Conspiracy No. 5 (1997)

Conspiracy No. 5 is the second major studio album by the Christian rock band Third Day. It was released on August 26, 1997 by Reunion Records with distribution by Provident Music Distribution and Sony Music. The album was produced by Sam Taylor, who worked as a video producer for ZZ Top and produced and managed some Houston, Texas area rock bands like King's X and others.

Producer Taylor encouraged Third Day to experiment with different musical styles. The album's name came from the band's interest in conspiracy theories, and a dictionary definition defining "conspiracy" as people gathering together to accomplish a common goal. As opposed to their 1996 self-titled release, which Drew comparisons to Hootie & the Blowfish - comparisons which the band considered unfair -Conspiracy No. 5 adopts a more aggressive alternative rock style with "grunge-style" guitars. The lyrics are less straightforwardly religious, but focus on the sinful nature of humanity and the need for redemption.

The album's highlights include "Gomer's Theme," which is based on the wife of the minor prophet Hosea in the Bible. In the Book of Hosea, he is commanded by God to marry Gomer, despite her infidelity, as a sign of Israel's unfaithfulness towards God. The song is written from the perspective of Hosea and God, who criticize Gomer for her infidelity. Third Day also named their fans as "Gomers." One of their further singles "My Hope Is You" draws lyrically on Psalm 25. "Your Love Endures" is the band's only real ballad that closes the album, then segues into a hidden bonus track, a reprise of "Who I Am." Out of the 13 tracks on Conspiracy No. 5, eight of those were released as singles to Christian radio, particularly to Christian CHR and Christian Rock. No singles were sent to Christian AC for this release. Conspiracy No. 5 debuted and peaked number 2 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and at number 50 on the Billboard 200 Albums charts, making its first appearance on the latter chart. Although, despite the album's success, some of the members of Third Day felt that it was a "mis-step" because the band "put intensity over the songs" but they had become more experienced performing live shows during the accompanying tour.

In 1998, Third Day won their first two Dove Awards at the 29th GMA Dove Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Alien." The band also earned their first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album for this release. Conspiracy No. 5 so far has sold more than 305,000 copies, about 100,000 less than their 1996 self-titled release.

Track listing

All songs written by Mac Powell, except where noted.

1. Peace -3:30

2. You Make Me Mad -4:02

3. How's Your Head -3:47

4. Alien (Mac Powell, Mark Lee) -4:34

5. I Deserve? -5:21

6. Have Mercy -2:57

7. My Hope Is You -4:21

8. More to This -4:14

9. This Song Was Meant For You -4:22

10. Who I Am -3:56

11. Give Me a Reason -3:39

12. Gomer's Theme -5:03

13. Your Love Endures (with hidden bonus track "Who I Am" reprise) -7:35

Personnel

Third Day:

Mac Powell -lead vocals, acoustic guitar

Mark Lee -guitars, lap steel guitar, mandolin, backing vocals

Brad Avery -lead guitar, backing vocals

Tai Anderson -bass guitar, backing vocals

David Carr -drums, loops, backing vocals

additional musicians:

Riki Michele -backing vocals on track 5

Sam Taylor -keyboards on track 1, organ on tracks 10 and 12, electric piano and

12-string acoustic guitar on track 13

Ray Dillard -percussion

Max Dyer -cello on tracks 3, 5, 6 and 8

Accolades

Dove Award -Rock Album of the Year (Conspiracy No. 5)

Rock Recorded Song of the Year ("Alien")

Radio singles

1997 "Who I Am" -#1 Christian CHR for 2 weeks

1998 "My Hope Is You -#2 Christian CHR

1998 "This Song Was Meant For You" -#5 Christian CHR

1999 "How's Your Head" -#23 Christian CHR

Previous release: Third Day (1996) (a repackaging of their 1995 Gray Dot release) 

Next release: Time (1999)

Watch the music video of "You Make Me Mad" here: