The Ascension (Phil Wickham album)

The Ascension is the fifth commercial studio album from Christian singer and songwriter Phil Wickham. The album was released on September 24, 2013 by Fair Trade Services, and was produced by Pete Kipley. The album has seen commercial charting successes as well as garnering critical acclamation from music critics.

The Ascension
Studio album by
Phil Wickham
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2013 (2013-09-24)
GenreContemporary worship music, Britpop, contemporary Christian music
Length48:49
LabelFair Trade
ProducerPete Kipley
Phil Wickham chronology
Response
(2011)		 The Ascension
(2013)		 Children of God
(2016)
Singles from The Ascension
  1. "This Is Amazing Grace"
    Released: August 6, 2013
  2. "Glory[1]"
    Released: 2014

Background and release

The album was released on September 24, 2013 by Fair Trade Services, and produced by Pete Kipley. It is the fifth studio album by Phil Wickham.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CCM Magazine[2]
Christian Music Review4.9/5[3]
Christian Music Zine[4]
CM Addict[5]
Cross Rhythms[6]
Indie Vision Music[7]
Jesus Freak Hideout[8]
[9]
Louder Than the Music[10]
New Release Tuesday[11]
Worship Leader[12]

The Ascension garnered critical acclaim from music critics. Elliot Rose of Cross Rhythms called it "An impressive album which will certainly help solidify Wickham's position as an innovative worship songwriter."[6] At Worship Leader, Andrea Hunter alluded to how "Phil Wickham, whether alone with a guitar or in a sea of fresh and refreshing accompaniment, brings something to the worship table that is often missing: emotional power and transparency, melodic and creative originality, unexpected lyrical turns and an escape from 'more of the same.'"[12] Grace S. Aspinwall of CCM Magazine told that "Phil Wickham has already proven he is a masterful songwriter, and gifted worship leader", which "The Ascension is no different."[2]

At Jesus Freak Hideout, Ryan Barbee proclaimed that Wickham was "bringing listeners what they love with more fervor than ever before", and noted that this was an "excellent combination of all of Phil Wickham's previous offerings with dashes of enough newness to make it certifiably fresh."[8] Mark Rice of Jesus Freak Hideout highlighted that "Between the scope that has almost the feel of a concept album, and simply yet another solid musical performance [...] Phil Wickham has definitely unleashed another winner into the modern worship circle."[9] Kevin Davis of New Release Tuesday felt the album took him "to another realm of holiness and thirsting for God's presence."[11] At Indie Vision Music, Jonathan Andre called this "an enjoyable and heartfelt album!"[7]

Jono Davies of Louder Than the Music told that "the wonderful distinctive voice of Phil Wickham is well worth checking out."[10] At Christian Music Zine, Joshua Andre felt that this was "one of the most profound, transparent, and honest albums of the year, and you certainly don't want to miss this unique and God-inspired experience", which the album "will complement and add plenty to anyone's music collection", and praised the artist "for reinventing the electronic worship setting!"[4] Laura Chambers of Christian Music Review highlighted that "Phil Wickham invites us to climb higher in search of God and promises that if we make The Ascension, we will never regret it for a moment."[3] At CM Addict, Brianne Bellomy called this "yet another amazing project."[5]

Commercial performance

For the Billboard charting week of October 12, 2013, The Ascension was the No. 39 most sold album in the entirety of the United States by the Billboard 200, and it was the No. 2 Top Christian Album sold the same week.

Track listing
Standard (studio) edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Ascension"Phil Wickham4:18
2."Holy Light"Wickham, Pete Kipley3:45
3."Carry My Soul"Wickham4:42
4."This Is Amazing Grace"Wickham, Joshua Farro, Jeremy Riddle4:39
5."Over All"Wickham, Kipley4:28
6."When My Heart Is Torn Asunder"Wickham4:18
7."Mercy"Wickham4:08
8."Glory"Wickham, Kipley4:01
9."Tears of Joy"Wickham, Kipley4:34
10."Wonderful"Wickham, Chris Tomlin4:15
11."Thirst"Wickham5:41
Total length:48:49
Deluxe (acoustic) edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."The Ascension"Wickham3:46
13."Holy Light"Wickham, Kipley3:43
14."Carry My Soul"Wickham4:16
15."This Is Amazing Grace"Wickham, Farro, Riddle4:27
16."Over All"Wickham, Kipley4:39
17."When My Heart Is Torn Asunder"Wickham4:15
18."Glory"Wickham, Kipley3:51
19."Tears of Joy"Wickham, Kipley3:59
20."Wonderful"Wickham, Tomlin4:26
21."Thirst"Wickham4:57
Total length:91:07

Chart performance
Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[13] 39
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[14] 2
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References
  1. "Phil Wickham". billboard.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  2. Aspinwall, Grace S. (November 1, 2013). "Phil Wickham: The Ascension (Fair Trade Services)" (PDF). CCM Magazine. Salem Publishing. p. 68. ISSN 1524-7848. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  3. Chambers, Laura (October 2, 2013). "Phil Wickham– The Ascension". Christian Music Review. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  4. Andre, Joshua (September 23, 2013). "Phil Wickham – The Ascension (Review)". Christian Music Zine. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  5. Bellomy, Brianne (October 2, 2013). "Review of The Ascension by Phil Wickham". CM Addict. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  6. Rose, Elliot (October 3, 2013). "Review: The Ascension - Phil Wickham". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  7. Andre, Jonathan (September 17, 2013). "Phil Wickham – The Ascension | Reviews". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  8. Barbee, Ryan (September 21, 2013). "Phil Wickham, "The Ascension" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  9. Rice, Mark (September 23, 2013). "Phil Wickham, "The Ascension" Review: Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  10. Davies, Jono (September 4, 2013). "Reviews - Phil Wickham - The Ascension". Louder Than the Music. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  11. Davis, Kevin (November 18, 2013). "Another Realm of Holiness". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  12. Hunter, Andrea (September 24, 2013). "The Ascension". Worship Leader. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  13. "Phil Wickham Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  14. "Phil Wickham Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
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