Them (1996)

Them is the fourth studio album by the Christian rock band PFR, released on July 23, 1996 by Vireo/Sparrow Records. The album was produced by Jimmie Lee Sloas with Brown Bannister as executive producer.

Them served as their final release on the Vireo Records label as, at the time, PFR was announcing that this release would be final album together as a trio as they were going their separate ways with Patrick Andrew forming a short-lived band call Eager. Joel Hanson later released some solo albums in the 2000s and Mark Nash served behind the scenes as the A&R director of Squint Records, Steve Taylor's short-lived record label.

Them was a more aggressive rock album with electric guitars front and center, moving the trio away from the Beatle-esque pop rock sound of their previous releases. "Pour Me Out" was the opening track and lead rock single with "Anything" released to Christian CHR and AC radio as the lead single in those formats. "Anything" delivers a humble, straightforward message about human inadequacy and the complete reliance on divine grace. The core theme states that human achievements, creative talents, and words hold no true value unless they are guided by God's presence. The title track is slow and somber featuring a dark, haunting atmosphere contrasted against an upbeat chorus. There were no music videos made for any of the tracks.

Them charted and peaked on the following Billboard album charts:

-#4 Top Christian Albums

-#5 Heatseekers Albums

-#167 Billboard 200

In 1997, PFR was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year. It was the trio's final Dove Award nomination in their career.

Track listing

1. Pour Me Out (Joel Hanson) -4:07

2. Daddy Never Cried (Patrick Andrew, Mike Andrew) -3:28

3. Anything (Joel Hanson, Patrick Andrew, Mike Andrew) -3:50

4. Fight (Joel Hanson, Patrick Andrew) -5:00

5. Line of Love (Joel Hanson) -3:13

6. Ordinary Day (Patrick Andrew) -3:13

7. Tried to Tell Her (Patrick Andrew) -2:38

8. Face to Face (Joel Hanson) -3:53

9. Them (Patrick Andrew) -4:13

10. Kingdom Smile (Patrick Andrew) -3:09

11. Say (Joel Hanson, Mark Nash, Jimmie Lee Sloas) -2:49

12. Garden (Joel Hanson, Patrick Andrew) -3:17

Personnel

PFR:

Joel Hanson -vocals, guitars

Patrick Andrew -vocals, bass guitar

Mark Nash -drums

additional musicians:

Jimmie Lee Sloas -acoustic guitar, backing vocals

Blair Masters -keyboards

Chris McHugh -drums

Eric Darken -percussion

Nashville String Machine -strings

Carl Marsh -string arrangements, conductor, fairlight

Pamela Sixfin -violin solo on track 8

Radio singles

1996 "Anything" -#2 Christian CHR, -#24 Christian AC

1996 "Line of Love" -#5 Christian CHR

1997 "Ordinary Day" -#9 Christian CHR

Previous release: Great Lengths (1994) 

Next release: The Late, Great PFR (1997) (compilation album)