Awake
A photo of a person with head covered like a mummy, with one eye shown, with the words "Skillet - Awake".
Studio album by
Skillet
ReleasedAugust 25, 2009
RecordedOctober 2008 – March 2009
StudioBay 7 Studios (Valley Village, California) and Sparky Dark Studio (Calabasas, California).
Genre
Length42:20
Label
Producer
Skillet chronology
Comatose Comes Alive
(2008)		 Awake
(2009)		 The Early Years (1996–2001)
(2010)
Skillet studio albums chronology
Comatose
(2006)		 Awake
(2009)		 Rise
(2013)
Singles from Awake
  1. "Hero"
    Released: May 19, 2009
  2. "Monster"
    Released: July 14, 2009
  3. "Awake and Alive"
    Released: February 15, 2010
  4. "Forgiven"
    Released: August 2, 2010[1]
  5. "Lucy"
    Released: January 27, 2011[2]
  6. "It's Not Me, It's You"
    Released: June 7, 2011
  7. "One Day Too Late"
    Released: October 10, 2011

Awake is the seventh studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet. It is the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated album Comatose. The album was released on August 25, 2009, by Lava Records, Ardent Records and Atlantic Records and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.[3] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 27, 2010, and has since gone double platinum, selling over 2,000,000 copies to date.[4] It was nominated for Top Christian Album at the Billboard Music Awards 2011 and won.[5] This is the last album to feature guitarist Ben Kasica and the first studio release to feature drummer Jen Ledger. The singles "Awake and Alive", "Hero", and "Monster" are certified 2x Platinum, 3x Platinum, and 5x Platinum, respectively.

Background

Skillet began recording for the album around October 2008.[6] The band recorded at Bay7 Studios in Los Angeles, California, with Howard Benson as the band's producer.[7] The album contains 12 songs.[8] Lead singer John Cooper wrote more than 40 songs in preparation.[9] He said that there was much pressure while recording the album: "Every time you do a record, there's pressure because you want to outdo the last record. This time it was intensified because the last project was so successful."[10]

Musical style

According to band members, the album is similar to their 2006 release Comatose, featuring strings and guitars with a harder rock sound than their previous album.[11] John Cooper said that it "sounds like Skillet with some new things people may not expect." On Skillet's website, they describe their musical style as "Classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, and undeniably catchy choruses... hints of old school progressive rock mixed in with modern alternative flourishes... touches of classical influence as swelling strings intersect with sonic adrenaline rushes."[9][12]

Release and promotion

The band finished the first leg of their Awake and Alive Tour in support of Awake, which opened on September 24, 2009 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and encompassing 52 cities between September and December. They were accompanied by The Letter Black, Decyfer Down, and Hawk Nelson on the tour.[13] The band recently finished the second leg of the tour with RED and The Letter Black in April.[14][15] They also toured with tobyMac and House of Heroes on the Awake Tonight Tour in March and April,[16] and will resume the tour in November and December.

Awake was released on August 25, 2009, through Lava/INO Records,[17] and debuted at No. 2 on the national U.S. Billboard 200 chart, making it the band's most successful entry on the chart.[3] It also placed on other Billboard magazine charts as No. 1 on Top Alternative Albums, No. 2 on Top Rock Albums, and No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums listing.[3] The album sold 68,000 copies in its first week, Skillet's best-selling and highest charting opening week to date.[18]

In 2009, Awake tied Underoath's Define the Great Line, and Casting Crowns's The Altar and the Door for the highest charting Christian rock album on the Billboard 200, debuting at No. 2.[19]

The song "Awake and Alive" also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 100 and No. 16 on the Heatseakers charts. It was Skillet's first song to chart on the Hot 100.[20] The song was released to Christian CHR and rock radio in February 2010.

"Monster" and "Hero" were used on the soundtrack of the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 video game, with "Monster" also being used for 2009's WWE Hell in a Cell PPV and "Hero" being used for the 2009 Tribute to the Troops show and 2010's Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The Cleveland, Ohio AHL hockey team Cleveland Monsters use "Monster" for their goal song and game-opener, the AHL hockey team Portland Pirates also use "Hero" for their game opener before the team skates onto the ice.

"Awake and Alive" was used by ABC's daytime drama One Life to Live as part of the show's November Sweeps Promo in November 2009 as well as in promos for the MLB's National League and American League Playoff Series.[21]

"Hero" was used in commercials for Sunday Night Football, and is currently being used in commercials for the NBA on TNT and NHL's Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues on Fox Sports West and Fox Sports Midwest, respectively. It was also used for the theme song to WWE's Tribute to the Troops event in 2009.

The Pittsburgh Pirates used "Awake and Alive" in the team's Opening Day video for 2011.

The rock radio mix of "Awake and Alive" was chosen to appear on the soundtrack to Transformers: Dark of the Moon.[22]

  • "Hero" was released as the album's lead single on May 19, 2009.[23]
  • "Monster" was released to mainstream rock radio on July 14, 2009.[24]
  • "Awake and Alive" was released to Christian CHR and Rock radio on February 15, 2010.[25]
  • "Forgiven" was released to Christian CHR/Rock on August 2, 2010, according to All Access.
  • "Lucy" was announced to be released to Christian CHR on January 27, 2011.[2]
  • "It's Not Me, It's You" was released as the sixth single on June 7, 2011.
  • "One Day Too Late" was released as the seventh single on October 10, 2011.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[26]
Jesus Freak Hideout[27]
Ultimate-Guitar

The album received mixed reviews from critics. Kevin Chamberlin of Jesus Freak Hideout gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, saying that the album "doesn't live up to Comatose and due to its extreme proximity style-wise, it is lackluster at best and on the verge of uninteresting." He also stated that the heavy amount of ballads on the album were unacceptable, saying that a few songs "wear immaturity like a fedora." He concluded his review by saying that the album "feels like the sophomore slump that Skillet never had to suffer through and a watered down version of Comatose."[27] Despite this, Awake has since gone double platinum in the United States, selling over 2,000,000 copies to date and outperforming Comatose.[4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hero"John Cooper, Korey Cooper3:07
2."Monster"John Cooper, Gavin Brown2:57
3."Don't Wake Me"John Cooper, Brian Howes3:55
4."Awake and Alive"John Cooper, Brian Howes3:32
5."One Day Too Late"John Cooper, Brian Howes3:40
6."It's Not Me, It's You"John Cooper3:25
7."Should've When You Could've"John Cooper3:31
8."Believe"John Cooper, Dave Bassett3:50
9."Forgiven"John Cooper3:39
10."Sometimes"John Cooper3:28
11."Never Surrender"John Cooper, Dave Bassett3:30
12."Lucy"John Cooper3:40
Total length:42:20
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Dead Inside"John Cooper2:56
14."Would It Matter"John Cooper, Dave Bassett4:12
15."Monster (Radio Edit)"John Cooper, Gavin Brown2:59
Japan edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
16."Comatose (Live)"John Cooper3:53

Personnel

Skillet

  • John L. Cooper – vocals, bass guitar, additional string arrangements
  • Korey Cooper – keyboards, programming, keyboard programming, backing vocals, string arrangements
  • Ben Kasica – electric guitars, acoustic guitars
  • Jen Ledger – drums, vocals (1, 4)

Additional credits

  • Howard Benson – additional keyboards, producer
  • Jonathan Chu – violin (4, 9, 12)
  • Zachary Kelm – executive producer, management
  • Mike Plotnikoff – recording
  • Hatsukazu Inagaki – additional engineer
  • Keith Armstrong – assistant engineer
  • Nik Karpen – assistant engineer
  • Chris Lord-Alge – mixing at Mix LA (Los Angeles, California)
  • Andrew Schubert – additional mix engineer
  • Brad Townsend – additional mix engineer
  • Paul DeCarli – digital editing
  • Ben Kasica – additional post-production editing
  • Chris Concepcion – technical assistance
  • Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
  • Marc Vangool – guitar technician
  • Jon Nicholson – drum technician
  • Andy Kemp – A&R direction
  • Anne Declemente – A&R administration
  • Kristie Borgmann – art manager
  • Mark Obriski – art direction, design
  • David Molnar – photography
  • Christin Cook – hair stylist, make-up
  • Emily Sistrunk – stylist
  • Anthony Della – marketing direction

Charts

Year Chart Peak
position
2009 US Billboard 200[28] 2
US Alternative Albums[29] 1
US Rock Albums[30] 2
US Christian Albums[31] 1
2010 Japanese Albums[32] 68
2011 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33][34] 9

Year-end album charts

Chart (2009) Position
US Billboard 200[35][36] 156
US Rock Albums[37][38] 37
US Alternative Albums[39] 27
US Christian Albums[40][41] 8
Chart (2010) Position
US Billboard 200[42][43] 74
US Rock Albums[44][45] 14
US Alternative Albums[46] 9
US Billboard Christian Albums[47][48] 2
Chart (2011) Position
US Billboard 200[49][50] 121
US Rock Albums[51][52] 16
US Alternative Albums[53] 15
US Billboard Christian Albums[54][55] 4
Chart (2012) Position
US Rock Albums[56] 58
US Alternative Albums[57] 39
US Billboard Christian Albums[58] 16

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010s) Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[59] 2

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions
US US
Alt.		 US
Main.		 US
Rock		 US
Christ.		 US
Heat		 JAP Certification
2009 "Monster" 101 28 4 20 7 98
2010 "Hero"[63] 15 35 29 77
"Awake and Alive"[63] 100 24 2[67] 13 30 16
"Forgiven" 23
2011 "Lucy" 49
"It's Not Me, It's You" 11 30[69]
"One Day Too Late" 28
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[70] Gold 10,000‡
United States (RIAA)[71] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Awards

The album was nominated for the following awards at the 41st GMA Dove Awards:[72]

Award Nominated work Result
Rock Recorded Song of the Year "Hero" Nominated
Rock Album of the Year Awake Nominated
Short Form Video of the Year "Hero" Nominated
"Monster" Nominated

Billboard Music Awards 2011[5]

Award Nominated work Result
Top Christian Album "Awake" Won

References

  1. 1 2 "Future Releases for Christian Radio Stations |". Allaccess.com. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Music News, January 2011: SKILLET ROCKS BOTH MAINSTREAM TOP ALTERNATIVE ROCK AND TOP CHRISTIAN BILLBOARD YEAR END CHARTS". Jesusfreakhideout.com. January 27, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Awake – Skillet". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "ABC.com - The 2011 Billboard Music Awards - Home". American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Skillet's Comatose Tour Plays To Capacity/Sold Out Crowds". Gospel Music Channel. May 4, 2009. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Skillet's Comatose Tour Rakes In Sold Out and Capacity Crowds While Band Garners Two BMI Songwriting Awards". Jesus Freak Hideout (The M Collective). May 4, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Track List". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  9. 1 2 "Skillet comes to the Crown". The Fayetteville Observer. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  10. ↑ Phillips, Fred (May 7, 2009). "Christian group Skillet comes to West Monroe". Monroe News Star. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  11. ↑ Phillips, Fred (May 7, 2009). "Christian group Skillet comes to West Monroe (page 2)". Monroe News Star. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  12. ↑ "SKILLET TO UNVEIL "AWAKE" ON AUGUST 25th". Jesus Freak Hideout. June 21, 2009. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Official Dates: Skillet's Awake & Alive Tour 2009". StereoTruth.net. July 28, 2009. Archived from the original on April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Skillet's Awake & Alive Tour". Inorecords.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Skillet Awake and Alive Tour - Skillet on Tour Featuring Red and The Letter Black". Christianmusic.about.com. April 15, 2010. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Awake Tonight Tour f. TOBYMAC and SKILLET". Tobymac.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Skillet Discography". Jesus Freak Hideout. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
  18. ↑ Herrera, Monica (September 2, 2009). "Colbie Caillat's No. 1, Miley Crashes Party On Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  19. ↑ Grein, Paul (September 5, 2012). "Week Ending Sept. 2, 2012. Albums: TobyMac's Prayers Answered". Yahoo Music. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Awake and Alive Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  21. ↑ "SKILLET'S "COMATOSE" CERTIFIED GOLD BY THE RIAA AS "AWAKE" SURPASSES 200K IN 12 WEEKS | HM". Hmmagazine.com. November 19, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Official Soundtrack & Score Site". Transformers3music.com. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  23. ↑ "What's New". ChristianRock.Net. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  24. ↑ "Skillet Ready to Rise with 'Awake'". EarthTimes.Org. Archived from the original on September 21, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Future Releases for Christian Radio Stations |". Allaccess.com. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  26. ↑ Awake at AllMusic
  27. 1 2 "Skillet, "Awake" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. August 25, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Skillet - Billboard 200 Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Skillet - Alternative Albums Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Skillet - Top Rock Albums Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Skillet - Christian Albums Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Awake - Skillet" (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  33. ↑ "RIANZ Album Charts to Monday 31 January 2011". RIANZ. January 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Awake - Skillet". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Year-end Billboard 200 (2009)". Billboard. 2009. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Year End 2009 Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Year-end Rock Albums (2009)". Billboard. 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Year End 2009 Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Year-end Alternative Albums (2009)". Billboard. 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Year-end Christian Albums (2009)". Billboard. 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Year End 2009 Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Year-end Billboard 200 (2010)". Billboard. 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  43. ↑ "Year End 2010 Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Year-end Rock Albums (2010)". Billboard. 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  45. ↑ "Year End 2010 Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Year-end Alternative Albums (2010)". Billboard. 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Year-end Christian Albums (2010)". Billboard. 2010. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  48. ↑ "Year End 2010 Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Year-end Billboard 200 (2011)". Billboard. 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  50. ↑ "Year End 2011 Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Year-end Rock Albums (2011)". Billboard. 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  52. ↑ "Year End 2011 Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Year-end Alternative Albums (2011)". Billboard. 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Year-end Christian Albums (2011)". Billboard. 2011. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  55. ↑ "Year End 2011 Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Top Rock Albums". Billboard. January 2, 2013.
  57. ↑ "Alternative Albums". Billboard. January 2, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Top Christian Albums". Billboard. October 31, 2019.
  59. ↑ "Hot Christian Albums – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  60. 1 2 3 "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Award - bpi". BPI. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Skillet "Monster" | IFPI". www.ifpi.dk. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  63. 1 2 https://www.billboard.com/artist/skillet/chart-history/
  64. ↑ "Music News, March 2011: SKILLET SETS AWAKE AND REMIXED EP FOR MARCH 22ND". Jesusfreakhideout.com. March 3, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  65. ↑ "Award - bpi". BPI. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  66. ↑ "Skillet "Hero" | IFPI". www.ifpi.dk. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  67. ↑ "Skillet - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015.
  68. ↑ "Skillet Continues To Pound The Touring Circuit This Fall With "Awake & Alive Tour" - Blog Detail". skillet.com. July 25, 2011. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  69. ↑ "Billboard". Billboard.
  70. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Skillet – Awake". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  71. ↑ "American album certifications – Skillet – Awake". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  72. ↑ 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards nominees announced Archived July 7, 2012, at archive.today on The Tennessean (February 18, 2010)
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