Skillet - Awake (2009)

Artist: Skillet
Alum: Awake
Date Released: August 25, 2009
Genre: Hard Rock/Alternative Rock

Album Review:

I know, this review is of an album that's almost a year old, but I must address and dispel any erroneous views presented by severely deluded people......THE ALBUM IS HYPE. To go gold in 7 days, I figured heck, it's Skillet, that's reasonable. Then I listened to the album...and was severely disappointed. John Cooper said this about the album on Jesus Freak Hideout: "This album is even more immediate than “Comatose,” but there’s also a noticeable maturity. Some of the songs are complex, others are just really intense rockers and overall there’s a real sense that we’re opening a new chapter. There are definitely some classic rock elements on the record, some very melodic moments with orchestration and piano, along with a lot of today’s heavier rock influences as well. ”


Are you joking me?!?!?!! I will admit, there's a maturity to the band's sound, no small fault of their deep wallets to call upon the higher powers of amazing studio work. But there is no real complexity to the songs, and aside from Monster, this album is void of anything upbeat. It's a long, morose dirge that makes you wonder if THIS album should've been named 'Comatose' instead of 'Awake'. Singles like Monster make the cut, but most of the album hits a softer tone, to a degree that no hard rock band should take. From 3 Doors Down to 3 Days Grace, bands like Skillet have held to the traditional feel of an album, and how it should be a mix of songs and emotions to convey one concise message. That is not found in Awake. Instead, one is greeted with a nitrous, explosive beginning, and then....not much else. The songs on the album are great, I will say, but the album gives off a very soft and inconsistent tone. My consensus? Awake will put you to sleep, then wake you again, then put you to sleep again...


Rating: 7 out of 10


Song-by-song:


Hero: A powerful intro track to this album. I adore the energy Skillet can produce with their songs, it's as if their hearts are being shoved down your throat....too bad it's short-lived...


Monster: A nice, but deceiving single off the album. Upbeat, and with a dark overtone, the message fits the sound of the song.


Don't Wake Me: A nice, slower song. Doesn't follow the power-packed awakener Monster, though...


Awake and Alive: The synth instruments and upbeat guitar riffs come in loud and strong. Definitely a nice track and single off the album.


One Day Too Late: Another slower song, and one with a nice message of reaching out with love, because "tomorrow could be one day too late"...


It's Not Me, It's You: Well......it's not me.....it's you. Not much to say about this song.


Should've When You Could've: A love song to a girl who missed her chance. I'm not against Christian bands writing love songs, but they just can't suck...I guess Skillet gets really old to me.


Believe: Another slow song. It's all downhill from here.


Forgiven: A different kind of love song, and yet another one of the calmer songs on the album.


Sometimes: A nice heavy song to pop your white collar to. But I still feel that the album is all topsy-turvy. 


Never Surrender: I feel like i've heard this song 5 times already....oh wait....just another slow song.


Lucy: This song is a beautiful outro. For all the album's confusing shortcomings, this ending track makes it for me. (and you all know how picky I am about ending tracks)