came following the release of their 2004 album "Undone
Undone (MercyMe album)
Undone is the third major label studio album from Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. The album features the hit radio singles "Here With Me" and "Homesick". Undone peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and at number 12 on the Billboard 200...
". "Coming Up to Breathe" also peaked at No. 5 on the Rock Albums chart and No. 13 on the Alternative Albums chart during its chart run. Coming Up to Breathe ranked at No. 6 on 2006 year-end Christian Albums chart, and at No. 14 on the 2007 year-end Christian Albums chart. In 2007, the album was certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, signifying shipments of 500,000 copies.
An acoustic version of the album, Coming Up to Breathe: Acoustic, was released in late 2007 and peaked at No. 22 on the Christian Albums chart.
Critical reception
Coming Up to Breathe received almost universally positive reviews. Brian Jones of About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
gave the album five out of five stars, commenting that "I am by nature (being a musician myself) somewhat hard to impress when it comes to music... but I can honestly say that I was blown away by this one". He further commented that "All of the songs offered here are great from start to finish". Steve Losey of Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, and opined that "In a concerted effort to revert back to the days when they were more a rock band and less of a hitmaking machine, MercyMe delivers", further noting that "MercyMe is able to rock on portions of each song but they always bring it back to a memorable chorus or a hooky verse. That's the formula that has always worked for them, and it does here, too". Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
reviewer Tony Cummings gave the album nine out of ten stars, and opined that "Throughout the album the melodies are strong, Bart's voice retains its rough-hewn bluesy quality while the production by studio maestro Brown Bannister
Brown Bannister
Brown Bannister is a CCM producer and songwriter. Bannister released one album of his own, Talk to One Another, in 1981 on NewPax Records. It was reissued on the Reunion Records Label five years later, featuring a newer recording of the album's final cut, "Create In Me A Clean Heart"...
is an exemplary example of pitching rock at Top 40 radio", while also commenting on the album's string arrangements. In a positive review of the album, Ed Cardinal of Christian Music Today commented that "Despite MercyMe's best efforts (so far), this project doesn't seem destined to become a classic and probably won't match the double-platinum sales of 2001's Almost There (which includes "I Can Only Imagine
I Can Only Imagine
"I Can Only Imagine" is a single recorded by contemporary Christian and Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by Bart Millard, the song, based around a main piano track, was inspired by the death of Millard's father and considers what it would be like in Heaven and to be standing...
"). That said, Coming Up to Breathe still represents a huge leap forward for MercyMe and is easily their best album yet".
Lauren Summerford of Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus 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 of five stars, commenting that "Coming Up to Breathe is an undeniably strong project from MercyMe". Summerford argued, however that [Coming Up to Breathe] does have its slight flaws. Occasionally the lyrics from the latest batch of songs seem to be predictable. That's not to say the whole album comes off with that "overused" feeling; in fact, some places display some of the best songwriting we have heard from the band so far. It's just those few disappointing spots that seem all the more unfortunate because we know what the band is capable of penning". Brenten Gilbert of CMCentral.com gave the album a positive review, opining that "Coming Up to Breathe is considered to be the first true rock endeavor from the group known most for their big, heartfelt, inspirational ballads ("I Can Only Imagine", "Homesick
Homesick (MercyMe song)
"Homesick" is a song by Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. Written by Bart Millard, the song is an expression of grief and longing that was written after the band experienced the deaths of nine people they were connected to in a short period of time....
"). However, the album doesn't so much represent a departure from the "MercyMe" sound as it does a shift in presentation and perhaps focus. The poppy, contemporary rock sounds that are evident on this new release have always been there in the past - it's simply that they weren't as well publicized". Gilbert also stated that "[Coming Up to Breathe] brings MercyMe another step forward, cementing them as one of the biggest names in Christian music".
Coming Up to Breathe was nominated for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
The Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album was awarded from 1991 to 2011. From 1991 to 1993 it was awarded as Best Pop Gospel Album.The award will be discontinued from 2012 in a major overhaul of Grammy categories...
at the 49th Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 38th GMA Dove Awards.
Track listing
(All songs written by MercyMe)Personnel
(Credits lifted from the album liner notes)MercyMe
MercyMe
MercyMe is an American Christian rock band founded in Greenville, Texas. The band consists of vocalist Bart Millard, keyboardist James Bryson, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul....
- Jim Bryson – keys
- Mike Scheuchzer – guitars, background vocals
- Barry Graul – guitars, background vocals
- Nathan Cochran – bass, background vocals
- Robby Shaffer - drums
- Bart Millard - lead vocals, background vocals
Additional performers
- Eric Darken - percussion
- Blair Masters - programming, additional keyboards
- Mike Haynes - trumpet
- Barry Green - trombone
- Joe Murphy - tuba
- Sam Levine - clarinet
- Gene Miller - background vocals
- Travis CottrellTravis CottrellTravis Cottrell is an American contemporary Christian music artist, songwriter, and worship leader.- Biography :Cottrell was raised in Boone, North Carolina. In 1990, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to study at Belmont University. After graduating in 1992 with a degree in music, Cottrell...
- background vocals - Michael Mellett - choir
- Fiona Mellett - choir
- Da'dra Crawford Greathouse - choir
- Mandisa HundleyMandisaMandisa Hundley is an American gospel singer, who was the ninth-place finalist in the fifth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
- choir - Abel Orta - choir
- Lisa Bevill - choir
- Jovaun Woods - choir
- Steve Crawford - choir
- The London Sessions Orchestra - strings
Technical/Misc.
- Brown BannisterBrown BannisterBrown Bannister is a CCM producer and songwriter. Bannister released one album of his own, Talk to One Another, in 1981 on NewPax Records. It was reissued on the Reunion Records Label five years later, featuring a newer recording of the album's final cut, "Create In Me A Clean Heart"...
– producer - Steve Bishir – recording, mixing
- Matthew Cullen – recording (assistant)
- Bob Clearmountain – mixing
- Brandon Duncan – mixing (assistant)
- Steve Marcussen – mastering
- Aaron Sternke – digital editing, additional engineering
- Billy Whittington – digital editing, additional engineering
- Tracy Bishir – production assistant
- Carl Marsh - string arrangement, conducting
- Mike Casteel - music preparation
- Eberhead Ramm - music preparation
- Tony Stanton - music preparation
- Gavyn WrightGavyn WrightGavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London Session Orchestra and Penguin Cafe Orchestra, best known for his orchestral arrangements on pop productions as well as numerous TV and movie soundtracks Gavyn Wright is a British violinist and orchestra leader with the London...
- concertmaster - Andrew Dudman - assistant (string recording)
- Shatrine Krake - art direction, design
- Bob Hedlund - additional design
- Kenny Comerford - photography
- Philippe Lardy - original paintings
Album charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Digital Albums (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
10 |
Year-end album charts
| Chart (2006) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Christian Albums (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
6 |
| US Christian/Gospel Albums (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
11 |
| Chart (2007) | Position |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
14 |
| US Christian/Gospel Albums (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
15 |
Singles charts
| Year | Song | Peak Chart Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ |
US AC |
||
| 2006 | "So Long Self So Long Self "So Long Self" is a song written and performed by Contemporary Christian/Christian rock band MercyMe. Written and composed by MercyMe, the song is musically a power pop song with a lyrical theme revolving around a breakup with sin... " |
1 | 16 |
| "Hold Fast Hold Fast (song) Hold Fast is a song written and recorded by Contemporary Christian band MercyMe. It was released as the second single from their 2006 album Coming Up to Breathe.-Composition:... " |
3 | 27 | |
| 2007 | "No More No Less"[A] | 30 | – |
| "Bring the Rain Bring the Rain "Bring the Rain" is a song written and performed by MercyMe. It is the third radio single released in promotion of their 2006 studio album, Coming Up To Breathe.- Charts :- Year-end charts :- Decade-end charts:-Awards:... " |
1 | – | |
Notes
- A ^ "No More No Less" was not released as a single, but peaked at No. 30.
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Units shipped |
|---|---|---|
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Gold | 500,000 |