Floodplain (Sara Groves album)
| Floodplain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 6, 2015 | |||
| Genre | Contemporary Christian music, folk | |||
| Length | 50:41 | |||
| Label | Fair Trade, Columbia | |||
| Producer | Brown Bannister, Steve Brewster, Scott Dente, Sara Groves, Daniel Phelps, and Matt Pierson | |||
| Sara Groves chronology | ||||
| ||||
Floodplain is the eighth studio album and twelfth album overall from Sara Groves. Fair Trade Services alongside Columbia Records released the album on November 6, 2015. Groves worked with Brown Bannister, Steve Brewster, Scott Dente, Daniel Phelps, and Matt Pierson, in the production of this album.[1]
Sara found her inspiration for the album while jogging along the Mississippi River in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area when she saw the juxtaposition of a homeless man near the river and a local mansion, the James J. Hill House, on the blufftop.[2] Keeping with the album's theme of floodplain on the Mississippi, the album cover uses an 1874 illustration of the Eads Bridge, the first bridge to cross the Mississippi in St. Louis, Missouri.
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| CCM Magazine |   [3] |
| The Christian Beat |  [4] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [5] |
| New Release Today | [6] |
Indicating in a four star review by CCM Magazine, Andy Argyrakis responds, "the 13 pensive pop tracks have a heavy yet hopeful heart placed strikingly across her own production".[3] Mark Rice, giving the album four stars for Jesus Freak Hideout, describes, "as with many of Grove's albums containing complex themes and simple, organic music, it does take a certain mindset and repeated listens to really appreciate Floodplain in all its depth."[5] Awarding the album five stars at New Release Today, Kevin Davis states, "Floodplain is a standout, profound listening experience...This is truly a great album and a moving and prayerful listening experience which reflects how we are bound together as believers in faith, love and vulnerability."[6] Madeleine Dittmer, rating the album four and a half stars from The Christian Beat, says, "Sara Groves masterfully creates a beautiful collection of songs in this new album...Floodplain is an impressive album that will draw you in and invite you to deepen your relationship with God."[4] Reviewing the album for The Phantom Tollbooth, Bert Saraco writes, "Floodplain is another brilliant album by Sara Groves. An accessible work of wisdom and beauty: lyrically poetic and musically smart, Floodplain is still essentially a pop album replete with hooks and well-informed by the best of the classic rock era."[7]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Sara Groves, except those noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Cup" | Groves, Ellie Holcomb | 4:17 |
| 2. | "Expedition" | 3:48 | |
| 3. | "Second Guess Girl" | 3:33 | |
| 4. | "Floodplain" | 3:34 | |
| 5. | "Enough" | Groves, Julie Masen, Sarah Masen | 3:49 |
| 6. | "Native Tongue" | 4:11 | |
| 7. | "I've Been Here Before" | 3:50 | |
| 8. | "On Your Mark" | 4:34 | |
| 9. | "I Feel the Love Between Us" | 4:21 | |
| 10. | "Signal" | 4:53 | |
| 11. | "Your Reality" | 3:10 | |
| 12. | "My Dream" | 4:06 | |
| 13. | "Expedition (Reprise)" | 2:35 | |
| Total length: | 50:41 | ||
Chart performance[edit]
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Christian Albums (Billboard)[8] | 8 |
| US Folk Albums (Billboard)[9] | 8 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[10] | 24 |
References[edit]
- ^ Staff (October 30, 2015). "Sara Groves Returns with 'Floodplain' Album". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ "Floodplain by Sara Groves". Songfacts. Songfacts, LLC. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ a b Argyrakis, Andy (November 30, 2015). "Sara Groves - 'Floodplain'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ^ a b Dittmer, Madeleine (October 22, 2015). "Sara Groves Captivates Listeners With "Floodplain" Album". The Christian Beat. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Rice, Mark (November 6, 2015). "Sara Groves, "Floodplain" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ a b Davis, Kevin (November 2, 2015). "Faith, Love and Vulnerability". New Release Today. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
- ^ Saraco, Bert (October 21, 2015). "Groves, Sara – Floodplain". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ "Sara Groves Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
