School of Roses

School of Roses
Studio album by Christon Gray
Released March 25, 2014
Genre Christian hip hop, contemporary R&B, neo soul, urban contemporary gospel
Length 54:55
Label Collision
Christon Gray chronology

Even with Evil with Me
(2011)		 School of Roses
(2014)

School of Roses is the debut studio album from Christian musician Christon Gray. It was released on March 25, 2014 by Collision Records. It charted on the Billboard 200 at No. 44.

Background

The debut studio album from Christian musician Christon Gray is entitled School of Roses, which it released on March 25, 2014 by Collision Records. In a Google Hangouts interview following his album release, Christon reveals many secrets about the album. "You'll never find a rose in the album art," Christon, at one point, says. The red line on the cover art, Christon explains, signifies the hip hop element (the line meaning a bar, a term used in hip hop) that resonates in the album, despite the album being heavily R&B and Ballad-based. He explains the meaning of the album title as well, stating that it is an album about growing up, specifically with love and relationships. He describes the album as not one that is transparent, but translucent.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Christian Music Zine [1]
The Hoya [2]
Jesus Freak Hideout [3]
New Release Tuesday [4]

School of Roses met with generally positive reception from music critics. Kevin Hoskins of Jesus Freak Hideout rated the album three-and-a-half stars, remarking that "There are some flaws, and not everyone will enjoy the uber-creativity, but I can't help but really dig it."[3] At New Release Tuesday, Dwayne Lacy rated the album four-and-a-half stars, stating that it is a "Great album musically and powerful album as far as substance."[4] Anthony Peronto of Christian Music Zine rated the album four-and-a-half stars, writing that "School Of Roses is a game changer for Christian R&B."[1] At The Hoya, Charlotte Glasser rated the album two stars, saying that on an "average album" it contains "a few flops and a few gems", and according to her "Gray clearly has impressive vocal skill, and it’s a shame that he doesn’t show it off to the best of his ability with more ballad tracks."[2]

Chart performance

For the Billboard charting week of April 12, 2014, School of Roses charted at No. 44 on the Billboard 200, No. 5 on the R&B Albums, and No. 9 on the Independent Albums chart.

Track listing

Tracklist
No. Title Length
1. "The Last Time"   1:39
2. "Wanna" (featuring JGivens) 4:27
3. "Windchaser"   3:19
4. "Vanish" (featuring Swoope) 3:40
5. "Roses 101-After All"   3:12
6. "Hello of Goodbye"   4:16
7. "Moving On"   2:59
8. "Convenient" (featuring Wes Pendleton) 4:03
9. "Super Dave"   3:04
10. "Roses 102-Burning House"   5:21
11. "Nostalgious"   6:11
12. "Lady Gray (Easy to Love)"   3:51
13. "Roses 103-Ghost"   3:43
14. "Arena (The Final Hour)"   5:10
Total length:
 54:55

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak position
US Billboard 200[5] 44
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[6] 9
US R&B Albums (Billboard)[7] 5

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Peronto, Anthony (March 31, 2014). "Christon Gray – School Of Roses (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Glasser, Charlotte (March 28, 2014). "Album Review: 'School of Roses'". The Hoya. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hoskins, Kevin (April 27, 2014). "Christon Gray, "School of Roses" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lacy, Dwayne (March 26, 2014). "A journey seldom taken in the Christian arena". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Christon Gray: Billboard 200". Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Christon Gray: Independent Albums". Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ Billboard (April 12, 2014). "R&B Albums: April 12, 2014". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 17, 2014.