Fool's Paradise is the first major studio album released by Christian alternative rock

Alternative rock

Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 band Monday Morning

Monday Morning (band)

Monday Morning is an Christian alternative rock band from North Carolina, U.S. In 2005 they released their major label debut through Selectric Records, Fool's Paradise, and are known for their number 1 hit song "Wonder of It All ".-History:...

. It was released on August 30, 2005 through Selectric Records

Selectric Records

Selectric Records was an independent record label based in Franklin, TN. Their roster was made up of a number of rock bands, including Monday Morning, Cross Culture , Dalton, Pivitplex, Homeless J., and High Flight Society...

. The album features their single "Wonder of It All (Next Year)", which was the 9th most played song on Christian contemporary hit radio

Contemporary hit radio

Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...

 in 2006.

Music and lyrics

The band has labeled their major musical influences Silverchair

Silverchair

Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...

, 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...

, Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...

, Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

, and Our Lady Peace

Our Lady Peace

Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...

. The song "Blind" is about addiction

Substance dependence

The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...

, while "Can't Go On" discusses the topic of racism

Racism

Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...

.

Release

Fool's Paradise was the band's major record label debut; it was released on August 30, 2005 through Selectric Records

Selectric Records

Selectric Records was an independent record label based in Franklin, TN. Their roster was made up of a number of rock bands, including Monday Morning, Cross Culture , Dalton, Pivitplex, Homeless J., and High Flight Society...

, which was the band's first album through the label. The album's 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...

, "Wonder of It All (Next Year)" was played on Christian radio in 2006, and became the year's 9th most-played song on Christian contemporary hit radio

Contemporary hit radio

Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...

.

Reception

Fool's Paradise received mixed reviews from music critics, although its reception was relatively positive. Brian Jones of About.com

About.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....

 said that the album was overall "well done and heartfelt", adding, "At times they recycle the same hooks and it becomes a little redundant. I think these guys have way too much talent to have to recycle licks and become repetitive." The album's musical style has been compared to 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...

, specifically on the track "Wonder of It All (Next Year)". Christian Music Today editor Russ Breimeier concluded his review with, "there are some impressive flashes of rock intensity and melodic hooks on Fool's Paradise that are compromised by other more formulaic and predictable tracks." 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...

magazine was more negative towards it: "Unfortunately Monday Morning follow in the footsteps of bands like Radialangel and Stereo Motion in creating an album which fizzes loudly but never really explodes into anything memorable. Everything is in place as you'd expect ... none of the songs sound like anything you haven't heard already a hundred times." 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...

's Lauren Summerford said that the band offered a "pleasant rock sound".

Cover

In a 2006 interview with 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...

, lead vocalist Derek Stipe said of the album artwork:

True art has its own meaning for each person who views it. It's very symbolic, and to me has a meaning very similar to the album title. Paradise lost, but we still can't get enough.

Track listing

1. "Sunshine"
2. "Dear You"
3. "Can't Go On"
4. "These Eyes"
5. "Vanity"
6. "Wonder of It All (Next Year)"
7. "Until the End"
8. "Tonight"
9. "Blind"
10. "Desperate"
11. "Breakaway"
12. "Stand"
13. "Tear Me From You"