I think it’s safe to say that Randy was addicted to the recording studio. While recording with MATW he went into the studio in 1991 to do a solo album and then in 1993 to do this album with a version of the band he called simply Rose. For some of his fans this is their favourite album. I must admit that while not necessarily my style of music this album is very well done. Lyrically there are several tracks that are some of the best writing of the era in my opinion. As I said this album isn’t my style but I find myself liking it more and more every time I listen to it. This is one of those cases where the quality of the music outweighs my preferences for a different style.
Tracklist 1 – R.I.P. – 0:53 2 – Fallen – 3:08 3 – When I Let You In – 3:11 4 – Seeds Of Sorrow – 3:16 5 – My Lies – 3:41 6 – Hooked – 4:13 7 – Healing – 3:31 8 – D.O.P. – 4:11 9 – Demons – 2:58 10 – Never Enough – 3:30 11 – On My Knees – 5:14
Credits A&R – Matthew Duffy Art Direction – Brian Godawa Bass – Mike Link Drums – Don Richart Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Ben Jacobs, Steve Kumada Mixed By – Randy Rose Photography By – Patrick House Producer – Randy Rose Vocals – Randy Rose
This is the fifth studio album from the guys. Strangely it’s also the last one that founding member Mike Pendleton and guitarist Brent Gordon are on. Nothing has ever been officially said about their departures but to quote Roger Rose, “they didn’t really quit the band–they kinda quit and got fired all at the same time.” Anyway that aside this album continues there new Rock/Grunge style we were introduced to on their previous album. It’s not as good as their previous album which I found kind of odd as I thought they would be perfecting this sound but it’s still a pretty darn good album and if you really like this style of music this is probably still in the 10 of this style.
Tracklist 1 – That Lonesome Road – 4:27 2 – Trapped – 3:44 3 – Lost In The Forest – 3:35 4 – If I Lose My Way – 3:31 5 – Always Be My Love – 4:08 6 – M.A.T.W. (Reprise) – 4:22 7 – Alone – 5:45 8 – I’ve Got A Heaven – 4:25 9 – I’ll Never Go Back There – 3:54 10 – If I Can Dream – 2:53
Credits Art Direction – Brian Godawa Bass – Mike Pendelton Cover – Brent Gordon Design – Brian Godawa Drums – Randy Rose Guitar – Roger Rose Lead Guitar – Brent Gordon Lyrics By – Roger Rose Photography By – Patrick House Producer – Roger Rose Rhythm Guitar – Brent Gordon Vocals – Mike Pendelton, Randy Rose, Roger Rose
Mad At The World continue their new Rock sound for their 4th album. I have to admit that the sound and style is growing on me and they are much better at it on this album than their previous. I guess no discussion of this album would be complete without discussing or at least pointing out the controversy over the track entitled “Isn’t Sex A Wonderful Thing?”. However as were all grown up now and know that the title of a song does not represent the message of the song I’m not going to explain my interpretation. You are all adults and can listen to it and figure it out on your own. That said this silly controversy did effect the distribution of this album but hey, it was the 80’s and remember a lot of people in Christian music were terrified of controversy. I found it interesting that they rerecorded “No More Innocence” in their new style as I don’t think I’ve ever seen that done before. Both versions are great.
Tracklist 1 – House Of Sin – 2:34 2 – If You Listen – 3:19 3 – Back To You – 3:21 4 – Don’t Give Up – 3:07 5 – Ballad Of Adam And Eve – 3:33 6 – Sunday – 3:08 7 – Draggin’ The Chains – 4:11 8 – All These Question – 4:31 9 – Isn’t Sex A Wonderful Thing? – 4:47 10 – No More Innocence (Reprise) – 4:04
Credits Arranged By, Engineer [Engineered By] – Roger Rose Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Bass – Mike Pendleton Design – Joe Potter Illustration – Brent Gordon Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Brent Gordon Mastered By – John Matousek Photography By – Wayne Armstrong Producer [Produced By] – Roger Rose Vocals, Drums – Randy Rose Vocals, Guitar – Roger Rose Written-By – Roger Rose
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Alarma Records Copyright (c) – Alarma Records Record Company – Frontline Music Group Distributed By – FMG Distribution Recorded At – MATW Studios Mixed At – MATW Studios Mastered At – Soundworks West Published By – Broken Songs Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
This was probably one of the most surprising albums of 1990. MATW did a complete change of direction going from a new wave pop sound to a more hard rock sound. I can honestly say that this new “The Cult” sound was quite a surprise to me and honestly I was not a fan. I didn’t mind the sound, I had The Cult in my collection at the time but when a band does a switcharoo like this it is just too startling to me. Now that aside the album is very well done and these guys nailed a sound that was not well represented in CCM music at the time. The album sold very well as I think the new style was a welcome change to a lot of fans. I think it can be said that this album was a rather historic CCM music moment so if for no other reason than that you should give it a listen.
Tracklist 1 – The Narrow Road – 3:39 2 – Seasons Of Love – 4:51 3 – City Of Anger – 5:34 4 – When The Wind Blows – 5:38 5 – Marshmallow Land – 2:58 6 – Summer’s Gone – 3:06 7 – Promised Land (The Deception Of Drugs) – 5:24 8 – So Insane – 3:22 9 – It’s Not A Joke – 3:27 10 – The Love That Never Fades – 4:05 11 – Seasons Of Love (Reprise) – 5:04
Credits Arranged By, Engineer [Engineered By] – Roger Rose Art Direction – Ed McTaggart Band [Mad At The World Is] – Brent Gordon, Mike Pendleton, Randy Rose, Roger Rose Illustration [MATW Logo Illustration Re-worked By] – David Jackson Layout – Joe Potter Mastered By – John Matousek Photography By – David Dobson Producer [Produced By] – Roger Rose Songwriter [Songs Written By] – Randy Rose, Roger Rose
Companies, etc. Phonographic Copyright (p) – Alarma Records Copyright (c) – Alarma Records Distributed By – The Benson Company Recorded At – MATW Studios Mastered At – Soundworks West Published By – Broken Songs Glass Mastered At – Nimbus, Virginia
The story goes that while Roger Rose, the taller and older Rose brother that makes up the band, Mad At The World, was working as a mailman he dropped of a demo tape int he mailbox of Jimmy Kempner, owner of Frontline Records. The tape was passed along and the Rose brothers were eventaully signed by Frontline and in 1987 they released their first of several very successful projects, the self-titled Mad at the World. Completely programmed and synthesized techno music with aggressive 80’s dance beats and a very European vocal styling, the very well produced debut became an instant hit in many Christian circles. Mainstream music was filled with bands like Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears but Christian music’s edgier sounds were usually punk bands of long hair glam rockers like Stryper and Shout. MATW filled a huge void as Christian “dance clubs” were also starting to spring up and techno music was very limited. The lyrics were very “Christian” thematically but dealt with the darker side of life and some people initially struggled with the more dark sounding content. Kids, though, flocked to the album and their reputation spread quickly, especially in Southern California. They were invited to play a New Year’s Eve event at Knott’s Berry Farm, a popular theme park in Orange County. The set consisted primarily of older brother Roger on guitar and keyboards and 15 year old Randy on a bizarre looking electronic percussive contraption. The cool factor was high and their outside show drew huge crowds. Styles would change to darker and heavier rock and eventually to a more Beatlesque pop sound, but it is the first two albums that the band is most remembered for.
Contributor David Lowman – https://ccms500bestalbums.wordpress.com/
Track Listing:
1 – Living Dead – 3:28
2 – All The Lonely Sheep – 5:50
3 – I Want To See Heaven – 4:25
4 – No Room Left – 4:05
5 – Easy Way Out – 3:50
6 – Bad Motives – 4:20
7 – No More Innocence – 5:00
8 – It Can’t Rain Forever – 5:00
9 – Here We Go Again – 3:28
10 – Dry Your Tears – 4:10
11 – Mad At The World – 3:55
12 – Change Of Luck – 3:42
Credits
Arranged By – Roger Rose
Art Direction – Brian Kay, Ed McTaggart
Artwork [Photographics] – Ken Baley
Backing Vocals, Electronic Drums, Percussion – Randy Rose
Engineer – Roger Rose (tracks: B1)
Engineer [Basic Tracks] – Dave Hackbarth (tracks: A1 to A5, B2 to B5)
Engineer [Vocal Tracks] – Dave Jahnsen (tracks: A1 to A5, B2 to B5)
Guitar, Keyboards – Mike Pendleton
Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Synthesizer, Electronic Drums, Percussion – Roger Rose
Mastered By – Bernie Grundman
Photography By – Linda Dillon Baley
Producer – Roger Rose
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company, Inc.
Recorded At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Recorded At – Asylomar Studios
Recorded At – MATW Studios
Mastered At – Bernie Grundman Mastering
Pressed By – Record Technology Incorporated – 23329
Pressed By – Record Technology Incorporated – 23330
Mike Pendleton joins the Rose brothers for the second album from Mad at the World. This album picks up where their first one left off. On this album their sound did evolve however and on some tracks we can here a tint of The Cult and/or The Cure. The Depeche Mode sound is still the mainstay of the album and you can’t help but hear it. The album reached number 38 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Christian Chart.
Tracklist
1 – Fearfully And Wonderfully – 3:50
2 – Flowers In The Rain – 4:15
3 – Why – 4:36
4 – Puppet Strings – 4:17
5 – No Mistakes – 3:18
6 – Wait – 3:29
7 – I Don’t Wanna Go There – 3:17
8 – Faith Is A Perfect Road – 3:36
9 – In My Dream – 3:51
10 – Lovelight In The Midnight – 5:08
11 – This Lie – 3:30
12 – Dancing On Your Grave – 5:58
Credits
Art Direction, Design – Ed McTaggart
Band [Mad At The World Is], Keyboards – Mike Pendleton
Band [Mad At The World Is], Vocals, Drum Programming – Randy Rose
Band [Mad At The World Is], Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar [Guitars], Drum Programming – Roger Rose
Design Concept [Cover Concept By] – Brian Kay, Ed McTaggart
Graphics [Logo Colorization By] – Brent Gordon
Illustration [Rose By] – Roger*
Photography By, Illustration [Cover Illustration By] – Bob Rowe
Producer [Produced By] – Roger Rose
Screen Printing [Litho-Prep By] – Orbis
Songwriter [All Songs Written By], Arranged By – Roger Rose
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Frontline Records
Copyright (c) – Frontline Records
Distributed By – The Benson Company
Recorded At – MATW Studios
Mixed At – MATW Studios
Glass Mastered At – Nimbus
Published By – Broken Songs
