Undone (2004)

Undone is the third studio album by the Christian rock band MercyMe, released on April 20, 2004 and was marketed and manufactured by INO Records. It was later distributed by Sony Music. The album was produced by Pete Kipley. Undone was recorded in seven studio with six in the United States and Abbey Road Studios in London, England in the United Kingdom.

Following the success of MercyMe's previous studio efforts and their surprise crossover hit "I Can Only Imagine,” they were given significantly more resources to develop the album with. The band also brought in a sixth member, guitarist Barry Graul. Unlike the band's previous songwriting style, which was to write the lyrics first, they wrote the music for the songs on Undone before writing the lyrics. Musically, the album is a progression from the band's previous albums, adopting a guitar-driven pop rock and adult contemporary sound, while the lyrics are personal and convey Christian themes. While MercyMe was recording Undone in the summer of 2003, they were beginning to experience the unexpected mainstream success of "I Can Only Imagine"; although the band had been promoting their second album Spoken For, "Imagine" was from their first album Almost There.

Undone received positive reviews from critics, with many praising the album's lyrics, mainstream appeal, and improved production value from their first two albums, although some felt the album was too similar to the band's previous works. Three singles ("Here with Me," Homesick" and "In the Blink of An Eye") were released in promotion of Undone, all of which topped at least one Christian chart format. "Here with Me" and "Homesick" also achieved success on mainstream radio, reaching the Top 10 on the adult contemporary radio charts by way of Curb Records.

Undone gave MercyMe their first chart topper at number one on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and it debuted and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 Albums charts. The album was Gold certified just eight months later in December 2004, giving them their third gold-selling record by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). To accompany Undone, MercyMe also released a live DVD entitled MercyMe Live, with performances from this release and their previous albums, plus covers of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." There's also a extra disc on DVD which contains some extras like interviews, bonus footage and more. MercyMe Live was certified Gold at the same time as Undone in December 2004 and going Platinum in 2008.

In 2005, MercyMe was nominated in four categories at the 36th GMA Dove Awards, winning only Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year.

Track listing

All songs written by MercyMe and Pete Kipley, except where noted.

1. Where You Lead Me -3:38

2. Everything Impossible -3:36

3. Here With Me (MercyMe, Pete Kipley, Dan Muckala, Brad Russell) -4:10

4. In the Blink of An Eye -3:17

5. Unaware -4:09

6. Homesick (Bart Millard) -3:40

7. When You Spoke My Name (MercyMe, Joel Hanson, Pete Kipley) -3:38

8. A Million Miles Away -3:23

9. Caught Up in the Middle -3:25

10. Never Alone -3:38

11. Undone -4:22

12. Shine On -3:58

13. Keep Singing (Bart Millard, Barry Graul, Pete Kipley) -2:52

Personnel

MercyMe:

Bart Millard -lead vocals

Jim Bryson -piano, Hammond B3 organ, synthesizers

Barry Graul -guitars

Mike Scheuchzer -guitars

Nathan Cochran -bass guitar

Robby Shaffer -drums

additional musicians:

Matt Slocum -cello

Rob Mathes -string arrangements

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 2004.

Accolades

Dove Award -Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Undone)

Radio singles

2004 "Here With Me" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian Songs for 13 weeks, -#1 Billboard

Christian Airplay for 13 weeks, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 10 weeks,

-#21 Billboard AC, -#38 Billboard Adult Top 40, -#2 R&R Christian CHR, -#1 R&R

Christian AC for 7 weeks, -#1 R&R Christian Inspo for 5 weeks, -#10 R&R AC

2004 -2005 "Homesick" -#3 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, -#3 Billboard

Christian Airplay, -#3 Billboard Christian AC Airplay, -#9 Billboard AC, -#27 R&R

Christian CHR, -#3 R&R Christian AC, -#1 Christian Inspo, -#9 R&R AC

2005 "In the Blink of An Eye" -#1 Billboard Hot Christian Songs for 5 weeks, -#1

Billboard Christian Airplay for 5 weeks, -#1 Billboard Christian AC Airplay for 6

weeks, -#16 R&R Christian CHR, -#1 R&R Christian AC for 4 weeks

Previous release: Spoken For (2002) 

Next release: The Christmas Sessions (2005)