As the story goes, the band while using the name A-180°, ran into Bob Herdman who wanted them to record a song he had written called “My God” which mixed metal and rap. Bob subsequently joined the band and suggested the name change to Audio Adrenaline. This recording made it’s way to Toby McKeehan (dc Talk) and he brought it to someone at Forefront Records. Forefront signed the band and sent them into the studio with Steve Griffith to record this album. This is where it all went wrong. I have NO idea what Steve was thinking when he produced this album but my suspicion is that he was trying to be the second coming of Rick Rubin who had essentially created the Beastie Boys sound. The Problem is that Steve didn’t understand this genre of music in the least and the result is an album that has no flow and doesn’t settle into a style that is recognizable. I’m comfortable saying this because the band said this themselves. Guitarist Barry Blair said in an interview with CCM Magazine about the album “If it was up to me, I would burn them all, make them disappear” and the rest of the band wasn’t much nicer about the album. They did have a demo as A-180° that I haven’t heard yet but I want to hear it as it probably represents the sound they were going for. Now all that said I actually like the album. Aside from “My God” and DC-10 being absolutely horrible there are some good tracks on this album. It also could have done with the silly “J-E-S-U-S Is Right” track but I’m assuming Forefront thought it would be a good single. It wasn’t. In fact the eventual single was “PDA” which isn’t a horrible track but don’t watch the music video for it. Anyway I look forward to hearing subsequent albums from the band as they had some real talent even if the record company had no clue what to do with it.
Tracklist
1 – One Step Hyper – 4:21
2 – What You Need – 4:26
3 – Who Do You Love – 3:49
4 – PDA – 4:09
5 – The Most Excellent Way – 4:25
6 – J-E-S-U-S Is Right – 4:31
7 – Revolution – 5:15
8 – Audio World – 4:33
9 – DC-10 – 3:12
10 – My God – 3:39
11 – Life – 4:22
Credits
Arranged By, Producer, Mixed By, Recorded By – Steve Griffith
Art Direction, Design – Stephen Murray
Backing Vocals, Arranged By – Dave Stuart, Ron Gibson
Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Drum Programming – Barry Blair
Choir – Helen DeCanio , Mary DeCanio
Engineer – Steve Hoffman
Engineer, Choir – Steve Murphy
Executive-Producer – Dan R. Brock
Executive-Producer, Drums, Backing Vocals – Ron W. Griffin
Instruments, Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Programmed By – Will McGinniss
Keyboards, Programmed By – Dan Kellerby, Jeffrey Mingle
Lead Vocals, Rap, Choir – Mark Stuart
Mastered By – Hank Williams
Percussion, Backing Vocals, Rap – Bob Herdman
Photography By – Russ Harrington
Companies, etc.
Recorded At – The Salt Mine
Recorded At – A Cut Above Studio
Recorded At – Quad Studios
Recorded At – Landmark Studios, Chesapeake, OH
Mixed At – Quad Studios
