Don't Censor Me

Don't Censor Me
Studio album by Audio Adrenaline
Released	October 1, 1993
Recorded	1993
Studio	Gaga Studios, Franklin, Tennessee Fun Attic, Franklin, Tennessee
Genre	Christian rock
Length	42:39
Label	ForeFront
Producer	Steve Griffith and The Gotee Brothers
Audio Adrenaline chronology
Audio Adrenaline (1992) Don't Censor Me (1993) Live Bootleg (1995)

Don't Censor Me is the second studio album by Audio Adrenaline, released in 1993. The album features the song "Big House", which is considered the band's most popular song.^[1][2]

Background and concept[]

According to the band, the album is aimed at a young audience like they were at the time. In an interview with CCM Magazine, they describe the songs as "cheerleader songs" for their upbeat and cheerful rhythms. In the same interview, the band agrees that Don't Censor Me better approached the style and concept they wanted, when compared to their first album, but "it still didn't hit the mark".^[3]

Recording[]

Don't Censor Me was recorded in 1993 at various studios in Tennessee, Gaga Studios and Fun Attic, both in Franklin. Recording was in charge of Steve Griffith and Joe Baldridge. Griffith, Baldridge, and Dave Frank were also in charge of the mixing, some of which was done at SoundStage, in Nashville, Tennessee. The mastering was done by Hank Williams at MasterMix, on Nashville too.^[4]

Reception[]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[6]

Don't Censor Me was well received by the audience selling more than 250,000 copies.^[7] Thom Granger, of AllMusic, gave the album 3 stars out of 5 calling it "more pop-savvy".^[8] Paul Portell, of Jesus Freak Hideout, gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5. Portell wrote that the album "showcases the band's rising maturity both lyrically and musically" and that it "may not be Audio Adrenaline's best effort, but at the same time a stepping stone in the band's growth spiritually and musically". Portell also compared their style to Collective Soul, Maroon 5, and John Mayer.^[9]

The album produced the hit singles "Can't Take God Away" and "Big House".^[10] The latter reached number 1 on Christian radio,^[11] and is often regarded one of the band's biggest hits of their career.^[12][13][14] It received the Song of the Decade title from CCM Magazine for the 1990s.^[15]

Music videos[]

Music videos were made for the songs "A.K.A. Public School", "Big House", and "We're A Band". dc Talk appeared as three "cool guys" in the video for "A.K.A. Public School".^[16][17][18]

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Barry Blair, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss, Mark Stuart except where noted.

Personnel[]

Audio Adrenaline[]

• Mark Stuart – lead vocals
• Barry Blair – guitars
• Bob Herdman – keyboards
• Will McGinniss – bass

Additional musicians[]

• Kevin Max Smith (of DC Talk) – guest vocals on "My World View"
• Dave Frank – vocals, musician
• Steve Griffith – vocals, musician
• Greg Herrington – musician
• Tony Miracle — musician
• Blair Masters — musician
• Todd Collins — vocals, musician
• Nicole Coleman-Mullen – vocals
• Jimmie Lee Sloas – vocals, vocal arrangement on "Can't Take God Away"

Production[]

• Steve Griffith — producer, engineer, mixer
• The Gotee Brothers – producers for "Can't Take God Away" and "We're a Band"
• Eddie DeGarmo – executive producer
• Dan R. Brock — executive producer
• Dave Frank — mixer
• Joe Baldridge — engineer, mixer
• David Hall — assistant mix engineer
• Joan Miller — production assistant
• Hank Williams — mastering
• Jeff Frazier — photography
• Jeff and Lisa Franke — design
• Carol Maxwell — makeup

Don't Censor Me: Extended Play Remixes[]

In 1994, this remix album was released. It contained two remixes of "Can't Take God Away" and one each of "We're a Band" and "Big House".

Track listing[]

1. "Can't Take God Away (Eternal Life Mix)" 5:54
2. "Can't Take God Away (House Mix)" – 6:42
3. "We're a Band (Hardcore Mix)" – 6:00
4. "Big House (Aquatic Dub Mix)" – 4:08

References[]