Fight the Tide

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: June 15, 2004 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Say it Loud2002The Face of Love2006studioFight the TideFightTheTide.jpgSanctus RealJune 15, 2004* Antenna Studios (Brentwood, Tennessee)Christian rock45:49Sparrow RecordsTedd Tx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Template:Music ratings

Fight the Tide is the second studio album from Christian rock band Sanctus Real, and was released on June 15, 2004 under Sparrow Records.<ref name="billboard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of the album was written within one month and recorded in only four weeks. According to band members, the tight schedule caused them to refine the album's various musical and lyrical elements.

Fight the Tide won a GMA Dove Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year in 2005<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was generally well received by music critics. It also spawned the singles "Everything About You" and "The Fight Song", both of which hit #1 on Christian rock radio charts.

Background

In July 2003, before the band had prepared songs for Fight the Tide, lead vocalist Matt Hammitt said of the album: "[On Say it Loud] we wrote about every day life or about God but didn't open ourselves up completely and weren't vulnerable to listeners. I hope on the next album we really open up and pour it out."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In February 2004, Sanctus Real returned to the studio to record their second album,<ref name="jfh feb04 news">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and nearly all of the tracks were written in the previous month.<ref name="real">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="1cubed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They only had four weeks to track and record the album in studio, and according to band members, recording sessions were very intensive and tiring. Hammitt said, "If we weren't in the studio laying down tracks, we were at home working on lyrics, melodies, and rewrites. It really felt like a 24 hour-a-day job for about four weeks."<ref name="real" /> He estimated that two months would have been an ideal amount of time to record the album, but that the experience "was cool and it stretched us".<ref name="real" /> Due to the constant guitar playing, especially during the second half of their recording time, guitarist Chris Rohman tried putting nail polish on his fingertips because they felt so raw.<ref name="real" />

Tedd T served as producer for Fight the Tide;<ref name="1cubed" /> it was recorded and mixed at Antenna Studios in Brentwood, Tennessee.<ref>Lyric liner for Fight the Tide, 2004.</ref>

Lyrical themes

There are several themes on Fight the Tide, although its lyrics are mainly centered around various aspects of the Christian faith. Lead vocalist Matt Hammitt noted how some of the tracks were based on the Biblical epistle of James, such as "Deeds", which discusses the idea that faith and works are not separable, and "The Fight Song", which references James' concept about the influence of "the tongue".<ref name="real" /> Interpersonal relationships are another common topic. Hammitt and bassist Steve Goodrum wrote "The Fight Song" together, which was about a conflict between Goodrum and a friend: "I was kind of hurt, but I'm still close to that person ... The song is about fighting over small, unimportant things—the things that divide churches, marriages, and close relationships."<ref name="real" /> "Alone" is a love song while "Change Me" is written as a prayer asking for better patience and kindness with others; the latter was written after Hammitt once "lost patience" with his wife: "I felt like less of a person at that point. That hurt me as well as it hurt her, because I said some stupid things when I was angry."<ref name="real" /><ref name="ct review">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Promotion and release

In September 2004, Sanctus Real embarked on their first headlining tour, the Fight the Tide Tour. The tour covered over 25 cities and featured guest bands Hawk Nelson, Seven Places and Ever Stays Red.<ref name="tour">Template:Cite press release</ref>

The album's lead single, "Everything About You" was released to radios around the same time of the album's release. The song eventually reached #1 on R&R magazine's Christian rock chart in September, and held the position for six consecutive weeks.<ref name="tour" />

Accolades

On 2005, the album won a Dove Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. The song "Everything About You" was also nominated for Rock Recorded Song of the Year.<ref>2005 Dove Awards - 36th Annual Dove Awards Template:Webarchive on About.com; Jones, Kim</ref>

Track listing

Note

• "Say Goodbye" includes 5 minutes of silence.

Personnel

Sanctus Real

• Matt Hammitt – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars
• Chris Rohman – guitars, backing vocals
• Steve Goodrum – bass, backing vocals
• Mark Graalman – drums, backing vocals

Production

• Christopher York – executive producer
• Tedd T. – producer, overdub recording, mixing
• Allen Salmon – track recording
• Damon Riley – overdub recording
• Rusty Varenkamp – overdub recording
• Richard Dodd – mastering
• Jan Cook – creative direction
• Benji Peck – art direction, design, illustration
• Kristen Barlowe – photography
• Keith Shackleford and Commonrock Entertainment – management

Charts

Album

• • Billboard's Hot Christian Albums – #23<ref name="billboard" />
  • Billboard's Top Heatseekers – #38<ref name="billboard" />

Singles

• • "Everything About You" – #1 on R&R magazine's Christian rock chart<ref name="tour" />
  • "The Fight Song" – #1 on R&R magazine's Christian rock chart<ref name="t40 3rd hit">Template:Cite press release</ref>