Move (2010)

Move is the 10th studio album by the Christian rock band Third Day, released on October 19, 2010 by Essential Records/Provident Music.

Move is Third Day's first album since original guitarist Brad Avery left the band after recording their 2008 best seller Revelation. After Avery's departure, the band were at a musical crossroads; although they considered replacing Avery, they ultimately decided not to. After playing a few concerts without Avery, Third Day felt they needed to step it up musically. It was a departure from the modern rock stylings of Revelation and showing more of their southern rock roots. Third Day chose to work with producer Paul Moak on the album and recorded it at their own studio, The Quarry in Kennesaw, Georgia, feeling it offered them more creative freedom. Move also has significant influence from gospel music. The album was also recorded at The Smokestack in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Lift Up Your Face" was the lead single and was released to digital formats and Christian radio on July 11, 2010. Lyrically, it was written by lead singer Mac Powell, but was composed by Third Day with brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart of the American rock band Needtobreathe. Bassist Tai Anderson recalls that "We got together in their home studio and had a jam session that went with Mac's idea of a song based on the idea of 'lift up your head' from the Psalms... By working with another 'southern' rock band from South Carolina, we got to show our Georgia roots musically with a "gospel" sound"; he further noted that "the big message of the song is 'salvation is calling.'" The track features backing vocals by the American gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama. The song peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Christian AC Airplay chart and at number 12 on the Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts.

Move's other highlight is the title song "Make Your Move." Released as the third single, the song was sent specifically to Christian CHR radio. "Make Your Move" is a southern rock track that features a heavy kick drum and grunge-influenced chorus, while the vocals are distorted during the bridge and take on a muffled effect. Lyrically, the song depicts evangelism for the perspective of a non-believer. It only peaked at number 43 on the Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts. Both "Children of God" and "Trust In Jesus" went Top 10 on the Billboard Christian music charts throughout 2011. A deluxe edition of Move was also released as an enhanced CD containing a bonus track entitled "Come On Down," a Moak Mix of "Lift Up Your Face" and video content.

Move was Third Day's fourth and final Top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number 10 while on the Top Christian Albums survey, it was their fifth chart topper. It also peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Rock Albums chart. In 2011, Third Day was nominated for two Dove Awards for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year and Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year for "Lift Up Your Face." The album cover won a technical Dove Award for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year, awarded to David McClister for photography, Beth Lee for art direction and Tim Parker for design.

Third Day collected their ninth and final Gold certified album nearly seven years later in January 2017 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Track listing

All songs written by Mac Powell, except where noted. All music composed by Third Day.

1. Lift Up Your Face (music by Third Day, Bear Rinehart and Bo Rinehart; words by

Mac Powell) -4:28

2. Make Your Move -3:44

3. Children of God -4:30

4. Surrender (Mac Powell, Mark Lee) -4:33

5. Trust In Jesus -4:08

6. Follow Me There -3:32

7. Gone -3:30

8. What Have You Got to Lose? -3:26

9. I'll Be Your Miracle -4:22

10. Everywhere You Go -4:03

11. Sound of Your Voice (Mac Powell, Mark Lee) -3:55

12. Don't Give Up Hope -4:07

Personnel

Third Day:

Mac Powell -lead vocals, backing vocals

Mark Lee -guitars, resonator guitar, banjo, mandolin, lap steel guitar

Tai Anderson -bass guitar

David Carr -drums

additional musicians:

The Blind Boys of Alabama -backing vocals on track 1

Bear Rinehart -backing vocals on track 7

Kerrie Roberts -backing vocals on track 11

New Hope Academy Children's Choir -choir vocals on track 3 with choir direction

by Teena Boone

Scotty Wilbanks -acoustic piano, Hammond B-3 organ, clavinet, Wurlitzer

electric piano

Will Sayles -percussion

Paul Moak -acoustic piano, Hammond B-3 organ, Mellotron, Chamberlin,

programming, harmonica, petal steel guitar, backing vocals

Nickie Conley, Jason Eskridge and Missi Hale -choir

Strings on tracks 3, 4, 8 and 11:

Claire Indie -cello

Tracy Silverman -viola

Zach Casebolt -violin

Elenore Denig -violin

K.S. Rhoades -string arrangements

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 2017.

Radio singles

2010 "Lift Up Your Face" -#12 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#12 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#8 Billboard Christian AC Airplay

2011 "Children of God" -#4 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#4 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#4 Billboard AC Airplay

2011 "Make Your Move" -#43 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#43 Billboard

Christian Airplay

2011 "Trust In Jesus" -#10 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#10 Billboard Christian

Airplay, -#10 Billboard Christian AC Airplay

Previous release: Live Revelations (2009) (live CD/DVD) 

Next release: Miracle (2012)

Watch the music video of "Lift Up Your Face" here:

Watch the music video of "Children of God" here:

Listen to the bonus track "Come On Down" here: