House on a Hill

House on a Hill is the fifth studio album from Canadian singer and songwriter Amanda Lindsey Cook. It was released on March 29, 2019, via Bethel Music.[2] Cook collaborated with Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury in the production of the album.[3]

House on a Hill
Studio album by Amanda Lindsey Cook
Released	March 29, 2019 (2019-03-29)
Recorded	2018
Studio	A secluded house in Nashville, TN[1]
Genre	Contemporary worship music
Length	52:42
Label	Bethel Music
Producer	Amanda Lindsey Cook Jason Ingram Paul Mabury
Amanda Lindsey Cook chronology
Brave New World (2015) House on a Hill (2019)

The album was preceded by the release of promotional single "Awakening". To further promote the album, Cook embarked on the House on a Hill Album Release Shows tour before the album's release. She also toured with Hillsong United as an opening act on the People Tour 2019. Cook was scheduled to embark on the House on a Hill Tour, set to be her first headlining tour, which was later cancelled.

The album garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, having charted on the US Christian Albums chart at No. 6 and the UK Christian & Gospel Albums at No. 4.

Background

"House on a Hill, it was a picture painted quite literally in my life because friends of mine had a little house on a hill that was standing empty for a few months, except for the studio that was in it, which we recorded the record in that studio. They invited me. It felt really providential, I remember him (my friend) saying that. He's like, "I just feel like this house is set aside if you want it for a couple of months to just catch your breath, recalibrate and center yourself." And so I took them up on it."

– Amanda Lindsey Cook, on the naming of the album.[4]

Amanda Lindsey Cook had announced her return to social media near the end of February 2019, indicating that she will release new music in the year.[5]

Cook recorded House on a Hill over a two-month long retreat at a secluded house in the wooded hills of Nashville, Tennessee, working with producers Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury, and singer-songwriter Steffany Gretzinger in writing the album.[6] Cook also disconnected from social media and spent time with close friends in the process of creating the album.[7] Cook first visited the house in January 2018.[8]

Release and promotion

On March 9, 2019, Cook released "Awakening" as the first promotional single from the album with its accompanying music video, with the album concurrently being availed for pre-order.[9]

Touring

On March 9, 2019, Cook announced that she will be going on the House On A Hill Album Release Shows tour, with four shows in the lead-up to the album's release, commencing at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City on March 25, 2019, and concluding in Nashville, Tennessee on March 28, 2019. Cook would also join Hillsong United on the People Tour as an opening act to perform at twenty-nine venues in 29 U.S cities, including the Staples Center in Los Angeles and Madison Square Garden in New York City.[10][11]

Following Cook's successful tour run with Hillsong United, Premier Productions announced that Amanda Lindsey Cook will be embarking on her first headlining tour, dubbed the House on a Hill Tour, with Apollo LTD as the opening act, with sponsorship from Food for the Hungry.[12] The 21-city tour was set to commence at Destiny Church in St. Louis, Missouri on September 19, 2019, and conclude at WorkPlay in Birmingham, Alabama on October 28, 2019.[13] The tour was later cancelled.[14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
CCM Magazine	[15]
The Christian Beat	4.9/5[16]
Cross Rhythms	[17]
Hallels	3/5[18]
Jesus Freak Hideout	[19]
Today's Christian Entertainment	[20]

CCM Magazine's Jen Rose Yokel gave a favourable review of the album, describing it as "a beautiful work of worship born in the silence and a celebration of God’s unfailing, ever-present love." Yokel opined that "Cook has crafted a record that feels like stepping into the sun after a long winter night, the perfect meditative soundtrack for the first days of spring."[15] Writing for The Christian Beat, Jessie Clarks praised the album, calling it "a true piece of art born from a place of rawness, fragility, and honesty. The collection of tracks that make up this album shows a level of intentionality that can only be God-inspired, and will immediately transform the listener's heart into a posture of worship."[16] Timothy Holden of Cross Rhythms stated in a positive review that the album "is not the full bore Bethel Music worship experience, but a much more ambient pop exploration of grace, forgiveness, growth and the worship which results from these things." Holden noted that the album "requires repeated plays for all of its artistry to come to light, but will reward all those prepared to take the journey with Amanda."[17] Jesus Freak Hideout's Josh Balogh says in his four star review: "This is an album for truly quiet times, and this listener found that the best experience with the album was as worshipful background music, or in a set of headphones to catch the quiet subtleties."[19] NewReleaseToday's Kevin Davis praised the album saying, "This is an excellent set of songs that focus on the central themes of asking God to inhabit our inner being and truly allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us along with relying solely on the love of Jesus to truly mold our hearts and make us more like Him."[21] Kelly Meade, indicating in a three-point-eight star review at Today's Christian Entertainment, says "Throughout House On A Hill we hear a theme of rest and reflection after becoming burned out as a result of trying to maintain an exhausting pace that the busyness of life brings."[20]

Timothy Yap of Hallels bemoaned the sameness of the album's tracks, "All the songs here start off in whispery intonations before soaring a fraction in the chorus before disrupting again in softer shades. And even certain chord patterns are so repetitive that there's a glaring predictability."[18]

Accolades

Year-end lists

Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
NewReleaseToday	Top 10 Worship Albums of 2019	9	[22]

Commercial performance

In the United States, House on a Hill launched at No. 6 and No. 52 on the Billboard Christian Albums and Top Album Sales chart dated April 13, 2019.[23][24] In the United Kingdom, the album launched at No. 4 on the Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart dated April 9, 2020, published by the Official Charts Company.[25]

Track listing

House on a Hill[26][27]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Awakening"	Jason Ingram Amanda Lindsey Cook Steffany Gretzinger	6:25
2.	"Evergreen"	Ingram Paul Mabury Cook	4:38
3.	"I Am - Because You Are"	Ingram Cook	5:50
4.	"Not Going Anywhere"	Ingram Mabury Cook	5:01
5.	"House on a Hill"	Ingram Cook Gretzinger	6:04
6.	"Comforter"	Ingram Mabury Cook Gretzinger	6:02
7.	"Love Never Fails"	Ingram Mabury Cook Gretzinger	4:56
8.	"The Clearing"	Ingram Mabury Cook Gretzinger	5:17
9.	"Water Under the Bridge"	Jeremy Riddle Gretzinger Amanda Cook	3:38
10.	"The New Country"	Ingram Cook	4:51
Total length:			52:42

• Songwriting credits adapted from PraiseCharts.[28]

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.[3]

• Eric Allen — artist direction, director
• Robby Busick — production manager
• Morgan Campbell — art direction, design, illustrations
• Amanda Lindsey Cook — background vocals, piano, primary artist, producer, programming
• Joe Creppell — mastering
• Suzanne Ecker — creative director
• Chris Estes — director
• Chris Greely — mixing
• Jenny Hislop — production manager
• Jason Ingram — producer, programming
• Brian Johnson — executive producer
• Taylor Johnson — guitar
• Dwayne Larring — guitar
• Paul Mabury — background vocals, drums, producer, programming
• Sean Moffitt — mixing
• Justina Stevens — art direction, design, illustrations
• Joel Taylor — executive producer
• Joe Williams — bass, programming

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
UK Christian & Gospel Albums (OCC)[25]	4
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[29]	6
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[30]	11
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[31]	52

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	March 29, 2019	CD Digital download streaming	Bethel Music	[26][27]

References

1. Clarks, Jessie (March 29, 2019). "Bethel Music's Amanda Lindsey Cook Releases Critically Acclaimed 'House On A Hill'". The Christian Beat. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
2. Cluver, Ross (March 29, 2019). "Amanda Lindsey Cook Drops 'House On A Hill' – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
3. "House On a Hill - Amanda Lindsey Cook | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
4. Law, Jeannie (April 19, 2019). "Bethel's Amanda Lindsey Cook reveals why she went silent, what she learned during difficult season - The Christian Post". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
5. "Bethel's Amanda Lindsey Cook Hints at New Music – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. February 25, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
6. "Louder Than The Music - Bethel Music's Amanda Lindsey Cook Reveals 'House on a Hill'". Louder Than The Music. March 10, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
7. Parke, Caleb (March 30, 2019). "Worship leader retreated to a house on a hill, ordered a mattress on Amazon, and let her music heal her | Fox News". Fox News. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
8. "Amanda Lindsey Cook Finds Healing in a 'House On A Hill' – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. April 18, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
9. Clarks, Jessie (March 9, 2019). "Amanda Lindsey Cook Unveils "Awakening" Ahead Of New Album Release". The Christian Beat. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
10. Yap, Timothy (March 9, 2019). "Bethel Music's Amanda Lindsey Cook Shares the Story Behind Her New Album : News : Hallels". Hallels. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
11. "Amanda Lindsey Cook Added to the Hillsong UNITED People USA Tour". Premier Productions. July 16, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
12. Clarks, Jessie (July 31, 2019). "Amanda Lindsey Cook To Set Out On First Headlining Tour". The Christian Beat. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
13. Young, Abby (August 1, 2019). "News: Amanda Lindsey Cook To Set Out On First Headlining House On A Hill Tour Joined By Apollo LTD | Freeccm.com". Freeccm.com. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
14. "Amanda Lindsey Cook: House on a Hill Tour *CANCELLED* in Knoxville, TN - Oct 11, 2019 7:00 PM | Eventful". Eventful. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
15. Yokel, Jen Rose (March 28, 2019). "Amanda Lindsey Cook 'House on a Hill' Review – CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
16. Clarks, Jessie (March 20, 2019). "'House On A Hill' Blends Amanda Lindsey Cook's Gifts As A Worship Leader & Songwriter". The Christian Beat. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
17. Holden, Tim (August 29, 2019). "Review: House on a Hill - Amanda Lindsey Cook | Cross Rhythms". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
18. Yap, Timothy (March 14, 2019). "Amanda Lindsey-Cook "House on a Hill" Album Review : Exclusives : Hallels". Hallels. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
19. Balogh, Josh (March 27, 2019). "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Amanda Lindsey Cook, "House On A Hill" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
20. Meade, Kelly (March 28, 2019). "Amanda Lindsey Cook 'House On A Hill' – Today's Christian Entertainment". Today's Christian Entertainment. Avada. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
21. Davis, Kevin (March 28, 2019). "House On A Hill by Amanda Lindsey Christian CD Book Reviews | NRTeam Member KevinDavis_NRT | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
22. Davis, Kevin (December 8, 2019). "Top 10 Worship Albums of 2019 | NRT LISTS | NewReleaseToday". NewReleaseToday. NRT Media, Inc. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
23. "Top Christian Albums Chart | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. April 9, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
24. "Top Album Sales Chart | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. April 9, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
25. "Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
26. "House on a Hill by Amanda Lindsey Cook on Amazon Music - Amazon.com". Amazon.com. March 29, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
27. "House on a Hill by Amanda Lindsey Cook on Apple Music". Apple Music. U.S. Apple Inc. March 29, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
28. "Amanda Lindsey Cook sheet music from the album House On A Hill | PraiseCharts". PraiseCharts. PraiseCharts Publishing, Inc. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
29. "Amanda Lindsey Cook Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
30. "Amanda Lindsey Cook Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
31. "Amanda Lindsey Cook Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.

External links

• Lyrics and sheet music for the album on PraiseCharts