We Need Each Other

Infobox Album |
Name = We Need Each Other
Type = Album
Artist = Sanctus Real


Released = February 12, 2008
Recorded = 2007
Genre = Christian rock, CCM, pop rock, indie rockcite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g9frxzljldae |title=We Need Each Other > Overview |publisher=Allmusic |author=Jared Johnson |accessdate=2008-09-11]
Length = 40:06
Label = Sparrow Records/EMI CMG
Producer = Chris Stevens
Reviews = *"Jesus Freak Hideout" Rating|4.5|5 [http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/WeNeedEachOther.asp link]
*"Allmusic" Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g9frxzljldae link]
*"The Album Project" Rating|4|5 [http://thealbumproject.net/2008/02/16/full-review-sanctus-real-we-need-each-other/ link]
*Patrol Magazine (4.9/10) [http://www.patrolmag.com/index.php?id=386 2008]
*"evade the noise" Rating|3.5|5 [http://evadethenoise.com/2008/09/18/sanctus-real-we-need-each-other/ link]

Last album = "The Face of Love" (2006)
This album = "We Need Each Other" (2008)
Misc = Singles
Name = We Need Each Other
Type = studio
single 1 = We Need Each Other
single 1 date = 2007
single 2 = Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)
single 2 date = 2008
single 3 = Turn On the Lights
single 3 date = 2008

"We Need Each Other" is the fourth album released by Christian rock band Sanctus Real. It was released in the United States on February 12, 2008 through Sparrow Records.cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=501154&aid=1102671 |title=Sanctus Real – We Need Each Other |work=Billboard |accessdate=2008-09-10] It debuted at #153 on the "Billboard 200". Three songs have been released as singles: "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)", "Turn On the Lights", and the title track "We Need Each Other".

Background

"We Need Each Other" was recorded over a few-month period in 2007, beginning in the middle of the year.cite web |url=http://www.breathecast.com/Christian.Music.Artist-Sanctus.Real/Article-343_1682.htm |title=Sanctus Real in Studio, Preparing for Tour |publisher=BREATHEcast.com |date=2007-08-28 |accessdate=2008-09-12 |author=Anne Thomas] The album's name had not yet been decided in late August 2007, but in early November it was announced as being titled "Turn On the Lights". It was later renamed to the final title of "We Need Each Other" by December 2007.

Chris Stevens produced "We Need Each Other" as he had also done with band's previous release "The Face of Love".cite web |url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/headlines/11561562/ |title=Sanctus Real Reminds Us We Need Each Other Feb. 12 |date=December 2007 |work=CCM Magazine |accessdate=2008-09-11] Lead singer Matt Hammitt explained that the album's title represents its general theme. "There's a longing for something bigger than oneself, a band, a song or a crowd of concertgoers. We need to come together as the body of Christ, unifying to see God’s work done through us. There’s so much simple truth in the statement, 'we need each other.' We can accomplish so much more if we stand together as one."

Two musicians guested on two of the songs from "We Need Each Other". It was the first Sanctus Real album to feature appearances from other musicians outside the band. Singer Katie Herzig appeared on the song "Half Our Lives", singing a lead duet with Matt Hammitt. Guitarist Peter York recorded the distinct guitar riffs for the track "Turn On the Lights". Sanctus Real guitarist Chris Rohman has said that "Peter 'tore it up' in the studio and it turned out great! It's a highlight on the album".

Release

The album's first single, title track "We Need Each Other", was released on November 12, 2007.cite web |url=http://www.soulshine.ca/news/newsarticle.php?nid=4830 |title=Sanctus Real Release New Single 'We Need Each Other' |work=Soul Shine Magazine |date=2007-11-01 |accessdate=2008-09-12] It began increasing in radio airplay during December 2007, and by early February 2008 the song had stayed at number-one for three weeks on R&R's Christian contemporary hit radio chart.cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=38312 |title=Media Confirms 'Need' For Sanctus Real's Feb. 12, 2008 Release |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |date=2008-02-18 |accessdate=2008-09-11] The album itself was then released on February 12, 2008 and debuted at #153 on the "Billboard 200", being the band's highest charting album to date on the "200" chart.cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=501154&model.vnuAlbumId=1102671 |title=Artist Chart History – Sanctus Real |work=Billboard |accessdate=2008-09-11]

The album's second single, "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)" was released in May 2008. A music video for the song debuted in the beginning of June 2008 and was filmed about a month earlier.cite web |url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=40284 |title=Sanctus Keeping Things Real |publisher=Top40-Charts.com |date=2008-05-15 |accessdate=2008-09-12] Their latest radio single "Turn On the Lights" was released in August 2008.

Track listing

# "Turn On the Lights" (featuring Peter York) – 3:28
# "We Need Each Other" – 4:16
# "Black Coal" – 3:26
# "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)" – 4:11
# "Sing" – 4:41
# "Leap of Faith" – 3:17
# "Lay Down My Guns" – 4:17
# "Eternal" – 4:27
# "Half Our Lives" (featuring Katie Herzig) – 4:20
# "Legacy" – 3:43

Online downloadable tracks

# "Hero"
# "We Need Each Other" (Acoustic Version)
# "Black Coal" (Acoustic Version) (Rhapsody Exclusive)
# "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)" (Acoustic Version) (Amazon.com Digital Exclusive)

References