Colorado Springs, Colo. (November 1, 2011) - - Following today's release of singer-songwriter John Mark McMillan's major label sophomore album Economy, the project hit No. 1 on the iTunes® Christian chart with the exclusive iTunes® Economy “LP” landing in the No. 17 position overall ahead of major mainstream acts such as Toby Keith, Foster The People and Mumford & Sons.
Available on Integrity Music and distributed by Provident and RED/Sony, McMillan’s Economy follows his 2010 release The Medicine. And like its predecessor, Economy is being lauded by critics and fans alike. (See reviews below.)
Perhaps best known for penning the anthem “How He Loves,” McMillan is hailed for his concise, poetic and often “raw” lyrics.
“Raise your voice, chase away the ghosts.” So begins the title track from Economy. A natural progression and a departure, McMillan’s latest album has moved away from the themes of death and resurrection that clothed The Medicine to the interior psychology of a man trying to live in the uneasy valley between this world and the next.
“For me, the greatest days—the birth of a child, the success of a career—have always been coupled with the worst ones—the death of a loved one, a friend’s divorce,” McMillan explains. “It's a tension we all live in.”
On Economy, that tension is electric. From the first drumbeat of album opener "Sheet of Night" to the post-rock cacophony that closes out "Seen a Darkness," there is a palpable weight that permeates the entire project. Economy is the sound of glory and shame, murder and grace, darkness and daylight and all those spaces in between. And it shows up in the songs—in the delicate beauty of "Love You Swore," in the rowdy drawl of "Daylight," and the quiet solemnity of "Murdered Son."
For those following the North Carolina-based songwriter’s steady rise as an artist, Economy will not disappoint. Lyrically and sonically, the album is far greater than the sum of its parts, served by McMillan’s band and producers Jeremy Griffith and Joel Khouri. The team has created a perfect accompaniment to McMillan's searching, searing vision of a world that is "not as it should be." But it's not just a broken world that McMillan is singing about. With Economy, he's pointing across the horizon to the hope of something much more than "broken hearts and counterfeit currency."
McMillan has been touring the U.S. with the David Crowder Band including sold-out dates in New York, Seattle, Dallas, San Diego and Chicago. Tonight (Nov. 1), he performs at another sold-out concert in his hometown of Charlotte before heading to Atlanta on Nov. 5 and Orlando on Nov 11. In spring, he launches a 30-plus city Ruckus tour. Additional information, including tour updates, can be found at http://thejohnmark.com, https://www.facebook.com/TheRuckusRoom, and http://www.paradigmmgmt.com/stories/john-mark-mcmillan.
An EPK for Economy is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVacXZg7Xm8 with a new music video for the album’s first single, “Sheet of Night,” premiering the week of November 7.
What reviewers are saying:
“Sturdy rock with a heart of praise… a strong, turbulent collection that rambles with the same mid '70s rock-influenced drive of artists like Wilco and Bright Eyes.” – ChristianityToday.com
"With a cracking voice and soaring, fuzzed-out amplification, McMillan stands out as a true worship pioneer." – Relevant magazine
“John Mark McMillan continues to create vivid lyrical imagery and supports it with moving melodic and rhythmic arrangements… there is absolutely nothing that I don’t like here. NOTHING.” – TheWorshipCommunity.com
“Poetic lyrics, nuanced imagery and a folk-indie rock sound make this one of the most authentic releases of late.” – Worship Leader magazine
"…the North Carolina worship leader is up to his same old tricks: crafting honest, personal songs that impact the heart with an emotional intensity few artists can layclaim to." - CCMMagazine.com
“Economy is a great investment in profound and awe-inspiring worship, and it’s unhesitatingly one of the best albums of the year as a result.” – JesusFreakHideout.com
“Thematically profound and technically tight, Economy rises from the strong, inspiring foundation McMillan’s previous efforts have built, and stands on its own as an earmark in this artist’s career, as a portent for the music scene at large.” – TheBlueIndian.com
“…Economy serves not only as a great album to enjoy musically, but also one to soak in lyrically.” – CollisionCM.com
“…a CD that invites us to listen to it again and again. –NewReleaseTuesday.com
“Whatever your expectations for Economy, I assure you, he(and his team) exceeded them... If John Mark can do one thing, it’s write poetry that also perfectly fills in a melody that you can’t not sing.” – TheEstherProject.com
For more info on John Mark McMillan visit the JFH Artists Database.
Lauren Daigle to Perform During Super Bowl LIX Pre-Game Thu, 29 Nov 2024 22:10:00 EST |
Trebuchet SDG Releases Christmas EP, "Lux Mundi" Thu, 29 Nov 2024 21:30:00 EST |
Starflyer 59 Announces New Project for Preorder, "Dejame Dormir" Thu, 29 Nov 2024 21:30:00 EST |
TRIBL Records Celebrates 17 2024 Billboard Music Awards Nominations Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:50:00 EST |
Eddy Mann Launches Four-Part "Monday with the Mann's" Livestream Event Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:30:00 EST |
Amy Grant to Co-Host CMA Country Christmas with Trisha Yearwood Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:20:00 EST |
StowTown Records Announces New Project from The Booth Brothers Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:30:00 EST |