Anchor (Colton Dixon album)

Anchor
Studio album by Colton Dixon
Released August 19, 2014 (2014-08-19)
Recorded 2012
Genre CCM, Christian alternative rock, Christian rock
Length 47:26
Label Sparrow, 19
Producer Red Decibel (Adam Watts, Andy Dodd and Gannin Arnold)
Colton Dixon chronology
A Messenger
(2013)		 Anchor
(2014)		 The Calm Before the Storm
(2015)
Singles from Anchor
  1. "More of You"
    Released: June 24, 2014
  2. "Through All of It"
    Released: March 2015[1]
  3. "Limitless"
    Released: November 2015

Anchor is the second studio album from eleventh season American Idol contestant, Colton Dixon. The album was released on August 19, 2014, by Sparrow Records and debuted at No. 23 on the Billboard 200.

Background

For this album, Colton Dixon wrote songs with TobyMac and Matthew West, in addition to his regular collaborators David Garcia, Ben Glover, Adam Watts, Andy Dodd and Gannin Arnold. He wrote "Our Time Is Now" with TobyMac before touring with him as part of the Winter Jam tour in early 2014, but finished the song afterwards.[2] The song "More of You" was the last song recorded for the album, and it was released as the lead single on June 24, 2014.[3]

According to Dixon, the title of the song "Anchor" came from a need for anchor as the foundation of life because at times he felt he was drifting. The idea behind the song then turned into this theme-based record.[4][5]

Promotion

Dixon's image will appear on millions of Mountain Dew cans distributed by the Pepsi company at Wal-Mart. The cans will also come with a free download from the album.[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
365 Days of Inspiring Media[7]
CCM Magazine[8]
Christian Music Review4.5/5[9]
Christian Review Magazine[10]
Cross Rhythms[11]
Jesus Freak Hideout[12]
Jesus Wired[13]
New Release Tuesday[14]
PPCORN[15]
Worship Leader[16]

Criticial

Indicating in a four star review by CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis calls the music simply, "extraordinary".[8] Matthew Cordle, in an eight out of ten review from Cross Rhythms, realizing, "While there are a couple of weaker, less inspiring moments and there could have been a little more sonic variety, most of the songs here are uplifting and thought-provoking."[11] Signaling in a four and a half star review from New Release Tuesday, Caitlin Lassiter recognizing, "Anchor surpasses expectations and shows off Colton's talent in new ways. For such a young artist, an album of this caliber is truly amazing."[14] In rating the album three and a half stars Wayne Myatt for Jesus Freak Hideout, referencing, "much credit is given to Colton Dixon for taking a different approach with this project and trying something more diverse; this is a welcome pop rock release in 2014."[12] Jonathan Andre, awarding the album four stars at 365 Days of Inspiring Media, says, "Well done Colton for such an empowering, encouraging and enjoyable album".[7] Rating the album a 4.5 out of five for Christian Music Review, Amanda Brogan writes, "Colton Dixon calls us to join him in walking with Christ amidst the storm."[9] Writing a review for Christian Review Magazine, Leah St. John rating the album five stars states, "All of the tracks on Anchor are excellent, and I could find no fault with any of them."[10] Rebekah Joy, giving the album eight stars at Jesus Wired, describes, "Anchor is a timeless, phenomenal album that will inspire listeners to live their lives for Christ, and encourage them on tough days."[13] Awarding the album a 3.9 out of five star review from PPCORN, Jessica Morris reports, "Anchor will grow on you with each subsequent listen."[15]

Commercial

The album debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 23 with 9,688 copies sold on its debut week.[17] It was also No. 1 on four other charts - Christian/Gospel Album, Digital charts, ChristianRock/Alternative Album chart, and Contemporary Christian Album chart.[18] The album has sold 28,000 copies as of September 2015.[19]

Track listing

Album release
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "S.O.S."  Colton Dixon, Toby McKeehan, David Arthur Garcia 1:01
2. "Our Time Is Now"  Dixon, McKeehan & Garcia 3:41
3. "Walk on the Waves"  Dixon, Ben Glover, Cary Barlowe 4:17
4. "Anchor"  Dixon, Matt Bronleewe, Tony Wood 3:30
5. "Echo"  Dixon, Trevor Mcnevan 3:51
6. "35.8438, -86.4518"  Dixon, Glover 0:24
7. "More of You"  Dixon, Glover, Garcia 4:06
8. "Loud and Clear"  Dixon, Andy Dodd, Adam Watts, Gannin Arnold 4:29
9. "Fool's Gold"  Dixon, Iain Kirkpatrick, Simon Wilcox 3:29
10. "Dare to Believe"  Dixon, Glover, Garcia 3:50
11. "Through All of It"  Glover, Molly Reed 3:25
12. "Limitless"  Dixon, Garcia, Matthew West 3:55
13. "Back to Life"  Dixon, Glover, Garcia 3:37
14. "This Isn't The End"  Dixon, Dodd, Watts, Arnold 3:44

Charts

Chart Peak
position
US Billboard 200[20] 23
US Christian Albums[21] 1

Release history

Region Date Label
Canada August 19, 2014 Sparrow Records, 19 Recordings
United Kingdom Universal Music
United States Sparrow Records, 19 Recordings

References

  1. ↑ "Colton Dixon's Latest Single, "Through All of It" is Most Added at AC Radio and at HOT AC/CHR Radio". Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  2. ↑ Brian Mansfield (August 22, 2014). "Premiere: Colton Dixon's 'Anchor' lyric video". USA TODAY.
  3. ↑ Michele Amabile Angermiller (August 20, 2014). "'American Idol' Alum Colton Dixon Banks on Christianity". The Hollywood Reporter.
  4. ↑ Scott Hudson (August 29, 2014). "Colton Dixon: The full Link interview". Argus Leader.
  5. ↑ Betsy Scott (August 3, 2014). "Christian musician talks ‘Idol,' true fulfillment, new music while at The Fest". The News-Herald.
  6. ↑ Justin Sarachik (August 20, 2014). "Colton Dixon's 'Anchor' Now Available; Singer Performs Next Single 'Through All of It' Live and Explains Meaning Behind Album". BreatheCast.
  7. 1 2 Andre, Jonathan (August 17, 2014). "Colton Dixon – Anchor". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Argyrakis, Andy. "Colton Dixon: Anchor". CCM Magazine. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Brogan, Amanda (August 13, 2014). "Colton Dixon 'Anchor'". Christian Music Review. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  10. 1 2 St. John, Leah (August 21, 2014). "Music Review: Anchor by Colton Dixon". Christian Review Magazine. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Cordle, Matthew. "Review: Anchor - Colton Dixon". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  12. 1 2 Myatt, Wayne. "Colton Dixon, "Anchor" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Joy, Rebekah (May 11, 2015). "Colton Dixon "Anchors" Fans In Their Faith With His Latest Album". Jesus Wired. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Lassiter, Caitlin. "Songs to Anchor You". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Morris, Jessica (July 15, 2015). "Colton Dixon: ‘Anchor’ Track-by-Track Album Review". PPCORN. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ Armstrong, Jeremy. "Colton Dixon: Anchor". Worship Leader. pp. 106–7. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  17. ↑ "FIRST LOOK/ ON TV/ SOUNDSCAN/ POWERBALL". Keely's Korner. August 27, 2014.
  18. ↑ Justin Sarachik (August 29, 2014). "Colton Dixon's 'Anchor' Hits No. 1 on Four Music Charts; Singer Joins WinterJam Tour in November". BREATHEcast.
  19. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Colton Dixon - Billboard 200". Billboard.
  21. ↑ "Colton Dixon - Christian Albums". Billboard.
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