Never Going Back to OK
| Never Going Back to OK | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 26, 2008 | |||
| Recorded | 2006–2008 | |||
| Studio | Glomo Studio, Garage Rock Studio and Sound Kitchen (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Christian rock | |||
| Length | 41:53 | |||
| Label | INO/Columbia | |||
| Producer | Dan Muckala | |||
| The Afters chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Never Going Back to OK | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [2] |
Never Going Back to OK is the second album by Christian rock group The Afters, released on February 26, 2008.[3][4]
The first single from the album is the title track, "Never Going Back to OK". The track has been released as a streaming file on their MySpace website and for purchase on iTunes. Since the album's release, "Keeping Me Alive" and "We Are the Sound" have both been played as singles on Christian radio. "We Are the Sound" was used in commercials and promotion of the reality-talent competition show American Idol.[5] The song "Ocean Wide" also made an appearance on Vampire Diaries.
The music video for the title track was shot in Windsor, Ontario.[6]
Reception[edit]
Following its release, it debuted at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling about 16,000 units in its first week.[7][8][9]
The album won a Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. The title song was also nominated for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.[10][11]
The track entitled "Myspace Girl" was heavily criticised in PopMatters.[12] In contrast, the same track was praised in Seventeen Magazine.[13]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Secret Parade" | Josh Havens, Matt Fuqua, Brad Wigg | 1:40 |
| 2. | "Never Going Back to OK" | Havens, Fuqua, Wigg, Dan Muckala | 2:37 |
| 3. | "Keeping Me Alive" | Havens, Fuqua, Ben Glover, Wigg | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Tonight" | Havens, Muckala, Fuqua, Wigg | 3:26 |
| 5. | "Ocean Wide" | Wigg, Brandon Heath, Havens, Muckala, Fuqua | 4:24 |
| 6. | "MySpace Girl" | Fuqua, Wigg, Havens, Nate Campany | 3:04 |
| 7. | "We Are the Sound" | Wigg, Campany, Havens, Fuqua | 3:03 |
| 8. | "Falling into Place" | Jess Cates, Lindy Robbins, Muckala | 3:28 |
| 9. | "Beautiful Words" | Havens, Wigg, Muckala, Fuqua, Campany | 3:24 |
| 10. | "Forty-Two" | Wigg, Havens, Fuqua | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Summer Again" | Wigg, Campany, Fuqua, Havens, Muckala | 4:42 |
| 12. | "One Moment Away" | Wigg, Havens, Fuqua, Muckala | 4:14 |
| Total length: | 41:53 | ||
Never Going Back to OK – EP[edit]
An EP of this album has also been released exclusively to iTunes, containing three tracks:
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Never Going Back to OK" | 2:36 |
| 2. | "Keeping Me Alive" | 3:55 |
| 3. | "Tonight" | 3:26 |
Personnel[edit]
The Afters
- Josh Havens – lead vocals, guitars
- Matt Fuqua – guitars, vocals
- Brad Wigg – guitars, bass, vocals
- Marc Dodd – drums
Additional musicians
- Dan Muckala – programming, string arrangements
- Chuck Butler – acoustic guitar, bass
- Jeremy Lutito – drums
- Justin Sanders – cello
- John Catchings – strings
- David Angell – strings
- David Davidson – strings
Production[edit]
- Dan Muckala – producer, engineer
- Joe Baldridge – engineer
- Skye McCaskey – engineer
- Josh Muckala – assistant engineer
- Jess Thompson – assistant engineer
- F. Reid Shippen – mixing
- Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY)
- James Rueger – A&R
- Dana Salsedo – creative direction
- benfrankdesign.com – design, layout
- Esther Havens – photography
- Melanie Peskett – wardrobe
- Ray Medrano – grooming
- Overflow, Inc. – management
References[edit]
- ^ Johnson, Jared. Never Going Back to OK Review at AllMusic
- ^ "The Afters, "Never Going Back To OK" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard review". Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
- ^ Price, Deborah Evans (February 22, 2008). "Texas band Afters follows debut hit with "Never"". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "American Idol Chooses The Afters' We Are The Sound For Show Promo". CCM Magazine. Salem Media Group. April 1, 2008. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2008.
- ^ "The Afters To Shoot Newest Video In Windsor". Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Hasty, Katie (March 5, 2008). "Janet Dethrones Jack To Top Billboard 200". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (March 5, 2008). "On The Charts: Janet Jackson Wrestles Top Spot from Jack Johnson". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ Gallo, Phil (March 5, 2008). "Janet Jackson controls the charts". Variety. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for 40th GMA Dove Awards". CBN. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020.
- ^ "40th Annual GMA Dove Award Recipients". christianpost.com. April 24, 2009. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ "The Afters: Never Going Back to OK". www.popmatters.com. February 25, 2008. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "The Afters rock out with "Myspace Girl"". Seventeen. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
