Blackout (Steffany Gretzinger album)

Blackout (stylized in capital letters) is the second studio album from American singer and songwriter Steffany Gretzinger. It was released on March 30, 2018, through Bethel Music. Bobby Strand handled the production of the album.[2]

Blackout
Studio album by
Steffany Gretzinger
ReleasedMarch 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
Genre
Length57:51
LabelBethel Music
Producer
Steffany Gretzinger chronology
The Undoing
(2014)		 Blackout
(2018)		 Forever Amen
(2020)

Background

Bethel Music announced that Steffany Gretzinger will be releasing Blackout, her second studio album, would be released on March 30, 2018.[3] This being her second solo studio effort, Blackout follows the issue of her commercially successful and critically acclaimed debut, The Undoing (2014). The album is said to be revealing the "vulnerable, less-visible side," of Steffany Gretzinger.[4] This collection of songs is described as being created for the "in-between moments in life" which mould a person, they convey the idea that even in the chaotic situations of life, "[the] light that shines from the inside out cannot be dimmed."[5] In a press release published on March 9, 2018, Gretzinger spoke of the album's message, saying:

It's about being able to joyfully dance as tears stream down your face, knowing that life comes through learning to grieve and celebrate at the same time.[6][7]

Promotion

On March 9, 2018, Bethel Music announced the beginning of the album's pre-order period, with "Save Me" being released as a promotional single as it was availed for instant download and streaming.[8][9]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[10]
Hallels[11]
Jesus Freak Hideout[1]
Today's Christian Entertainment3.4/5[12]

The reception of Blackout was largely positive as Gretzinger was lauded by various critics of the CCM and contemporary worship music genres.[13] Bestowing the album a perfect five stars in a CCM Magazine review, Matt Conner describes the album as a "possessing masterwork," declaring that it is "a career achievement if she decided for some reason to walk away tomorrow. "[10] Anna Hockley, reviewing for Eden.co.uk says that Blackout is "not your average praise and worship CD. It's one that digs a little deeper and at times could be mistaken for something you'd hear in the Top 10 charts – and very much in a good way. There are times throughout the album where you can hear her emotion and soul speak right to your heart and others where the musical arrangement behind the lyrics really take on a life of their own."[14] Timothy Yap, rated the album three out of five in a Hallels review, asserting that the album "bears the marks of many singer-songwriter albums where it's personal with equal portions of emotions and intelligence," further describing Gretzinger's work as "coterminously ruminative as well as theological."[11] Jesus Freak Hideout critic Josh Balogh awarded Blackout a four star rating, concludes, "with its powerful, engaging vocals, and catchy pop melodies, Blackout is a worshipful, not-to-be-missed album of 2018 sure to please longtime fans of Bethel musicians, and fans of the pop/worship genre."[1] Hayden Royster of LightWorkers praised the album in his review, saying that Blackout is "something truly remarkable: a worship album that encapsulates both the human condition, the glory of God and everything in-between."[15] In a superbly positive review by Kevin Davis of NewReleaseToday, he states "These moving and reverent recordings are poignant songs of adoration. Every song is completely anointed, Spirit-led and emotionally captivating."[16] At Today's Christian Entertainment, Kelly Meade gave the album a rating of three-point-four stars out of five, saying that the album has "intriguing musical arrangements and encouraging lyrics," and that listeners will "find a song that inspires their Christian walk and bring them closer to the Savior."[12]

Accolades
Year-end lists
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
NewReleaseToday Top 10 Worship Albums of 2018
5
[17]
Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2019 We Love Christian Music Awards The Encounter Award
(Worship Album of the Year)		 Pending [18]

Commercial performance

In the United States, Blackout debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart dated April 14, 2018, repeating the feat achieved by Gretzinger's debut album, The Undoing (2014), with 13,000 equivalent album units sold.[19] The release was the best-selling issue on the Independent Albums Chart,[20] the fifth best-selling digital album,[21] and peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 chart.[22]

Track listing
Standard edition[23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Save Me"
5:25
2."Dust"
  • Gretzinger
  • Cook
  • Bobby Strand
3:40
3."Bright Ones"
  • Gretzinger
  • Cook
  • Strand
5:06
4."Confident" (featuring Bobby Strand)
5:40
5."Sing My Way Back"
  • Gretzinger
  • Strand
3:47
6."All That Lives Forever"
5:11
7."Forever Amen" (Interlude)Gretzinger1:50
8."Tell Me the Truth"
  • Gretzinger
  • Cook
  • Strand
5:25
9."This Is the Sound"
  • Gretzinger
  • Strand
5:19
10."Open Over Us"
4:58
11."Oxygen"
  • Gretzinger
  • Cook
5:02
12."Paradigm" (Interlude)Strand1:16
13."Blackout"
  • Gretzinger
  • Strand
5:11
Total length:57:51
iTunes Store bonus track[24]
No.TitleLength
14."Blackout" (music video)5:21

Personnel

Adapter from AllMusic.[2]

  • Adam Ayan – mastering
  • Jordan Bogart – photography director
  • Robby Busick – production manager
  • Amanda Cook – piano, vocals
  • Jacob Cook – vocals
  • Chris Estes – director
  • Kathy Frizzell – wurlizter
  • Sean Frizzell – vocals
  • Chris Greely – mixing
  • Steffany Gretzinger – primary artist, vocals
  • Brian Johnson – executive producer
  • Jerry Kelch – key grip
  • Bommy Kwon – editing, video director
  • Jeremy Larson – strings
  • Daniel Mackenzie – bass
  • Mateus Mainhard – sounds
  • Taylor Ostrom – art direction, design
  • Lucas Sankey – photography
  • Bobby Strand – guitar, piano, producer, programming, string arrangements, synthesizer, vocals
  • Lindsey Strand – vocals
  • Joel Taylor – executive producer
  • Joe Volk – drums
  • Aly Whitworth – video producer

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 98
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[26] 69
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[27] 3
UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)[28] 1
US Billboard 200[29] 36
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[30] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[31] 1

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide March 30, 2018
Bethel Music [23][24]
United States Vinyl [32]
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References
  1. Josh Balogh (March 27, 2018). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Steffany Gretzinger, 'Blackout' Review". JesusFreakHideout. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  2. "Blackout – Steffany Gretzinger | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  3. Yap, Timothy (March 2, 2018). "Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger Returns with "Blackout" : News : Hallels". Hallels. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  4. "Louder Than The Music – Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger to Release Deeply Vulnerable 'Blackout'". Louder Than The Music. March 10, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  5. "Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger to Release Deeply Vulnerable "Blackout" on March 30th – The Gospel Music Association". Gospel Music Association. March 9, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  6. Meade, Kelly (March 9, 2018). "Music News: Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger to Release Deeply Vulnerable Blackout on March 30th – Today's Christian Entertainment". Today's Christian Entertainment. Avada. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  7. "Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger to release 'Blackout' on March 30". Niagara Frontier Publications. March 9, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  8. "'Save Me' by Steffany Gretzinger Now Available". MultiTracks.com. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  9. Lundin, Marcus (March 10, 2018). "Steffany Gretzinger To Release Her Second Solo Album 'Blackout' On March 30 : Music : BREATHEcast". BREATHEcast. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  10. Matt Connor (March 21, 2018). "Steffany Gretzinger – 'Blackout' album review – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  11. Timothy Yap (March 5, 2018). "Steffany Gretzinger 'Blackout' Album review : Exclusives : Hallels". Hallels. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  12. Meade, Kelly (March 27, 2018). "Steffany Gretzinger 'Blackout' – Today's Christian Entertainment". Today's Christian Entertainment. Avada. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  13. Longs, Herbs (March 29, 2018). "Bethel Music's Steffany Gretzinger's 'Blackout' To Release April 30". The Christian Beat. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  14. Hockley, Anna (March 27, 2018). "Review: Blackout by Steffany Gretzinger". Eden.co.uk. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  15. Royster, Hayden (March 27, 2018). "This Little Light of Mine: The Authentic Hope of Steffany Gretzinger's "Blackout" | LightWorkers". LightWorkers. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  16. Davis, Kevin (March 29, 2018). "Blackout by Steffany Christian CD Book Reviews | NRTeam Member KevinDavis_NRT | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  17. Davis, Kevin (December 1, 2018). "Top 10 Worship Albums of 2018 | NRT LISTS | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  18. "We Love Christian Music Awards – 7th Annual 2018". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  19. Asker, Jim (April 12, 2018). "Bethel Music's Cory Asbury & Steffany Gretzinger Shine on Christian Charts, Tori Kelly Hits Hot Gospel Songs Top 10 | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved April 13, 2018. Fellow Bethel Music member Steffany Gretzinger debuts on Top Christian Albums at No. 2 with her second solo effort, Blackout. The set arrives with 13,000 equivalent album units, 11,000 from traditional album sales.
  20. "Independent Albums | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  21. "Digital Albums Chart | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  22. "Top 200 Albums | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  23. "Blackout, by Steffany Gretzinger, CD – Contemporary – Music – Music and Video – Mardel". Mardel. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  24. Worldwide digital release of Blackout:
  25. "ARIA Chart Watch #467". auspOp. April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  26. "Steffany Gretzinger Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  27. "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". RMNZ. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  28. "Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  29. "Steffany Gretzinger Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  30. "Steffany Gretzinger Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  31. "Steffany Gretzinger Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  32. "Blackout – Bethel Store". Bethel Music Store. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
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