The Wonderlands: Darkness

Darkness
EP by Jon Foreman
Released	September 4, 2015 (2015-09-04)
Genre	Christian alternative rock, folk, folk rock
Length	27:58
Label	lowercase people
Jon Foreman chronology
Shadows (2015) Darkness (2015) Dawn (2015)

Darkness is the third release in an extended play series, The Wonderlands, by Jon Foreman. Lowercase people records released the EP on September 4, 2015. The project was a collaborative effort amongst many producers and was mixed by Eric Owyoung of Future of Forestry. Each song in the series was produced by a different producer, with Foreman sending in parts he recorded backstage while on tour. ^[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
365 Days of Inspiring Media	[2]
CCM Magazine	[3]
Cross Rhythms	[4]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[5] [6]
New Release Today	[7]

Kevin Sparkman, giving the EP four and a half stars for CCM Magazine , states, "Despite its name, this short set doesn't play like a musical dirge, rather keeping The Wonderlands tradition alive with sonically diverse sensations and ongoing brilliance." ^[3] Awarding the EP four and a half stars at New Release Today, Mary Nikkel states, "Musically, this project is equally strong." ^[7] In an eight out of ten review for Cross Rhythms, Helen Whitall criticizes several tracks, which she writes "slightly diminishes what is otherwise another stunning release." ^[4]

Joshua Andre, rating the EP four and a half stars from 365 Days of Inspiring Media, writes, "If you thought that Sunlight and Shadows were both epic, then Darkness continues on that trend." ^[2] Signaling in a three-and-a-half-star review by Jesus Freak Hideout, Jeremy Barnes replies, "Darkness may be the weakest of The Wonderlands releases for reasons unrelated to individual songwriting." ^[5] Dylan O'Conner, indicating in a four-star review at Jesus Freak Hideout, responds, "Darkness is an engaging experience that draws us closer to the finale of the Wonderlands saga." ^[6]

Track listing

Track list

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Come Home"	4:51
2.	"Beautiful, Pt. II"	5:15
3.	"You Alone"	3:53
4.	"She Said"	4:24
5.	"Larger Than Life"	3:56
6.	"June & Johnny" (featuring Sara Watkins)	2:36
7.	"Inner Peace"	3:03
Total length:		27:58

Chart performance

Chart (2015)	Peak position
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [8]	22
US Christian Albums (Billboard) [9]	7
US Folk Albums (Billboard) [10]	3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [11]	30

References

1. "The Rabbit Room | Jon Foreman Discusses the Wonderlands series". 25 January 2016.
2. Andre, Joshua (September 6, 2015). "Jon Foreman – Darkness EP". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
3. Sparkman, Kevin (October 1, 2015). "Jon Foreman: The Wonderlands: Darkness". CCM Magazine : 36. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
4. Whitall, Helen (November 12, 2015). "Review: The Wonderlands: Darkness - Jon Foreman". Cross Rhythms . Retrieved November 13, 2015.
5. Barnes, Jeremy (November 29, 2015). "John Foreman, "The Wonderlands: Darkness" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
6. O'Conner, Dylan (November 23, 2015). "John Foreman, "The Wonderlands: Darkness" Review – Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
7. Nikkel, Mary (September 4, 2015). "Singing in the Dark". New Release Today. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
8. "Jon Foreman Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
9. "Jon Foreman Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
10. "Jon Foreman Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
11. "Jon Foreman Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.