How Can We Be Silent (2007)

How Can We Be Silent is the third studio album by the female Christian rock band BarlowGirl, released on July 27, 2007 by Fervent/Word/Curb Records. The album was produced by Otto Price.

The title comes from the track "Million Voices," which serves as the centerpiece of the album and their most rocking tune. How Can We Be Silent is very different from their first two albums. The album is a lot darker, lyrically and musically. It deals with the hardships of living the Christian life, with themes of hope, faith, and spiritual warfare. The lyrics are very deep and masterful, expressing the girls' faith through the years. Radio wise, it was not their best, although "Million Voices" is considered to be a track favorite. Their lead single "Here's My Life" only managed in the Top 20 on the Radio & Records (R&R) Christian CHR chart peaking at number 11 and in the Top 30 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs. Other singles like "Million Voices" and "I Believe in Love" failed to chart.

Despite that, How Can We Be Silent gave BarlowGirl their first, and only, number one album as it topped the Billboard Top Christian Albums and debuted and peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart for the weeks of August 11, 2007. It is their highest charting album on both charts to date. It sold about 25,000 copies in its first two weeks. In 2008, BarlowGirl picked up two Dove Award nominations for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Million Voices." There were no music videos made to promote the album.

NOTE: similarly to Another Journal Entry, this album was released in a special edition variant known as How Can We Be Silent Premium Edition. It was released concurrently with the regular edition, adding a new cover sleeve and bundling a 45-minute DVD. Video content includes personal interviews, stories behind the songs on the album and two previously released music videos, "I Need You to Love Me and "Never Alone."

Track listing

All songs written by BarlowGirl.

1. Song For the Broken -4:00

2. I Believe in Love -5:16

3. Here's My Life -5:37

4. Keep Quiet -4:58

5. Million Voices -4:09

6. Sweet Revenge -3:59

7. One More Round -3:40

8. Take My Chances -3:21

9. The Guy Song -3:06

10. I Don't Regret -3:55

Personnel

BarlowGirl:

Alyssa Barlow -lead vocals (tracks 1 -3, 6 and 10), vocals, bass guitar, keyboards

Lauren Barlow -lead vocals (tracks 4, 5, 7 -9), vocals, drums

Rebecca Barlow -vocals, guitars

additional musicians:

Sabrina Barlow - background vocals on track 5

Rob Hawkins -acoustic and electric guitars

John Painter -horns and woodwinds

New Song Ensemble -choir on track 5

• Julie Carter – soprano

• Janine Jones – soprano

• Liz George – soprano

• Amy Miller – soprano

• Sarah Tweet – alto

• Marisha Wagner – alto

• Cindy Wagner – alto

• Adam Bastien – tenor

• Brian Robison – tenor

• Todd Fertig – tenor

• Kyle Cooper – tenor

• Matthew Seckman – tenor

• Dustin Whitney – tenor

Love Sponge Quartet:

• David Davidson, David Angell – violin

• Kristin Wilkinson – viola

• John Catchings – cello

• Trish Price – melotron on track 7

• Otto Price – programming, guitars, jazz drums, accordion, synthesizer and miscellaneous

Radio singles

2007 "Here's My Life" -#29 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#29 Billboard Christian

Airplay, -#11 R&R Christian CHR

Previous release: Another Journal Entry (2005)

Next release: Home for Christmas (2008)