543:
alluded us to "ponder what a worship song would sound like with an indie rocker up in front", and add to that "a return to energy and excitement, not just when there are 50,000 people at a festival, but even contained in a studio production" because that is what the album contains. Hess was critical in noting that this "isn't like this is the best album ever created", which means "this album isn't perfect", yet the album "it is simply a step in the right direction, with a huge sound that gives the rest of us a little something to look forward to in the years to come."
376:
371:
547:
the many radio and church hits throughout the years." At Louder Than the Music, Jono Davies surmised that "to be fair to
Citizen, this rock album lets some amazing lyrics pour out of the songs. What Citizen have done is shown that we can still worship God to amazing rock 'n roll songs that punch above their weight." At Jesus Freak Hideout, Ryan Barbee vowed that "
512:
478:
410:
307:
507:
502:
497:
492:
473:
468:
463:
458:
444:
439:
434:
429:
424:
405:
400:
395:
390:
302:
297:
292:
287:
366:
361:
356:
351:
346:
341:
336:
331:
240:
particular is a universal language used throughout the entire world that has a way of allowing you to communicate gospel truth to anyone, who will listen. Music is an amazing gift from God that must never become the object of our affection, but rather a gift we use to outwardly express gratitude to our
Creator. (Eph 2:10; Col 1:16)
546:
Indie Vision Music's
Jonathan Andre highlighted that "both musically and lyrically" that the project is "a treasure". Also, Andre called this album "a breath of fresh air in terms of worship and praise in an industry full of similar artist styles and tired and overused themes and messages throughout
542:
comparisons with their club rock groove, and gospel-centric lyrics on each tune bolster their theological importance." Tyler Hess of
Christian Music Zine found that Citizens are "appear to be putting forth an attempt to buck that trend" of what the standard worship album is to be. In addition, Hess
212:
Our hope is that it would be an encouragement to local churches all over the world and that it would bring about heart transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. When people listen to the album what they will hear is the gospel being proclaimed. When we sat down and wrote these songs we
551:
is an album made for the
Christian who has wanted to sing gospel-centered lyrics but not sacrifice artful music on the altar of conformity." Additionally, Barbee evoked that the band has "not only offered up some great tunes - they are paving a new road in music", which is truly "a game-changer."
239:
I don't know that I would word it quite like that, except to say that Jesus is peace and healing to both sinners and sufferers. People need to hear the gospel and next to its transformational power the most influential ways of distributing that truth is through preached Word and music. Music in
555:
Jonathan
Francesco of New Release Tuesday surmised that "while the song titles for their self-titled debut might not indicate a very original project, the music is actually surprisingly fresh." Francesco noted that "there are numerous musical highpoints on the album that will help it to standout
556:[sic] from the pack. Lyrically, though, it's pretty much the standard fare", but the album "more than accomplishes what it set out to accomplish." Lastly, Francesco found that "Citizens manage to find a workable balance between catchy pop music and uplifting praise and worship."
29:
560:' Josh Dipple found that the release "can't be faulted for its energy, with songs that long to be played to big crowds at summer festivals, played expertly by a band who have obviously been studiously taking notes, watching the likes of
213:
prayed that the Holy Spirit would help us to do things that we were not capable of doing. This album is a total working of the Holy Spirit and to that we can trust in Him to bring about whatever fruit this album is meant to produce.
530:, Matt Conner told that "the new movement of worship music out of Mars Hill is one of the most imaginative and important shifts within the
1272:
1179:
235:
that "You have said you write to bring healing and peace to your community, how do you accomplish something like that with music?"
1027:
208:
will be your first full-length album. What are your hopes for this record? What are you most excited to share with listeners?"
1277:
1049:
959:
1267:
85:
192:
and Mars Hill Music, and the producer on the album is Brian
Eichelberger. This album has seen critical success.
531:
1240:
1212:
534:
in years, and
Citizens is the latest example alongside The Modern Post and Ghost Ship. Citizens echoes
1228:
840:
822:
817:
585:
539:
1067:
1232:
1095:
1043:
925:
160:
1123:
937:
871:
835:
711:
589:
185:
131:
121:
41:
1149:
189:
181:
113:
77:
989:
906:
1261:
561:
557:
323:
526:
278:
108:
963:
565:
535:
72:
28:
81:
910:
902:
231:
Zach Bolen of
Citizens was asked the question in the same interview with
575:
the inaugural winner of Reel Gospel
Readers' Album of the Year in 2013.
1030:. Christian Music Zine. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013
524:
has received all favorably positive reviews from five critics. At
36:
1200:
907:"Citizens - Citizens : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards"
583:
On March 23, 2013, the album was the sixth most sold
617:
606:
130:
120:
107:
91:
71:
63:
48:
35:
21:
328:
237:
210:
489:
421:
8:
455:
387:
284:
200:Zach Bolen of Citizens gave an interview to
1215:. Reel Gospel. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
1233:"Heatseekers Albums : March 23, 2013"
257:
188:, which was released on March 12, 2013 by
27:
18:
802:
600:
865:
863:
859:
779:
1178:Francesco, Jonathan (March 12, 2013).
1173:
1171:
1169:
1167:
1143:
1141:
1041:
933:
923:
1223:
1221:
1213:Reel Gospel 2013 Readers Poll Winners
1117:
1115:
1113:
1089:
1087:
1085:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1015:
983:
981:
953:
951:
949:
947:
780:
263:
7:
1096:"Citizens – Citizens | Reviews"
1061:
1059:
897:
895:
893:
891:
889:
330:
1211:Robinson, Sam (December 27, 2013),
491:
423:
1094:Andre, Jonathan (March 25, 2013).
14:
457:
389:
286:
16:2013 studio album by Citizens
1180:"An Enjoyable Sound for Worship"
962:. Worship Leader. Archived from
958:Worship Leader (March 5, 2013).
682:"I Am Living in a Land of Death"
510:
505:
500:
495:
490:
476:
471:
466:
461:
456:
442:
437:
432:
427:
422:
408:
403:
398:
393:
388:
374:
369:
364:
359:
354:
349:
344:
339:
334:
329:
305:
300:
295:
290:
285:
1150:"Reviews - Citizens - Citizens"
1122:Barbee, Ryan (March 11, 2013).
1066:Dipple, Josh (April 27, 2013).
1148:Davies, Jono (April 8, 2013).
1028:"Citizens – Citizens (Review)"
1026:Hess, Tyler (March 11, 2013).
629:Zach Bolen, Brian Eichelberger
607:
1:
1124:"Citizens, "Citizens" Review"
1068:"Review: Citizens - Citizens"
571:Readers of Reel Gospel voted
180:is the first studio album by
1273:Citizens & Saints albums
988:Conner, Matt (May 1, 2013).
872:"Citizens album information"
846:
828:
1294:
86:Christian alternative rock
1048:: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
960:"Interview with Citizens"
766:
752:
738:
724:
706:
692:
678:
664:
650:
636:
622:
614:
611:
271:
268:
138:
26:
532:Christian music industry
245:Zach Bolen of Citizens,
218:Zach Bolen of Citizens,
52:March 12, 2013
1241:Prometheus Global Media
1152:. Louder Than the Music
717:Judson W. Van DeVenter
626:"Sweetness of Freedom"
579:Commercial performance
251:
224:
1278:BEC Recordings albums
1182:. New Release Tuesday
1126:. Jesus Freak Hideout
874:. Jesus Freak Hideout
870:Jesus Freak Hideout.
452:Louder Than the Music
1098:. Indie Vision Music
818:Top Christian Albums
756:"Praise to the Lord"
540:Two Door Cinema Club
315:Christian Music Zine
259:Professional ratings
745:Bolen, Eichelberger
731:Bolen, Eichelberger
699:Bolen, Eichelberger
685:Bolen, Eichelberger
671:Bolen, Eichelberger
657:Bolen, Eichelberger
603:
486:New Release Tuesday
418:Jesus Freak Hideout
260:
1231:(March 23, 2013).
994:(Mars Hill Music)"
936:has generic name (
905:(March 12, 2013).
728:"Sins of My Youth"
601:
384:Indie Vision Music
258:
254:Critical reception
126:Brian Eichelberger
1268:2013 debut albums
966:on April 12, 2013
851:
850:
790:
789:
643:W. Spencer Walton
519:
518:
173:
172:
169:
168:
144:Already / Not Yet
1285:
1252:
1251:
1249:
1247:
1225:
1216:
1209:
1203:
1198:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1187:
1175:
1162:
1161:
1159:
1157:
1145:
1136:
1135:
1133:
1131:
1119:
1108:
1107:
1105:
1103:
1091:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1063:
1054:
1053:
1047:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1023:
1010:
1009:
1007:
1005:
985:
976:
975:
973:
971:
955:
942:
941:
935:
931:
929:
921:
919:
917:
899:
884:
883:
881:
879:
867:
803:
783:
609:
604:
515:
514:
513:
509:
508:
504:
503:
499:
498:
494:
493:
481:
480:
479:
475:
474:
470:
469:
465:
464:
460:
459:
447:
446:
445:
441:
440:
436:
435:
431:
430:
426:
425:
413:
412:
411:
407:
406:
402:
401:
397:
396:
392:
391:
379:
378:
377:
373:
372:
368:
367:
363:
362:
358:
357:
353:
352:
348:
347:
343:
342:
338:
337:
333:
332:
310:
309:
308:
304:
303:
299:
298:
294:
293:
289:
288:
261:
249:
222:
204:and were asked "
161:Join the Triumph
140:
139:
103:
102:
98:
59:
57:
31:
19:
1293:
1292:
1288:
1287:
1286:
1284:
1283:
1282:
1258:
1257:
1256:
1255:
1245:
1243:
1227:
1226:
1219:
1210:
1206:
1199:
1195:
1185:
1183:
1177:
1176:
1165:
1155:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1139:
1129:
1127:
1121:
1120:
1111:
1101:
1099:
1093:
1092:
1083:
1073:
1071:
1070:. Cross Rhythms
1065:
1064:
1057:
1040:
1033:
1031:
1025:
1024:
1013:
1003:
1001:
987:
986:
979:
969:
967:
957:
956:
945:
932:
922:
915:
913:
901:
900:
887:
877:
875:
869:
868:
861:
856:
836:Top Heatseekers
810:
796:
791:
781:
759:Joachim Neander
712:I Surrender All
654:"Hail the King"
640:"In Tenderness"
598:
590:Top Heatseekers
581:
511:
506:
501:
496:
477:
472:
467:
462:
443:
438:
433:
428:
409:
404:
399:
394:
375:
370:
365:
360:
355:
350:
345:
340:
335:
306:
301:
296:
291:
256:
250:
244:
229:
223:
217:
198:
164:
155:
146:
100:
96:
95:
55:
53:
44:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1291:
1289:
1281:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1260:
1259:
1254:
1253:
1217:
1204:
1193:
1163:
1137:
1109:
1081:
1055:
1011:
977:
943:
885:
858:
857:
855:
852:
849:
848:
845:
831:
830:
827:
813:
812:
807:
795:
792:
788:
787:
784:
778:
777:
774:
771:
768:
764:
763:
760:
757:
754:
750:
749:
746:
743:
740:
736:
735:
732:
729:
726:
722:
721:
718:
715:
708:
704:
703:
700:
697:
694:
690:
689:
686:
683:
680:
676:
675:
672:
669:
666:
662:
661:
658:
655:
652:
648:
647:
644:
641:
638:
634:
633:
630:
627:
624:
620:
619:
616:
613:
610:
599:
597:
594:
580:
577:
517:
516:
487:
483:
482:
453:
449:
448:
419:
415:
414:
385:
381:
380:
326:
320:
319:
316:
312:
311:
282:
274:
273:
270:
266:
265:
255:
252:
247:Worship Leader
242:
233:Worship Leader
228:
225:
220:Worship Leader
215:
202:Worship Leader
197:
194:
190:BEC Recordings
182:Christian rock
171:
170:
167:
166:
157:
148:
136:
135:
128:
127:
124:
118:
117:
111:
105:
104:
93:
89:
88:
78:Christian rock
75:
69:
68:
65:
61:
60:
50:
46:
45:
40:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1290:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1265:
1263:
1242:
1238:
1234:
1230:
1224:
1222:
1218:
1214:
1208:
1205:
1202:
1197:
1194:
1181:
1174:
1172:
1170:
1168:
1164:
1151:
1144:
1142:
1138:
1125:
1118:
1116:
1114:
1110:
1097:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1082:
1069:
1062:
1060:
1056:
1051:
1045:
1029:
1022:
1020:
1018:
1016:
1012:
999:
995:
993:
984:
982:
978:
965:
961:
954:
952:
950:
948:
944:
939:
934:|author=
927:
912:
908:
904:
898:
896:
894:
892:
890:
886:
873:
866:
864:
860:
853:
843:
842:
837:
833:
832:
825:
824:
819:
815:
814:
808:
806:Chart (2013)
805:
804:
801:
800:
793:
785:
782:Total length:
775:
772:
769:
765:
761:
758:
755:
751:
747:
744:
741:
737:
733:
730:
727:
723:
719:
716:
713:
709:
705:
701:
698:
695:
691:
687:
684:
681:
677:
673:
670:
667:
663:
659:
656:
653:
649:
645:
642:
639:
635:
631:
628:
625:
621:
605:
596:Track listing
595:
593:
591:
588:
587:
578:
576:
574:
569:
567:
563:
562:Kings Of Leon
559:
558:Cross Rhythms
553:
550:
544:
541:
537:
533:
529:
528:
523:
488:
485:
484:
454:
451:
450:
420:
417:
416:
386:
383:
382:
327:
325:
324:Cross Rhythms
322:
321:
317:
314:
313:
283:
281:
280:
276:
275:
267:
264:Review scores
262:
253:
248:
241:
236:
234:
226:
221:
214:
209:
207:
203:
195:
193:
191:
187:
183:
179:
178:
163:
162:
158:
154:
153:
149:
145:
142:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
123:
119:
115:
112:
110:
106:
94:
90:
87:
83:
79:
76:
74:
70:
66:
62:
51:
47:
43:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1244:. Retrieved
1236:
1207:
1196:
1184:. Retrieved
1154:. Retrieved
1128:. Retrieved
1100:. Retrieved
1072:. Retrieved
1032:. Retrieved
1002:. Retrieved
1000:. p. 74
998:CCM Magazine
997:
991:
968:. Retrieved
964:the original
914:. Retrieved
876:. Retrieved
839:
821:
798:
797:
668:"Made Alive"
584:
582:
572:
570:
554:
548:
545:
527:CCM Magazine
525:
521:
520:
279:CCM Magazine
277:
246:
238:
232:
230:
219:
211:
205:
201:
199:
176:
175:
174:
159:
151:
150:
143:
37:Studio album
1201:Reel Gospel
990:"Citizens:
566:The Strokes
536:Passion Pit
227:Songwriting
1262:Categories
854:References
742:"Psalm 18"
602:Track list
196:Background
134:chronology
116:/Mars Hill
56:2013-03-12
1246:March 31,
1237:Billboard
1229:Billboard
1186:March 31,
1130:March 31,
1102:March 31,
1074:April 29,
1034:March 31,
970:March 31,
916:March 31,
878:March 31,
841:Billboard
823:Billboard
811:position
615:Writer(s)
586:Billboard
1156:April 8,
1044:cite web
992:Citizens
926:cite web
911:AllMusic
903:AllMusic
770:"Oh God"
696:"Jesus!"
573:Citizens
549:Citizens
522:Citizens
243:—
216:—
206:Citizens
186:Citizens
177:Citizens
152:Citizens
132:Citizens
122:Producer
64:Recorded
49:Released
42:Citizens
39: by
22:Citizens
592:album.
165:(2014)
156:(2013)
147:(2012)
67:2011–13
54: (
1004:May 1,
794:Charts
618:Length
318:4.25/5
272:Rating
269:Source
92:Length
799:Album
786:48:42
773:Bolen
612:Title
184:band
109:Label
82:indie
73:Genre
1248:2013
1188:2013
1158:2013
1132:2013
1104:2013
1076:2013
1050:link
1036:2013
1006:2013
972:2013
938:help
918:2013
880:2013
809:Peak
776:5:50
762:3:59
748:4:18
734:3:47
720:6:06
702:3:49
688:6:21
674:3:26
660:3:45
646:4:02
632:3:19
564:and
834:US
829:20
816:US
767:11.
753:10.
608:No.
568:."
538:or
114:BEC
1264::
1239:.
1235:.
1220:^
1166:^
1140:^
1112:^
1084:^
1058:^
1046:}}
1042:{{
1014:^
996:.
980:^
946:^
930::
928:}}
924:{{
909:.
888:^
862:^
847:6
844:)
826:)
739:9.
725:8.
707:7.
693:6.
679:5.
665:4.
651:3.
637:2.
623:1.
101:42
97:48
84:,
80:,
1250:.
1190:.
1160:.
1134:.
1106:.
1078:.
1052:)
1038:.
1008:.
974:.
940:)
920:.
882:.
838:(
820:(
714:"
710:"
99::
58:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
