Suburba is the fourth full-length album by the band House of Heroes. They went into Dark Horse Recording Studio on February 1, 2010, to record it with producer Mark Lee Townsend.[1] It was released on August 3, 2010, through Gotee Records. On April 5, the band premiered two songs on the Eastern American Radio Network titled "RadioU": "Elevator" and "Constant". On April 18, 2010, the mixing for the album was completed.[2]
House of Heroes commented about the album on their Facebook page, "Just south of 5th Ave. on Riverside Dr./33 in Columbus, OH is the Suburban Building. The N fell off the end of the word... This is what inspired the title of our new record. A record about growing up in the suburbs of middle class America, and having big dreams. There are triumphs and failures, and sometimes letters fall off the ends of words... " [1] The song "Burn Me Down" was inspired by the British band Muse, of whom Tim Skipper is a big fan.[3]Suburba debuted at No. 48 on the Billboard 200, which is House of Heroes' highest position to date.[4]
On May 24, 2010 they released a lyric video for the song "God Save the Foolish Kings",[5] and on July 20, a similar one for "Love Is for the Middle Class" was released.[6] On July 27, 2010 they also released a music video for "God Save the Foolish Kings".[7]
Alter The Press's George Gadd wrote that "It's clear that with 'Suburba', House of Heroes could easily take on arenas and stadiums and have their songs shouted back to them, it's time for us to let go of our little secrets and let them become successful".[21]
Evan C. Jones of Alternative Press wrote that "Suburba, shows off what the masses have been missing: catchy pop songs with well-written lyrics...Suburba's songs remain full of power while retaining the delicate touch of songwriting craftsmanship...Suburba showcases House Of Heroes’ strengths and should be garnering them new fans; if not, they’ll just keep being one of music’s hidden gems."[9]
Mike of Alternative Addiction wrote that "With ‘Suburba’ House of Heroes has taken the whole sound to a new level. The ultimate attraction of this album is the seamless and natural way that House of Heroes has been able to combine different genres and specific elements of other artists into a workable, accessible and extremely cohesive album."[10]
CCM Magazine's Matt Conner wrote that "Lyrically, Tim Skipper & Co. conquer suburban life on the aptly titled Suburba, but it's the musical ground the cover on the album's 12 songs that's most impressive...HoH deftly moves across rock's terrain and feels at home all the way."[11]
Christian Music Zine's Tyler Hess wrote that "Sururba[sic], has it’s[sic] moments of brilliance while tightening their sound for an ever broadening audience...Suburba is clearly going to be something to gather the family for, take a day off, eat some burgers and hot dogs and listen to one of the top albums of 2010."[12]
Christian Rock 20's Paul Gibson wrote that "Other favorites are well, all of them, every song rocks and it just different enough to not sound the same, and feel more like an album of 12 songs meant to be together. The End Is Not The End was and is an awesome album, but for me I enjoy this more because of it cohesiveness. Also, there is a certain vibe that will really get fans of theatre going. Suburba just begs for a stage. I want to see some ambitious person turn this into a rock opera."[22]
Christianity Today's Andy Argyrakis wrote that "Brimming with power chords, shiny synths, monstrous melodies, and youthful enthusiasm, House of Heroes' fourth studio album screams summertime. Crisply produced by Mark Lee Townsend (Relient K), the project is split between rip-roaring classic rockers and modern alt-pop gems, only occasionally coming off as derivative during its Electric Light Orchestra-like power pop surges. But there's more musical muscle and lyrical maturity as the band searches for spiritual significance, interjecting shots of inspiration to combat the mundane moments of suburban living."[13]
CMADDICT's Kevin Thorson wrote that "'Suburba' is an energetic album that feels huge and yet has that garage band next door feel, down to earth and full of life: 'Suburba' is not a shallow album at all, but quite the opposite. With its more than fair share of hope-filled worship ballads...There's alot[sic] to like about this release, a perfect blend of energetic fun and inspiring songs all wrapped in one. An excellent "summer-fun" album and quite possibly the best rock album of 2010. A definite must get."[23]
Cross Rhythms' Tim Holden wrote that "'Suburba' should be a great album and it does not disappoint. Something of a concept work dealing with living and growing up in the suburbs, the album covers a lot of ground without dodging issues or looking at the past through rose colour spectacles. The group's trademark vocal harmonies and twin guitar breaks are wonderfully handled in the production resulting in a full sound that is not too busy and lyrics that are not lost. The older among us will recognise the Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty style riffs while the younger will be recalling the Darkness as the album powers forward without letup. If '80s vocal harmony rock with a lot of fuzz guitar is not your thing then this is definitely one to avoid. But otherwise get hold 'Suburba' as this is truly outstanding of its type."[14]
Indie Vision Music's Alex Schelldorf wrote that "Don’t listen to the naysayers. This record stands on its own feet against its older sibling, 2008′s critically acclaimed The End is Not the End. Don’t get it twisted: it’s every bit as good."[15]
Jesus Freak Hideout's Josh Taylor wrote that "It's not quite the groundbreaker that its predecessor was, but then again, it's so radically different, that comparisons aren't really even fair. On its own merit, Suburba is by far the most fun you will have this summer, with enough meat to keep you coming back listen after listen. Rock 'n roll hasn't sounded this good in a long time. Suburba is leaps and bounds better than any competition for your hard earned American dollars this year."[16]
Jesus Freak Hideout's Scott Fryberger wrote that "In House of Heroes' defense, however, I don't know if anyone really expected it to surpass The End..., so that doesn't have a lot of bearing. The album is still really good and worth the money. Suburba is good for fans of rock music and House of Heroes in general."[17]
New Release Tuesday's Jonathan Francesco wrote that "As a whole, I like Suburbia. It was definitely worth the $3.98($2.99 from Amazon plus $.99 for "Patient" from iTunes)it cost me. Most of those songs will likely find significant play in my MP3 Player for months to come. I don't think it's as good as its predecessor, but it's still very good, and indeed among the better releases this year. However, I think it's a bit pre-mature to call this "Album of the Year" material at this stage in the game. It's a very good album, but unless you are in love with everything this band does, you might find that it is definitely a bit overpraised. Again, that's not to say it is a bad album at all, but I'm not handing out the awards for it yet."[18]
New Release Tuesday's Kevin Davis wrote that "Suburba is an album like nothing else you will hear today...Suburba is hooky, ambitious, and dripping with honest, candid emotion. This is what a rock record is supposed to sound like. This is what a rock record is supposed to feel like...Suburba is without a doubt the top punk rock album of the year...This album will stay in heavy rotation for me and although I didn?t [sic] think it was remotely possible to match the intensity and brilliance of The End Is Not The End, after constant listening of Suburba, I?m [sic] now convinced that this is their best overall album and one of my top 5 albums of 2010."[19]
The Punk Site's Jenn Cosgrove wrote that "Suburba...is what I would describe as retro-inspired rock."[20]
Track listing
All tracks are written by A.J. Babcock, Colin Rigsby, Jared Rigsby & Tim Skipper
Jesus Freak is the fourth studio album by the American Christian rap and rock trio DC Talk, released on November 21, 1995, on ForeFront Records. The style was a marked departure from the group's previous releases, incorporating a heavier rock sound and elements of grunge that was popular at the time.
Project 86 is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1996. The band has released twelve albums, which have collectively sold nearly 500,000 units worldwide, two EPs, two DVDs, and one live album.
Matthew Arnold Thiessen is a Canadian-born American musician known for being co-founder, lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter for the rock band Relient K. With Relient K, he has released eight full-length albums, including three that were certified Gold, and three that peaked in the top twenty on the Billboard 200. Outside of his work with Relient K, Thiessen leads a side project called Matthew Thiessen and the Earthquakes, which released its debut album Wind Up Bird in 2018. In 2009, he co-produced and collaborated on Owl City's album Ocean Eyes.
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman during their third year in high school and time at Malone University. The band is named after guitarist Hoopes' automobile, a Plymouth Reliant K car, with the spelling intentionally altered to avoid trademark infringement over the Reliant name.
Gotee Records is a record label of Christian hip-hop, based in Franklin, Tennessee in the United States.
John Reuben is an American Christian hip hop artist signed to Gotee Records until late 2010. Reuben has sold over 200,000 copies of his first four albums. He released his sixth album, Sex, Drugs and Self-Control on December 22, 2009. The album was nominated for a Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year at the 42nd GMA Dove Awards, while the song "No Be Nah" was nominated for Rap/Hip-Hop Recorded Song of the Year.
Sarah Jean Kelly is an American contemporary Christian musician from Rockford, Illinois. She was signed to Gotee Records, a Christian label under EMI. Kelly is a two time Grammy Award nominee for albums "Take Me Away" and Where The Past Meets Today in the category of Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album. Her music has compared to mainstream artists Sheryl Crow, Janis Joplin, Norah Jones, Carole King, and Sarah McLachlan. She runs a music school in The Woodlands, TX.
"Jesus Freak" is a song by the American contemporary Christian music group DC Talk. Released on August 1, 1995, it was the lead radio single from the group's fourth album. The song was written and produced by Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann. Lyrically, the song is about standing up for the belief in Jesus Christ in the midst of persecution. Musically, the song has been described as alternative rock and grunge. It received airplay on both contemporary Christian music and alternative rock stations, formats that rarely interact. "Jesus Freak" earned DC Talk three GMA Dove Awards.
FF5 is an American Christian rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band formed in 2004 by brothers Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, and Jacob "Crouton" Olds along with their two friends, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin and Brad "20 Cent" Allen, who was later replaced by Derek "Chapstique" Mount. The group has released five studio albums, nine EPs, and two remix albums. They are often noted for their raucous, party-centric personae and eclectic mix of genres, ranging from rap metal to dance-pop.
Grits is a Christian hip hop group from Nashville, Tennessee. Their name is an acronym, which stands for "Grammatical Revolution In the Spirit". GRITS is made up of Stacey "Coffee" Jones and Teron "Bonafide" Carter, both of whom were DC Talk dancers.
House of Heroes is an American alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio. They have released six albums: What You Want Is Now (2003), House of Heroes (2005), The End Is Not the End (2008), Suburba (2010), Cold Hard Want (2012), and Colors (2016). The band also released the album Ten Months (2001) under their original name, No Tagbacks, which had more of a punk sound than their releases as House of Heroes. They also re-released their self-titled record under the name of Say No More (2006). The band was last composed of Tim Skipper, Colin Rigsby, A.J. Babcock, Jared Rigsby, and Eric Newcomer.
Ayiesha Woods is a contemporary Christian musician signed to Gotee Records. She has released two studio albums on Gotee: Introducing Ayiesha Woods (2006) and Love Like This (2008). Woods is known for the hit songs "Happy" and "Big Enough" from her debut album. Her musical style is a distinct mix of several genres, predominantly including pop, soul, urban and rock.
Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer is the second Christmas album by Christian rock band Relient K.
Stephanie Smith is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter. She is signed to Gotee Records. Her first studio album, Not Afraid, was released on May 27, 2008, digitally and in stores on December 23, 2008. She received national attention on the Winter Wonder Slam tour with TobyMac.
"Colored People" is a song written and recorded by Christian rock band DC Talk. The song was one of several radio singles released from their 1995 studio album, Jesus Freak.
Brian James Reith, better known as B. Reith, is a Christian hip hop/pop singer and rapper. He began his musical career with the release of his first album, "Urgent Message", in 2003. In 2008, Reith signed to Gotee Records and released his EP The Forecast. Later that year, he toured with TobyMac on the Winter Wonder Slam tour. In September 2009, Reith released his second album, Now Is Not Forever, which charted at No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 32 on the Heatseekers chart. The album spawned the singles "Antidote", which peaked at No. 50 on the Christian Songs chart, and "The Comeback Kid".
Our Heart's Hero is an American Christian pop rock band founded in 2004. The group's touring players include Nick Joyce, Jacob Lawrence, Caleb Conroy, and Tyler Wellman.
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Ryan Dale Stevenson is an American Christian music singer, musician and guitarist, who primarily plays a contemporary Christian music and worship style of music. His record label is Gotee Records, co-owned by Christian music artist TobyMac. He released three extended plays, Yesterday, Today, Forever, with BEC Recordings, Champion of the World, independently, and Hold Nothing Back, with Gotee Records. His first studio album, Fresh Start, was released on September 18, 2015, with Gotee Records. He's had five songs chart on the Billboard charts, "Holding Nothing Back", "The Human Side", "Not Forgotten", "All Yours" and "Eye of the Storm".
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