The Loft Sessions
| The Loft Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by Bethel Music | ||||
| Released | January 24, 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:24 | |||
| Label | Kingsway Music | |||
| Producer |
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| Bethel Music chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Loft Sessions | ||||
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The Loft Sessions is the third album from California-based worship collective Bethel Music. The album was released on January 24, 2012 by Kingsway Music.[2] Brian Johnson, Daniel James Mackenzie and Rick McDonald produced the album.[3]
Prior to the release of the album, Kingsway Music released "Come to Me" which featured the vocals of Jenn Johnson on December 13, 2011 as the lead single of the album.[1]
Background
The album was recorded live over the course of several nights in a refurbished loft in the historic Sherven Square building. The Bethel Music collective gathered with friends and family for the duration of the recordings.[2][4]
Singles
Kingsway Music released "Come to Me" which featured the vocals of Jenn Johnson in 2011 as the lead single of the album. The song reached number one on the U.S. iTunes Christian Chart.[1]
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Cross Rhythms |   [5] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [6] |
| Louder Than The Music | [7] |
| New Release Today | [8] |
Jessica Morris of Jesus Freak Hideout rated the album four stars out of a possible five, citing "the musicality and restraint Bethel displays in stripping back the smoke and mirrors is what makes The Loft Sessions a phenomenal release." and concluded that "each track of this striking album draws the listener deeper into the presence of God and leaves them wanting more of Bethel music, and of Jesus."[6] AllMusic's Jon O'Brien, affixing a three star rating of the album, believes that Bethel's album was showcasing "a new, organic sound which veers more toward the contemporary nu-folk scene than their usual soft rock fare."[2] The album managed to attain a four star rating average from New Release Today reviewers Kevin Davis and Kelly Sheads.[8] New Release Today's Kevin Davis rated the album four-and-a-half stars, stating that "Every song on this album has quickly become a staple in my playlist of my favorite worship anthems. Every song is worshipful and catchy."[8] Kelly Sheads rated the album three-and-a-half stars, saying "With an eclectic sound and a variety of musical styles, no song is the same, keeping the listener focused on the message within."[8] Elliot Rose of Cross Rhythms rated the album seven out of ten squares, noting the lack of "passion and atmosphere of previous releases".[5] In a review for Louder Than The Music, Jono Davies bestowed the album four-and-a-half stars, recommending "If you're looking for a bunch of songs to use in a time of reflectiveness with God, with a few upbeat happy and non cheesy acoustic songs thrown in, then look no further than The Loft Sessions."[7]
Track listing
| Standard edition[2] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Worship leader(s) | Length |
| 1. | "One Thing Remains" |
| Brian Johnson | 4:01 |
| 2. | "My Dear" | Hunter G.K. Thompson | Hunter G.K. Thompson | 3:52 |
| 3. | "You Have Won Me" |
| Brian Johnson | 4:27 |
| 4. | "Come to Me" |
| Jenn Johnson | 4:19 |
| 5. | "Walk in the Promise" | Jeremy Riddle | Jeremy Riddle | 4:25 |
| 6. | "You Know Me" | Steffany Gretzinger | 5:39 | |
| 7. | "Angels" |
| Brian Johnson | 4:02 |
| 8. | "Fall Afresh" | Riddle | Jeremy Riddle | 4:24 |
| 9. | "Draw Near" | Matt Stinton | Jeremy Riddle | 3:32 |
| 10. | "This Is What You Do" |
| Matt Stinton | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 42:24 | |||
| iTunes bonus content[9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Worship leader(s) | Length |
| 11. | "Angels" (Acoustic) | Brian Johnson | 3:50 |
| 12. | "Fall Afresh" (Acoustic) | Jeremy Riddle | 4:20 |
| 13. | "Come to Me" (Video) | Jenn Johnson | 4:28 |
| 14. | "You Know Me" (Video) | Steffany Gretzinger | 5:38 |
| 15. | "One Thing Remains" (Video) | Brian Johnson | 4:00 |
| Total length: | 64:40 | ||
Personnel
Adapter from AllMusic.[3]
- Brandon Aaronson — bass
- Breezy Baldwin — design
- Jason Bourneman — soundscape
- Ryan Braun — post production assistant
- Shannon Clark — set design
- Miguel Cruz — camera operator
- Cory Fournier — camera operator, gaffer
- Steffany Frizzell — background vocals, featured artist, vocals
- John-Paul Gentile — acoustic guitar
- Kalley Heiligenthal — background vocals
- John Hendrickson — drums
- Luke Hendrickson — engineer, keyboards
- Jordan Jackiew — mixing
- Andrew Jackson — engineer
- Brian Johnson — acoustic guitar, background vocals, featured artist, vocals
- Jenn Johnson — featured artist, vocals
- Leah Johnson — background vocals
- Timothy Jon — cello
- Chris Jones — camera operator
- Christiann Koepke — make-up
- Matt Lopez — accordion
- Daniel James Mackenzie — accordion, acoustic guitar, banjo, bass, electric guitar, engineer, keyboards, producer
- Rick McDonald — producer
- Jason Miller — photography
- Graham Moore — background vocals, percussion
- Mike Myers — main personnel
- Aaron Rich — camera operator, director, editing
- Alexandria Rickett — make-up
- Jeremy Riddle — featured artist, vocals
- Martin Rosenhoff — cello
- Jeff Schnweeweis — background vocals, engineer, production assistant
- Walter Serafini — project coordinator
- Drew Small — production assistant
- Matt Stinton — featured artist, vocals
- Joel Taylor — executive producer
- Hunter G.K. Thompson — background vocals, featured artist, vocals
- Rebekah Van Tinteren — violin
- Gabriel Wilson — set design
Charts
Album
| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[10] | 44 |
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[11] | 3 |
| US Digital Albums (Billboard)[12] | 18 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Digital Songs [13] | ||
| 2011 | "Come to Me" | 14 |
References
- 1 2 3 "Louder Than The Music – Bethel Music Top iTunes Chart With Single Ahead Of 'The Loft Sessions' Album". Louder Than The Music. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 O'Brien, Jon. "The Loft Sessions – Bethel Music | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- 1 2 "The Loft Sessions – Bethel Music | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ "Louder Than The Music – Bethel Music Release New Live CD-DVD 'The Loft Sessions'". Louder Than The Music. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- 1 2 Rose, Elliot. "Bethel Music – The Loft Sessions Review". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- 1 2 Morris, Jessica (24 February 2012). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Bethel Music, 'The Loft Sessions' Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- 1 2 Davies, Jono. "Louder Than The Music – Bethel Music – The Loft Sessions". Louder Than The Music. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Davis, Kevin; Sheads, Kelly. "The Loft Sessions CD-DVD by Bethel Music CD Reviews And Information NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ "The Loft Sessiions by Bethel Music on Apple Music". Apple Music (iTunes). U.S. Apple Inc. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
- ↑ "Bethel Music – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Bethel Music. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Bethel Music – Chart history" Billboard Christian Albums for Bethel Music. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Bethel Music – Chart history" Billboard Digital Albums for Bethel Music. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ↑ "Billboard - Bethel Music - Chart History - Christian Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2017.