Background, writing and recording
Following the more experimental music of Mezzamorphis and Glo , Delirious aimed for a "stripped-down" pop sound on their new album, influenced by, among others, Coldplay, Radiohead, and the Manic Street Preachers. [1] [2] Many of the songs were recorded semi-live in the studio, giving the album a raw feel. [3]
Chuck Zwicky (former engineer for Prince and Semisonic) was brought in to oversee production of the album. [3] According to Stu G, Zwicky was very influential in the recording of the album: "From our beginning we’ve really had a hands-on approach to the production. And we asked him to really take that on. So he did make a difference to the way we recorded the stuff and to really get a strip-down, more live performance. And that was really good to be pushed that way, and he pushed us really hard." [4] The band also credit him with creating a retro sound: "we walked into the studio and Tim [Jupp] started to set up, and Charles said (rather less politely) ‘Put them away, I'm not having that rubbish in my studio.' Instead, he got Tim to play analogue synths and Fender Rhodes through guitar pedals, and rather than relying on MIDI to do everything Tim was twisting knobs and creating audio canvasses that were absolutely incredible." [3]
Content
The album's lyrical content differs somewhat from previous albums, including several love songs. Martin Smith said of the first single, "Waiting for the Summer", "The song came about because we were travelling to Brighton everyday and in usual style it was raining... We thought we'd write a song about waiting for the summer because we used to say to each other, 'I can't wait for summer'. It's a love song about being with my lady in summer, laughing and dancing around." [5] Another track, "There is an Angel", was written by Smith about "waking up one night and seeing my wife asleep in bed next to me and just thinking, God, I could mess this up if I'm not careful. She's the angel you've put in my life and I need to protect what you've given me." Smith has said that the song is his all-time favourite. [6]
Among the more obscure songs lyrically is another love song, "Bicycle Gasoline"; Smith has, however, explained it: "girls, they don't want flowers all the time, they just need telling that you love them, and vice-versa. A bicycle doesn't need gasoline and she doesn't need all that stuff really. She doesn't need 'things', jewellery or dresses, she just needs love. You know, love man!" [6]
Delirious? were an English contemporary Christian 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. During their final two years, drumming duties were assumed by Paul Evans.
World Service is the fifth studio album by English Christian rock band Delirious?. It was released in 2003. Although it is more of a worship-oriented album as was Glo, Delirious? released two singles to the German market: "Inside Outside" and "Every Little Thing". The former sold over twelve thousand copies, was number one in German radio station SWR3's chart, and spent seven weeks in the German singles charts peaking at number seventy-two. Delirious? also released two free MP3 downloads on mp3.com, both topping the Guitar Rock charts. The first MP3, "Majesty ", hit number fifteen on the worldwide charts; the second, "Rain Down", reached number twenty-eight. The two together had amassed over 500,000 listens/downloads after fifty days. The band's American single "Rain Down" has become its biggest multi-format hit since "Deeper."
Touch is an album released by Delirious? in 2002. It is essentially a clone of album Audio Lessonover? released in North America. In fact, only the first song, "Touch", is new. "Love is the Compass" and "Waiting for the Summer" are different versions from the UK release, and four songs present on Audio Lessonover were removed from Touch.
King of Fools is an album by British rock band Delirious?, initially released in June 1997. The full-length project showcased a new mainstream sound, whilst retaining many of the core themes found in their Cutting Edge EPs. Stylistically, the album epitomises the band's similarity to U2, an influence which was highlighted by several critics on release. King of Fools reached No. 13 in the UK album chart, a career high for the band, and produced four singles. The second, "Deeper", peaked at No. 20 on the UK singles chart on 11 May 1997. It also includes what is possibly the best known Delirious? song, "History Maker", which the band regularly played live throughout their whole career. The album was listed at No. 85 in the 2001 book, CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The album was nominated for a Grammy.
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Mezzamorphis is the second studio album by Christian rock band Delirious?. Released in 1999, it represented a large step towards a more electronic and mainstream sound for the band and received a mostly positive critical reception. However, despite the critical acclaim, many former Delirious? fans disliked the album, claiming that the band had sold out to the secular industry.
Martin James Smith is an English vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Smith was the front man of the Christian rock and worship band Delirious?. When Delirious? disbanded in 2009, Smith became a solo artist.
The Mission Bell is the sixth studio album by Delirious?. It was released in the UK on 7 November 2005 and in the US on 27 December 2005.
Glo is the third full studio album by the band Delirious?. It was released in 2000, just over a year after their previous album Mezzamorphis.
Access:d is a live album by the band Delirious?.
d:tour 1997 Live at Southampton, or simply d:tour, is a live album by the English band Delirious?.
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Stuart David Garrard better known by the stage name Stu G, is an English vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. He is one third of US-based Christian contemporary music band One Sonic Society, and is writing and recording as a solo artist.
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Now Is the Time is the fourth full live album by the band Delirious?. In June 2006, Delirious? attended Willow Creek Community Church to record a live concert DVD. The DVD is accompanied with a CD, and it was released in the UK on 9 October and in the USA on 17 October.
Kingdom of Comfort is the ninth and last studio album by the British Christian rock band Delirious?, released in the United States on 1 April 2008 and in the United Kingdom on 14 April 2008.
My Soul Sings is a live album by the band Delirious?. The album was released on 16 March 2009. It was the band's last new recording before their farewell tour at the end of 2009. It takes its name from the song, My Soul Sings, which was included on Kingdom of Comfort. Generación 12, a Colombian worship band sang part of some songs in Spanish. A special Colombian Edition has been released in South America, to cater for the Colombian market, where Delirious? has a large following.
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