Life After Death (TobyMac album)

Last updated

Life After Death
TobyMac - Life After Death.png
Studio album by
TobyMac
ReleasedAugust 19, 2022 (2022-08-19)
Recorded2019–2022
Genre
Length51:02
Label ForeFront
Producer Toby McKeehan • Bryan Fowler • Micah Kuiper • Dave Lubben • Tommie Profitt • Kyle Williams • Cole Walowac • Jon Reddick • Jacob Reske
TobyMac chronology
Live in Denver
(2021)		Life After Death
(2022)		 Heaven On My Mind
(2025)
Singles from Life After Death
  1. "21 Years"
    Released: January 10, 2020
  2. "I'm Sorry (A Lament)"
    Released: October 2, 2020
  3. "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)"
    Released: February 19, 2021
  4. "Promised Land"
    Released: September 17, 2021
  5. "The Goodness"
    Released: June 2, 2022
  6. "Cornerstone"
    Released: February 17, 2023
  7. "Faithfully"
    Released: September 29, 2023

Life After Death is the ninth studio album by American Christian singer TobyMac, released on August 19, 2022, on ForeFront Records. It is his sixth album to top the Billboard Christian Albums chart. [1] The album's third single, "Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)", peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. [2]

Contents

Background

TobyMac claimed that this was his most emotional album that he ever recorded. In October 2019, his eldest son Truett died after an accidental drug overdose. TobyMac said, "I immediately went to write, because that's what I know to do when I'm in so much pain. You go to [write] what you know, what you love and what brings you peace. I immediately started writing – and I wrote '21 Years'. Then I wrote a song called 'Faithfully', and I wrote 'Everything About You' in the first few months after Truett passed." [3]

Singles

"21 Years" was released on January 10, 2020, and is about TobyMac's son Truett Foster, who died a couple months prior, at the age of 21. The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. [4]

"I'm Sorry (A Lament)" was released on October 2, 2020. The song peaked at No. 25 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. [5]

"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" was released on February 19, 2021. The song peaked at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. [6]

"Promised Land" was released on September 17, 2021. The song peaked at No. 9 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. The song featured pop rock artist Sheryl Crow on the OG Collab version. [7] [8] [9]

"The Goodness" was released on June 2, 2022. The song featured new artist Blessing Offor, and peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot Christian Songs Chart. This song was then performed at the 53rd GMA Dove Awards. [10] [11]

"Cornerstone" was released on February 17, 2023. The song features CCM artist Zach Williams. [12]

"Faithfully" was released on September 29, 2023.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Jesus Freak HideoutStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [14]
JubileeCastStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
New Release TodayStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
365 Days of Inspiring MediaStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [17]

Life After Death received mostly positive ratings from critics. Jesus Freak Hideout said of the album, "With a lyrical cohesion and an almost theatrical community feel throughout, Life After Death is a tough album (if you understand the sad context of it) that nevertheless gives hope...is well worth your time, and shows that in Christ, believers 'do not weep as those who have no hope.' Tragedy is not the end of the story." [14] Giving the album a perfect 5, 365 Days of Inspiring Media said that the album was “very powerful, heartfelt, compelling, and challenging, while also laced in the joyfulness colliding with lament and sorrow that comes after a death of a loved one. It's knowing the promise of God while still reconciling how it looks like, this side of eternity. And that is what is seen all through Toby's album, and it's been a blast to listen to it." [17] AllMusic's Marcy Donelson rated the album 4 out of 5, stating that "[TobyMac's] eventual ninth album, Life After Death, finds the genre-blurring Christian artist navigating the aftermath [of his son's death] alongside a slew of guests with a poignant mix of warm appreciations and invigorated motivational song." [13] JubileeCast gave 4 out of 5 and said, "Though not perfect, the album does have many powerful moments. Most importantly, this is an honest set of songs. TobyMac doesn't give us recycled answers to the problem of suffering. Rather, using the space of 15 songs, he works with us through these issues. Reflective of life, there are some downers as well as some sparks of joy and hope." [15] New Release Today's Average NRTeam rating was 2 out of 5. [16]

Accolades

Awards
YearOrganizationAwardResultRef.
2023 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary Christian Music Album Nominated [18]
Year-end lists
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Jesus Freak Hideout2022 Staff Picks: Christopher Smith's Album Picks5
2022 Staff Picks: Alex Caldwell's Album Picks4

Commercial performance

The album peaked at No. 34 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart with 16,000 album-equivalent units. [20] [21]

Track listing

Life After Death track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)"Toby McKeehan, Micah KuiperMicah Kuiper, Toby McKeehan3:01
2."The Goodness" (featuring Blessing Offor)McKeehan, Kyle Williams, Gabriel Patillo, Bryan FowlerBryan Fowler, Kyle Williams, McKeehan3:45
3."Deeper" (featuring Tauren Wells)McKeehan, KuiperKuiper, McKeehan3:14
4."Show Up Choose Love" (featuring Jon Reddick)McKeehan, Jon Reddick, Tommy Sims, Janice Gaines, Kuiper, Benji Cowart, Tony Wood Kuiper, Jon Reddick, McKeehan3:32
5."Promised Land (Collab OG)" (featuring Sheryl Crow)McKeehan, Adam AgeeKuiper, McKeehan3:30
6."Everything About You" (featuring Marlee)McKeehan, Marlee McKeehan, ReddickFowler, Williams, McKeehan3:27
7."Life On It" (featuring Sarah Reeves)McKeehan, Fowler, Cole Walowac, Jacob Reske, Frank Dukes Fowler, Walowac, Kuiper, McKeehan3:39
8."Faithfully"McKeehan, WilliamsWilliams, Kuiper, McKeehan2:46
9."Cornerstone" (featuring Zach Williams)McKeehan, Kuiper, FowlerFowler, Kuiper, McKeehan3:39
10."Found" (featuring Terrian, Anike)McKeehan, Lydia Lubben, Dave Lubben, Mutiat Isola Dave Lubben, McKeehan3:29
11."Fire's Burnin'" (featuring Cory Asbury)McKeehan, Kuiper, FowlerFowler, Kuiper, McKeehan3:04
12."Space" (featuring DC Talk, Michael Tait, Kevin Max)McKeehan, D. LubbenLubben, McKeehan3:04
13."21 Years"McKeehan, Fowler, Blake NeeSmithFowler, McKeehan4:03
14."I'm Sorry (A lament)"McKeehan, Tommee ProfittTommee Profitt, McKeehan4:23
15."Rest" (featuring Terrian, Gabe Real)McKeehan, D. LubbenLubben, McKeehan2:19
Total length:51:02

Album credits

Credits adapted from liner notes.

Charts

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References

  1. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  2. ↑ "tobyMac Chart History: Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ Price, Deborah Evans (August 18, 2022). "TobyMac on Creating an Unflinching Album About His Son's Death: 'This Is a Really Honest Look at My Journey'". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ Willman, Chris (January 11, 2020). "Toby Mac Shares Grief Over Son's Death in '21 Years' Music Video (Watch)". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (October 3, 2020). "TobyMac Releases Poignant New Single 'I'm Sorry (A Lament)'". TCB. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ "TobyMac | Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)". www.multitracks.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "TobyMac Releases New Single, "Promised Land"". Capitol Christian Music Group. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (January 7, 2022). "TobyMac & Sheryl Crow Re-Imagine "Promised Land" With New Collab". TCB. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Law, Jeannie Ortega; Reporter, Christian Post (January 12, 2022). "Sheryl Crow featured on TobyMac's Christian single 'Promised Land'". The Christian Post. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Asker, Jim (September 22, 2022). "TobyMac & Blessing Offor's 'The Goodness' Hits No. 1 on Christian Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  11. ↑ Countdown, 20 the (October 28, 2022). "TobyMac Performs At GMA Dove Awards •". 20 The Countdown Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Clarks, Jessie (February 17, 2023). "TobyMac & Zach Williams Partner On Radio Edit Of "Cornerstone"". TCB. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Donelson, Marcy. "TobyMac - Life After Death Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic .
  14. 1 2 Caldwell, Alex. "TobyMac, "Life After Death" Review".
  15. 1 2 Yap, Timothy (October 2, 2014). "TobyMac "Life After Death" Album Review".
  16. 1 2 "Life After Death by TobyMac - CD Reviews and Information". New Release Today.
  17. 1 2 Andre, Jonathan (August 19, 2022). "TobyMac - Life After Death - 365 Days of Inspiring Media".
  18. ↑ "All the Winners at the 2023 Grammy Awards". Vogue . February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  19. ↑ "JesusfreakHideout.com 2022 Staff Picks". Jesus Freak Hideout. December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  20. ↑ Asker, Jim (August 31, 2022). "tobyMac's 'Life After Death' & 'The Goodness' Rule Christian Album & Song Charts". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  21. ↑ "tobyMac". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ "TobyMac Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  23. ↑ "TobyMac Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Top Christian Albums – Billboard". Billboard . Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Top Christian Albums – Billboard". Billboard . Year-End Chart. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
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