Mad At The World
Encyclopedia
Mad at the World is the first album from Christian rock
band Mad at the World
. It was significant for being one of the few Christian music
albums to feature a synthpop
sound.
for featuring a synth-pop style of dance music heavily influenced by bands like Tears for Fears
and especially Depeche Mode
. This was at a time when the Christian music scene was dominated by Amy Grant
and Stryper
was breaking out. Roger's personal taste ran towards the sounds of Ultravox
and Depeche Mode, a sound that no Christian band was playing at that time, prompting him to create the band and write the music. He attempted to "avoid church talk and cliche, (resulting) in some fresh, invigorating images."
Although not the best-selling album by the band, it is fondly remembered by many fans.
Although Daniel Amos
released Vox Humana
in 1983, it featured a more up-beat sound, more guitar and more acoustic drums, so this disc stands as one of the first truly synthpop
albums in Christian music.
At 49 minutes and 13 seconds, this is the band's longest album.
Although Roger has stated that Mad at the World was the band's first and last disc not recorded entirely at Roger's home studio, the drum tracks for Through the Forest
were recorded at Randy's studio, Rose Studios.
This album was reissued in 1999 by KMG
records on a "two-for-one" disc with Seasons of Love
.
has been noted for this album. About this, Roger has responded, "I personally know plenty of people -- Christians -- who listen primarily to mainstream music because Christian music does not satisfy them musically. What Mad at the World is about is music that fills that kind of void, yet I feel it is lyrically uncompromising in its Christian message and values." He has also said, "Depeche Mode is probably my favorite group musically, but lyrically they are the most offensive, so dark and terribly depressing." His response was to write music answering the untruths which might affect young listeners, such as "Dry Your Tears" where he describes "a world where you see nothing everywhere" before singing "Close your eyes and pray/Heaven could be calling your name."
"No More Innocence" was re-recorded for the album Boomerang
.
"Mad at the World" was re-recorded for the album Through the Forest
.
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band Mad at the World
Mad at the World
Mad at the World was a Christian rock band active from 1987 to 1998 in Southern California. It originally consisted of brothers Roger and Randy Rose with Mike Pendleton, later joined by Brent Gordon. Pendleton and Gordon left the band in 1992 and were replaced by Mike Link and Ben Jacobs...
. It was significant for being one of the few Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
albums to feature a synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
sound.
History
In 1987 the band, consisting of Roger Rose, his brother Randy (who was only fifteen years old at the time) and their friend Mike Pendleton, released Mad at the World. The disc was unique in christian musicChristian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
for featuring a synth-pop style of dance music heavily influenced by bands like Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
and especially Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
. This was at a time when the Christian music scene was dominated by Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
and Stryper
Stryper
Stryper is a Christian glam metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet , Oz Fox , Tim Gaines , and Robert Sweet...
was breaking out. Roger's personal taste ran towards the sounds of Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
and Depeche Mode, a sound that no Christian band was playing at that time, prompting him to create the band and write the music. He attempted to "avoid church talk and cliche, (resulting) in some fresh, invigorating images."
Although not the best-selling album by the band, it is fondly remembered by many fans.
Although Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos
Daniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and drummer Ed McTaggart...
released Vox Humana
Vox humana
The Vox Humana is a short-resonator reed stop on the pipe organ, so named because of its supposed resemblance to the human voice. As a rule, the stop is used with a tremulant, which undulates the wind supply, causing a vibrato effect...
in 1983, it featured a more up-beat sound, more guitar and more acoustic drums, so this disc stands as one of the first truly synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
albums in Christian music.
At 49 minutes and 13 seconds, this is the band's longest album.
Although Roger has stated that Mad at the World was the band's first and last disc not recorded entirely at Roger's home studio, the drum tracks for Through the Forest
Through The Forest
Through the Forest is the fifth studio album by Christian rock band Mad at the World. Released in 1992, it was their last album to feature a hard rock sound. The CD sleeve has the following text on the band's inspiration for the album's title: "Life is like the forest: It's full of beauty, mystery,...
were recorded at Randy's studio, Rose Studios.
This album was reissued in 1999 by KMG
KMG
KMG is a Dutch company manufacturing amusement rides. KMG has constructed over 150 rides to date.The following, among others, are KMG rides:*Afterburner*Discovery*Freak Out*Move It*Speed*Experience...
records on a "two-for-one" disc with Seasons of Love
Seasons Of Love (album)
Seasons of Love is the third album by Christian rock band Mad at the World. Released in 1990, it was their highest charting album.-History:...
.
Influence of Depeche Mode
The heavy influence of Depeche ModeDepeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
has been noted for this album. About this, Roger has responded, "I personally know plenty of people -- Christians -- who listen primarily to mainstream music because Christian music does not satisfy them musically. What Mad at the World is about is music that fills that kind of void, yet I feel it is lyrically uncompromising in its Christian message and values." He has also said, "Depeche Mode is probably my favorite group musically, but lyrically they are the most offensive, so dark and terribly depressing." His response was to write music answering the untruths which might affect young listeners, such as "Dry Your Tears" where he describes "a world where you see nothing everywhere" before singing "Close your eyes and pray/Heaven could be calling your name."
Track listing
All songs written by Roger Rose.- "Living Dead" – 3:28
- "All the Lonely Sheep" – 5:50
- "I Want to See Heaven" – 4:25
- "No Room Left" – 4:05
- "Easy Way Out" – 3:50
- "Bad Motives" – 4:20
- "No More Innocence" – 5:50
- "It Can't Rain Forever" – 5:00
- "Here We Go Again" – 3:28
- "Dry Your Tears" – 4:10
- "Mad at the World" – 3:55
- "Change of Luck" – 3:42
"No More Innocence" was re-recorded for the album Boomerang
Boomerang (Mad at the World album)
Boomerang is the fourth studio album by Christian rock band Mad at the World. Released in 1991, it was their most controversial album.- History :...
.
"Mad at the World" was re-recorded for the album Through the Forest
Through The Forest
Through the Forest is the fifth studio album by Christian rock band Mad at the World. Released in 1992, it was their last album to feature a hard rock sound. The CD sleeve has the following text on the band's inspiration for the album's title: "Life is like the forest: It's full of beauty, mystery,...
.
Personnel
- Roger Rose – lead vocals, keyboards, guitars, synthesizer programming, drum programming, percussion.
- Randy Rose – vocals, drum programming, percussion.
- Mike Pendleton – guitar, percussion.