Come to the Well

Come to the Well is the fifth studio album by American contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns, released on October 18, 2011, through Beach Street and Reunion Records. The album, which has a predominantly pop rock and rock sound, was based on the Biblical story of the woman at the well. In writing the album, lead vocalist Mark Hall collaborated with songwriters Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, and Tom Douglas. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised the album's songwriting, and received the award for Top Christian Album at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards.

Come to the Well
Studio album by
Casting Crowns
ReleasedOctober 18, 2011
Studio
GenrePop rock, rock, worship
Length53:13
LabelBeach Street/Reunion
ProducerMark A. Miller
Casting Crowns chronology
Until The Whole World Hears
(2009)		 Come to the Well
(2011)		 Thrive
(2014)
Singles from Come to the Well
  1. "Courageous"
    Released: July 19, 2011[1]
  2. "Jesus, Friend of Sinners"
    Released: March 3, 2012[2]
  3. "Already There"
    Released: October 15, 2012[3]

Although it was projected to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 by music industry analysts, Come to the Well debuted at number two on the chart and number one on the Christian Albums chart with first-week sales of 99,000 units. It also debuted on the Canadian Albums Chart at number sixty-nine and appeared at number eight on the New Zealand Albums Chart in 2012 following the band's appearance at the 2012 Parachute Music Festival. The album has sold over 779,000 copies and has received a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's lead single, "Courageous", peaked at number one on the Billboard Christian Songs chart and at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Background and recording
Mark Hall, Casting Crowns' lead singer, co-wrote most of the tracks on the album.

According to Casting Crowns' lead vocalist Mark Hall, the concept for Come to the Well is the song "The Well". Hall wrote the song based on the Biblical story of "woman at the well and the fact that she was standing there talking to Jesus about water and Jesus was talking to her about water, but they weren't talking about the same water".[4] Hall noted that, in his life, "when I come to Jesus, I've already got my well figured out, I've already got what I think is going to sustain me, I just need him to sprinkle some magic Jesus dust on it and make it work. We have our wells figured and we want Jesus to fix our wells, but our wells are really holes in the ground".[4] Hall argued that instead of using that approach, Christians should "start with Jesus, then we go to the world", and said that approach is what the album is about.[4] In writing the album, Hall worked with outside songwriters Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, and Tom Douglas on several tracks;[4][5] he received writing credit on eleven out of the album's twelve tracks, the exception being "Face Down", which was penned by Hector Cervantes and Marc Byrd.[6]

Come to the Well was produced by Mark A. Miller. It was recorded and mixed by Sam Hewitt at Zoo Studio in Franklin, Tennessee. Additional vocals were recorded by Billy Lord at Eagle's Landing Studio in McDonough, Georgia, while additional recording was conducted at Lifesong Studio in McDonough. The string tracks on the album, which were arranged by David Davidson, were recorded at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, Tennessee by Bobby Shin. It was mastered by Andrew Mendelson at Georgetown Masters in Nashville. The album was submixed by Shin at ShinShack Studio in Nashville.[7]

Musical style and songwriting

Come to the Well has been described as a pop rock[8][9] and rock[10][11] album; it has also been described as being a pop[11] and worship[10] album.

Tracks 1–6

Opening track "Courageous", a pop rock[9] and soft rock[12] song, was described by Hall as an "anthem of encouragement. It's one brother reminding all of God's men we were meant for greatness, and that greatness is defined in contagious and courageous abandonment to Jesus".[5]

"City on the Hill", described as "lush" and "string-laden",[6] is a critique of denominationalism in the Christian church;[9] Hall described the song as an "allegory of the factions of the modern Church, the result of predominantly like-minded people often dwelling upon non-essentials and personal taste to go their own direction".[5]

"Jesus, Friend of Sinners" "admonishes the Christian church to show compassion"[5] and "laments how the world knows many Christ followers more by what they are against than what they are for".[12] Although Hall called the song "one of the more direct songs [Casting Crowns has] written", he said "it also speaks truth. And I think believers should speak truth to each other as long as we do it in love".[5]

"Already There", described as "echoing "Clocks"-era Coldplay",[6] relates the concept that "God is already sitting at the end of your life looking back at it".[5] "The Well", regarded by Hall as the "heart of the entire album",[5] highlights the "life-giving love of Jesus" as opposed to "dried up empty religion".[11]

"Spirit Wind" incorporates a folk rock[9] sound with influences from country music.[10][11] The song, one of the first songs Mark Hall ever wrote, was written after Hall saw a pastor at a church in Alabama preach the story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones to a church that Hall described as one of the "deadest churches" he had ever seen.[5] The song's verse structure goes from "Ezekiel in the first verse to the country preacher in the second verse and finally to a prayer for God to raise his Church again as a mighty army [in the third verse]".[5]

Tracks 7–12

"Just Another Birthday", sung by Megan Garrett,[11] is a mid-tempo ballad.[12] The song was written to "shake up some fathers and remind them of their true priorities" and to "encourage kids out there who don't have an involved dad here on Earth".[5]

"Wedding Day" features a "soaring melody".[11] According to Hall, the song "anticipates the thrill of reveling in the presence of God as the Bride of Christ", a theme Hall felt is rarely addressed in modern music.[5] "Angel" was written for Hall's wife, Melanie, and references the first time Hall met her as well as their wedding day.[5]

"My Own Worst Enemy" has a "grungy"[6] rock[11] sound. Hall felt the song's sound, which he described as perhaps the heaviest song Casting Crowns have ever made, was fitting due to the song's lyrical theme of the inner battle with sin.[5]

"Face Down" is the only song on the album which was not co-written by Hall,[6] The album's final song, "So Far to Find You", was written by Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman about Hall's adopted daughter, Meeka Hope.[5]

Release and promotion

Prior to the release of Come to the Well, "Courageous" was released as a digital download on July 19, 2011[1] and to Christian radio on August 13, 2011.[13] The single topped the Billboard Christian Songs chart[14] and peaked at number four on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[15] Come to the Well was released on October 18, 2011.[16] The album was projected to sell anywhere from 95,000 copies[17] to upwards of 110,000 copies in its first week of sales in the United States.[18] Although industry analysts predicted the album would top the Billboard 200 chart,[19] it ultimately debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with sales of 99,000 units, blocked by Adele's album 21.[19][20] The album also debuted at number one on the Christian Albums chart,[21] number two on the Digital Albums chart,[22] and number sixty-nine on the Canadian Albums Chart.[23] In its second week, the album sold 30,000 copies in the United States, dropping to number ten on the Billboard 200 chart.[24] The album held the top spot on the Christian Albums chart for four consecutive weeks following its release[21][25][26][27] and for ten non-consecutive weeks from December 2011 to November 2012.[28] By February 2012, the album had sold 601,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[29] Following the band's appearance at the 2012 Parachute Music Festival in New Zealand, Come to the Well debuted at number eight on the New Zealand Albums Chart.[30] The album's second single, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners", was released to Christian radio on March 3, 2012.[31] As of March 2014, the album has sold 779,000 copies.[32]

Critical reception and accolades
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[6]
Alt Rock Live[33]
CCM Magazine[34]
Christianity Today[10]
Cross Rhythms[8]
Indie Vision Music[35]
Jesus Freak Hideout[9]
[36]
Louder Than the Music[37]
New Release Tuesday[38]
The Phantom Tollbooth[39]

Come to the Well received mostly positive reviews from music critics. James Christopher Monger of Allmusic gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars, praising the album's opening songs but critiquing the album's "mid-section" for having songs that "feel a bit tacked on".[6] Tom Frigoli of Alpha Omega News gave the album a grade of an A, praising the album for containing "everything they've come to love and more with several radio-friendly songs."[40] Jonathan Faulkner of Alt Rock Live gave the album a seven out of ten stars, commenting that the album "is defiantly a step in the right" direction.[33] Grace S. Aspinwall of CCM Magazine gave the album four out of five stars, praising the overall quality of the album and commending the band for "staying true to themselves".[34] Robert Ham of Christianity Today gave the album three out of five stars, critiquing the album for "sticking to the well-trodden road of modern worship".[10] Tom Lennie of Cross Rhythms gave Come to the Well nine out of ten stars, praising the album's music and lyrics for being "impacting" and "making for much more than just an enjoyable listen".[8] Jonathan Andre of Indie Vision Music gave the album three out of five stars, calling it a "thought-provoking album, about how society wants the temporary fix".[35] Caldwell of Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album four out of five stars, describing it as "skillfully walk[ing] the thin tightrope act of balancing a heart for ministry and discipleship with a broadly appealing (if sometimes too broadly appealing) pop rock soundtrack".[9]

Schexnayder of Jesus Freak Hideout gave a second staff opinion rating of three-stars-out-of-five, and wrote that "Come To The Well is not an unbearable musical venture, and it's likely one of their better recent releases. Although their music may not be of the highest quality, those looking for lyrics that go deeper than your average contemporary worship band should consider giving at least some of Casting Crowns' latest a listen."[36] Davies of Louder Than the Music gave it a three and a half out of five stars, noting that "there is absolutely nothing wrong with this album", which he expects more out of the band, advising that with "a little bit more creativity musically and this could be a really strong album."[37] Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday gave it a four out of five stars, evoking how the album is "filled with songs that both challenge and encourage believers in their walk", and calling it "the best album by Casting Crowns since Lifesong".[38] Bert Gangl of The Phantom Tollbooth gave it a three and a half out of five stars, writing that the album "taken as a whole, the new record, in spite of its intermittent musical tangents – or perhaps because of them – winds up being one of the Crown collective's most cohesive, and impressive, releases to date."[39] Ed Cardinal of Crosswalk.com said the album was "as strong and yet relatively safe as anything it has done before" and praised it as "sure to be among 2011's most popular and enduring Christian albums".[12] Lindsay Williams of Gospel Music Channel praised the album's songwriting and said the album "is a solid effort in the Crowns discography".[11] Barry Westman of Worship Leader praising the album for its "variety in styles adds to the complexity of the album, and keeps the listener wondering what will come next."[41] At the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, the album received the award for Top Christian Album.[42] Come to the Well has been nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 55th Grammy Awards, while "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" has received nominations for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance and Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.[43]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Courageous"Hall, West3:59
2."City On the Hill"Hall, West4:09
3."Jesus, Friend of Sinners"Hall, West5:38
4."Already There"Hall, West, Herms4:31
5."The Well"Hall, West4:55
6."Spirit Wind"Hall, Hoard5:18
7."Just Another Birthday"Hall, Douglas4:27
8."Wedding Day"Hall, Nordeman, Herms4:25
9."Angel"Hall, West, Herms3:44
10."My Own Worst Enemy"Hall, West3:29
11."Face Down"Cervantes, Byrd3:37
12."So Far to Find You"Hall, Chapman5:00
Total length:55:13
iTunes pre-order bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Listen to our Hearts (feat. Steven Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore)"Chapman, Moore5:13

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes.[7]

Charts

Certifications
Country Certification Units shipped
United States Gold[53] 500,000[54]

References

Notes

  1. "Courageous" peaked at number four on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which measures the top twenty-five singles in the United States that have not yet reached the Hot 100.

Footnotes

  1. "Casting Crowns – Courageous MP3 Music Download". CD Universe. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  2. "Going for Adds – Christian AC". Radio & Records. VNU Media. 3 March 2012. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. "Going for Adds – Christian AC". Radio & Records. VNU Media. 15 October 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  4. Cummings, Tony (October 30, 2011). "Casting Crowns: Exhorting the Church to Come To The Well". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  5. Hall, Mark (October 10, 2011). "'Come To The Well: The Songs' by Casting Crowns". New Release Tuesday. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  6. Monger, James Christopher. "Come to the Well – Casting Crowns". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  7. Come to the Well (Digital booklet). Casting Crowns. 2011. pp. 2, 4–5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Lennie, Tom (August 18, 2011). "Review: Come to the Well". Cross Rhythms. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  9. Caldwell, Alex "Tincan" (October 17, 2011). "Casting Crowns, 'Come to the Well' Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  10. Ham, Robert (October 18, 2011). "Come to the Well". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  11. Williams, Lindsay (October 18, 2011). "Casting Crowns, Come to the Well". Gospel Music Channel. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  12. Cardinal, Ed (October 18, 2011). "Casting Crowns' Well Draws from the Word". Crosswalk.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  13. The following confirm the release date of "Courageous":
  14. "Casting Crowns Albums & Song Chart History – Christian Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  15. "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (November 5, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  16. "Come to the Well by Casting Crowns". iTunes. Apple Inc. October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  17. Caulfield, Keith (19 October 2011). "Christian Rockers Casting Crowns Cruising To Possible No. 1 Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  18. Caulfield, Keith (October 21, 2011). "Adele & Casting Crowns: Duking It Out For No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  19. Grein, Paul (October 26, 2011). "Week Ending October 23, 2011. Albums: Casting Crowns Not Crowned". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  20. Caulfield, Keith (October 26, 2011). "Casting Crowns Scores Top Billboard 200 Debut, Adele Back at No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  21. "Christian Albums (November 5, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  22. "Digital Albums (November 5, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  23. "Canadian Albums Chart (October 27, 2011)". Jam!. Canoe Inc. Archived from the original on November 2, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  24. Caulfield, Keith (November 2, 2011). "Coldplay Claims Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  25. "Christian Albums (November 12, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  26. "Christian Albums (November 19, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  27. "Christian Albums (November 26, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  28. The following confirm the nine non-consecutive weeks the album led the Christian Albums chart from 2011–2012:
  29. Archived 2013-02-22 at the Wayback Machine Archived from the on February 2013 original .
  30. "Parachute Artists reach Top 40". Salvation Army. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  31. The following confirm the release date of "Courageous":
  32. Price, Deborah Evans (March 3, 2014). "Casting Crowns Rock Live at Billboard, 'Thrive' as Christian Music's Biggest Band: Video". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  33. Faulkner, Jonathan (November 9, 2011). "Casting Crowns - Come to the Well". Alt Rock Live. Archived from the original on 2013-01-23. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  34. Aspinwall, Grace S. (October 2011). "Adult Contemporary & New Releases". CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. p. 40. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  35. Andre, Jonathan (April 7, 2012). "Casting Crowns - Come to the Well". Indie Vision Music. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  36. Schexnayder, Nathaniel (October 31, 2011). "Casting Crowns, 'Come to the Well' Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  37. Davies, Jono (August 26, 2011). "Reviews - Casting Crowns - Come to the Well". Louder Than the Music. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  38. Davis, Kevin (October 21, 2011). "Casting Crowns (Come to the Well)". New Release Tuesday. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  39. Gangl, Bert (January 20, 2012). "Casting Crowns - Come to the Well". The Phantom Tollbooth. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  40. Frigoli, Tom (January 10, 2012). "Casting Crowns - Come to the Well". Alpha Omega News. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  41. Westman, Barry (November 15, 2011). "Come to the Well - Casting Crowns". Worship Leader. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  42. "Casting Crowns Honored with two Billboard Music Awards". Jesus Freak Hideout. May 21, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  43. "55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
  44. "Billboard 200 (November 5, 2011)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 17, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  45. "Album Top 40 (January 30, 2012)". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  46. "2011 Year End Charts – Top Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  47. "2011 Year End Charts – Christian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  48. "2012 Year End Charts – Top Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  49. "2012 Year End Charts – Christian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2012. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  50. "2013 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  51. "2013 Year End Charts – Christian Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2013. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  52. The following links confirm the peak positions:
  53. "Gold and Platinum Database". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2011. Note: User must input the artist name to attain the cited data.
  54. "RIAA – Certification Criteria". Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
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