Awake Review

Released: Aug 25, 2009
Genre: Hard Rock / Christian Rock
Label: Lava / Ardent / Atlantic
Number Of Tracks: 12
Skillet has always had classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, undeniably catchy choruses, and a few fast solos.

Sound:	7.3
Lyrics:	7
Impression:	7
Overall rating:	7.1
Users rating:	8.7
Comments:	53

overall: 9.7

Featured review by: bcwfootball54, on august 28, 2009

Sound: Skillet has always had classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, undeniably catchy choruses, and a few fast solos. And this CD is no different. The sound on this CD is very great! You can hear everything amazingly clear, you can listen to each individual instrument or listen to how amazing they all fit together. This CD seems to have more string instruments in the songs. Which I think is very good, it really adds to the mood of the songs. The music is very very good and almost anyone can sit down and enjoy this music. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics on this CD are very deep. They seem to be a lot more faith based than their previous CD "Comatose". The lyrics are classic Skillet lyrics, the choruses are super catchy. The lyrics go very very well with the music. John Cooper as usual has a strange but great voice. You never would expect someone with his voice to be great at singing but he does it, and it goes great with the music! // 9

Impression: Overall I believe everyone should buy this CD. If you compared it to all of their other CD's it would be close. Song v. Song it may be one of the best CD's they have produced. If not first second to "Comatose". The most impressive thing about this CD is how much more the non-electric guitar instrument (violin, cello, piano, acoustic guitar) have been implemented into the songs, it adds so much more depth and emotion to the lyrics. If there is one thing I would have to say about this CD that is a little disappointing might be that overall the songs are a little less hard than their previous CD. But regardless this is a great CD for Skillet fans from the beginning to people who have never heard of them. The top songs in my opinion are "Awake and Alive", "Hero", and "Forgiven". If this CD were lost or stolen I would definitely buy it again. // 10

Reviewed by: unregistered, on october 13, 2009

Sound: Skillet's most recent album, "Awake", had high expectations in my eyes after "Comatose" was released and unfortunately, it didn't meet those expectations. The power that Skillet usually has in their cds was lacking in this one. The drums were not as flashy with Jen as they were with their old drummer. This album has about twice as many slow ballad songs as "Comatose" did and that really brings the album down. // 6

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics were definately more passionate and detailed than the other Skillet albums, but can be a little cheesy with those such has "it's not me, it's you". John still hasn't disappointed me as a singer because he has the deep voice of a bass but still shows the power of a tenor, who can hit those high notes without straining, I guess. Now, I know it's not his real voice, but the grunt in "Monster" was not only different, but it really showed Skillet's diversity. If John could do that with his real voice, then that would open up many other doors for Skillet to come. The usage of Jen as a singer in this album could easily be noticed as a difference in her sound. In "Hero", she is the female singer and, personally, I think her voice is a little annoying and I wouldn't ike to hear her anymore than I need to in cds to come. // 8

Impression: "Awake" didn't meet the expectations I had for this CD because of past cds' performances. The only powerful rock songs in "Awake and Alve" were their two singles, "Monster and "Hero", "Awake and Alive", which is like the new "Comatose", maybe "It's Not Me It's You" and maybe "Sometimes". That's 5 out of 12 songs on a cd... that small amount doesn't cut it for me in that category. The one slow song that really impressed me was "Lucy", with its good usage of the piano and descriptive lyrics. If this album was to somehow disappear from my CD stash, I don't think I would buy it again. If you're looking for this album and you're a Skillet fan, go buy it. But if you're a person trying to become a Skillet fan, this is not the CD to start to like Skillet. Go get "Collide" or "Comatose", which are both better than "Awake". // 6

overall: 5

Reviewed by: Gerard Way Jr, on august 31, 2009

Sound: Ah... Oh... Oo... Umm... Gah.
So, there I was, spending years, anxiously waiting, monitoring the internet and everything, waiting for Skillet's new release. So, when I finally was able to hear it, after falling in love with 'Comatose' (their previous effort), you can expect my expectations to be understandably high! Well, I've been disappointed. Let's start with the sound. Absolutely bloody nothing has changed from the last record, at all, which is fine, but I've got a few problems. (A) the first three songs follow the EXACT same formula as the first three of 'Comatose' (Two hard songs that sound EXACTLY the same followed by a balladesque semi-acoustic), (B), there was this weird moment in track 2 that I really loved, because it sounded like they were incorporating techno! And so, there I sat, for the rest of the record, listening intently, thinking, "Wait a minute, where the HELL did the techno go?! That was BRILLIANT!" (C) What happened to the good guitar solos? (D) What the HELL happened to the GOOD guitar solos?! In their place, we've got the standard, UP the fretboard! Okay, now, DOWN the fretboard! formula. You can imagine, as a guitarist and previous fan of their music, how disappointed I was!

Also, the half-title-track, "Awake and Alive" sounds EXACTLY like the title tracks for the last two albums! Start out with some strings, then move into the metal stuff! WAKE UP SKILLET. MEET MY FRIEND--MUSICAL INNOVATION. They'd done it for years--they've switched musical styles a dozen times, and when they finally decide on one, they ruin it? COME ON! I realize that you, apparently, can't expect much with Christian music. Not to bash any Christian artist, but, really, can you think of one artist officially from the genre who's any good? That's new? I mean, Switchfoot and Relient-K are pretty decent, I'll give you that--Steven Curtis Chapman USED to be really good. But everyone else is so unoriginal, I honestly can't listen to it! OH LOOK, HERE'S ANOTHER CHRISTIAN PUNK BAND. OH, LOOK, HERE'S ANOTHER CHRISTIAN CONTEMPORARY ARTIST. NO. STOP IT!

So, overall, this record basically takes everything I thought was good about Skillet and rubs its little, deep-fried balls in my face. // 6

Lyrics and Singing: My complaints don't end with the sound--oh, no, Skillet was no stranger to terrible lyrics on this venture! In fact, the only half-decent tracks are the very first and the very last! (Three was okay, as well, but you get the point)

And I got the same feeling I did with the techno thing when the girl was singing! I don't know if its the singer's wife/bandmate or the new drummer, but she sang maybe, oh, I dunno, ONCE, and it was great, and that was it! COME FREAKING ON! CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT EVERY TIME YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD THAT ITS BAD TO DO LOSE THAT ASPECT OF YOUR MUSIC? Was their producer, perhaps, passing out idiocy one day, and the band actually had made this beautiful album that they then decided to trash before coming up with this piece of 'work?'

And, oh, god, the main singer skills. In the last records, he's been tolerable (your standard metal singer affair), but with this, it sounds like he recorded every vocal track twice--the first time being his own croak, the second time being some airy, demonic-sounding frog singing. I realized that this is just his voice! I'm sorry, but unless you want to sound like you're delivering satanic messages or whatever, you don't drink eight hundred monsters a day, whether it be the drink, or an actual fantastical terror. Not saying Christian metal has to be happy-go-lucky, but this is sad even for metal! The only track with exceptionally good lyrics (until the bridge, at which point ALL my hope for the band's future was lost) was "Lucy." // 4

Impression: Dearest Skillet, I was once an avid fan of your music. Okay, not avid, but I thought it was pretty good. I had high expectation for Comatose after I heard Collide, and I was satisfied. I had high expectations for Awake. Well, I was disappointed. The redundant sound--yes, every track sounds the exact same--the corny lyrics, the striptease of sorts you gave with the techno and the female singing...I find myself amused that the first reviewers have already started praising this as they have. I can't help but wonder if it's the same record that I bought?

I mean, I guess I could say that I enjoyed it to begin with, and I suppose people should buy this, if only because you guys made it, but they're not getting anymore than they would with Comatose. The melodies are great, the lyrics suck. SUCH POTENTIAL! Also, the singing sucks. But, such potential, and I feel the last years of waiting have been utterly wasted. Oh, well, better luck next time. "Lucy" is the ONLY great track, but you ruined it with that terrible bridge. Why don't you let a real lyricist work with you some time? Did you pay someone to write the past records? Or this one? Whatever you were doing, do that again, but different, evolved, and get the techno back in there, and let the girl sing more. Keep the melodies, ditch the lyrics.

Warmest Personal Regards, A disappointed listener. // 5

Comments

[papersun87]

I'm a big Skillet fan . . . but I thought this album was a BIG letdown. They aren't even trying to do anything new or adventurous.

[Buraac]

Comatose was incredible... I was disappointed in Awake.

[xcrunner1]

Comatose was disapointing, but Awake is great!!

[D.I.R.T.]

This album makes better singles than a whole album... as a whole i'd probly give it 6/10... the bigist disapointment was in John's choice of lyrics, several times one bad line will ruin a song and some are jsut plain out immature... this coming from the guy whose going to see them for the 3rd time this year.

[ratracekid111]

xcrunner1 wrote:

Comatose was disapointing, but Awake is great!!

boo. awake is way to mainstream

[Jon777]

Awake... sucked -_- It had a few good songs, but compared to Comatose...

[ArmedOmalley]

This album has plenty of catchy songs, it doesnt really compare to comatose tho, even collide had good songs, i expected this album to be like Live free or let me die, that they made and re-released on Comatose

[ITR Matix]

Yeah I agree, I feel dissapointed, but I expected that, 'cause Comatose was Amazing.
But if you try to listen to it forgeting Comatose, It doesn't feel too bad. After hearing it a few times, I started to enjoy it

[Gerard Way Jr]

I hated this record--just wrote a review. The melodies and choruses were catchy-sounding, but one of my biggest problems was the lyrical content. And what's with the title track sounding EXACTLY like the title tracks for the last two? And the TINY bit of techno that was then lost for the rest of the record? Geez.

[rocker222]

you all are wrong collide was the best album they have ever made. end of story

[Captain Sadler]

Hero's an awesome song. Other than that: un-spectacular, but decent.

[sumrandomhobo]

Compared to comatose and collide it's not that great I reckon, but on its own its pretty good.

[nothingserious2]

these guys are still around???dammn

[xcrunner1]

ratracekid111 wrote:

xcrunner1 wrote:

Comatose was disapointing, but Awake is great!!

boo. awake is way to mainstream

unlike Comatose, which did NOT play on the same level as Awake. On Comatose I was getting of EVERY song being about loneliness, but on Awake the topics are varied. So are the music styles used, rather than *insert-symphonic-element* and call it a song. When has Skillet ever been capable of a song like Believe, or Lucy?

[3 days grace14]

couple good tracks but every single one on Comatose was gold

[idle_tooth]

these guys played at my high school last year. they were a joke. i'm glad i didn't pay to get in.

[satch_magic]

I think this is a solid cd but not the best. It just didn't have the thing that takes it from solid to outstanding like Comatose did. I don't think this is a bad cd at all and I did think it was cool that they showed a little more acoustic stuff on this record. I love music that's anywhere from loud, in your face and heavy but I like softness and diversity too. But that's just me

[Lemurs4mangos]

I loved Comatose, and Awake is amazing too, I would have liked more heavy stuff, but hey, I love the songs anyways.
and...

idle_tooth wrote:

these guys played at my high school last year. they were a joke. i'm glad i didn't pay to get in.

wtf...?

[hiddenwuss]

Sooo...maybe it was just me, or did anyone else feel like "Monster" sounds way too much (TOO SIMILAR) to "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace...just saying...

[salamandemr]

If you go at this album expecting it to be heavier than Comatose, you'll be disappointed. There are some great heavy songs, but the real sound is in their more thematic songs such as One Day Too Late and Never Surrender. Personally, I think it's awesome even though it's more mainstream, but I guess you're allowed to hate them if you want...

[n8blake]

rocker222 wrote:

you all are wrong collide was the best album they have ever made. end of story

AMEN TO THAT!!!

[Xtramus]

Pretty poor record, I expected a lot more from them after Collide and Comatose. And Monster definitely sounds like Animal I Have Become :P

[feanarosurion]

Comatose was really good, and the only album I really enjoyed. This album seems to have moved away from that, and the blatant fanboy review doesn't help.

[Cionnaith MacRi]

idle_tooth wrote:

these guys played at my high school last year. they were a joke. i'm glad i didn't pay to get in.

so what? you go to school in beverly hills or something?
Skillet for a high School dance? LOL

[Pr0teZT]

Comatose was SO much better, Awake has about 2 good songs, the others are mainstream crap.

[idle_tooth]

Cionnaith MacRi wrote:

idle_tooth wrote:

these guys played at my high school last year. they were a joke. i'm glad i didn't pay to get in.

so what? you go to school in beverly hills or something?
Skillet for a high School dance? LOL

no i went to merkel high school. merkel is a really crappy town in the middle of texas. there were 70 people in my graduating class. it was a horrible venue and a horrible performance. i'm just trying to say that they suck. i should have just come out and said it. they suck.

[King afed]

Cionnaith MacRi wrote:

idle_tooth wrote:

these guys played at my high school last year. they were a joke. i'm glad i didn't pay to get in.

so what? you go to school in beverly hills or something?
Skillet for a high School dance? LOL

no i went to merkel high school. merkel is a really crappy town in the middle of texas. there were 70 people in my graduating class. it was a horrible venue and a horrible performance. i'm just trying to say that they suck. i should have just come out and said it. they suck.

I heard them live and they were pretty good. Although Awake is a mainstream sellout album, skillet is still a good live band.

[rockguitarist92]

I love the Awake album. Thats that.
Thy are a good all around band,
Live and in the studio.
I just think some people dont like the softer songs.
Comatose was a harder album compared to this one.
But this has its own place.

[SGofawesome]

ratracekid111 wrote:

xcrunner1 wrote:

Comatose was disapointing, but Awake is great!!

boo. awake is way to mainstream

I am failing to see how Comatose is "disappointing". It had everythig a real good album needs, even the fact that the order of the songs was perfectly placed. I don't know if it's only me but starting out with the best hits on an album doesn't do it for me. I like to lead up to the song, get me in a rockin' mood.

Now I haven't heard Awake yet, only Monster and Hero, so i really can't have a full opinion on the album as a whole, but those two songs in my opinion match is something Skillet would totally write.

[SGofawesome]

papersun87 wrote:

I'm a big Skillet fan . . . but I thought this album was a BIG letdown. They aren't even trying to do anything new or adventurous.

I mean if you like new and adventurous it's not my place to tell you off, but if you look at bands like AC/DC or Van Halen, they were all about the same material. Everyone says AC/DC made the same album like 18 times. But they were still good, that's all there was to it. Just something to think about.

[SGofawesome]

Jon777 wrote:

Awake... sucked -_- It had a few good songs, but compared to Comatose...

once again, why compare? if you compared every album to Back In Black, the 2nd biggest seller, that's all we would listen to!

[idle_tooth]

SGofawesome wrote:

papersun87 wrote:

I'm a big Skillet fan . . . but I thought this album was a BIG letdown. They aren't even trying to do anything new or adventurous.
I mean if you like new and adventurous it's not my place to tell you off, but if you look at bands like AC/DC or Van Halen, they were all about the same material. Everyone says AC/DC made the same album like 18 times. But they were still good, that's all there was to it. Just something to think about.

they were good for a month or two, then you go out and buy another album that is exactly the same as the last one, it is boring. there is not a bit of artistic evolution between either of those bands. that is the problem with them.

and no, if you compared every album to back in black, that is not all we would listen to. that is what all of our dad, grandpas, and cousins in the 7th grade would listen to, because thats all they listen to now anyway. AC/DC fell from their prime 20 years ago and no effort to relive that level of success has or ever will work in their favor. it's sad to see how old and worn out they have gotten and that they can't just let go of those memories and retire.

[realdeal321]

awake had some goood songs. i think skilet should go a bit harder, but th ast just me.

[winged_ninja712]

I see that some of you were disappointed with Awake. Comatose was such a big hit, and I think some were looking for a repeat of that. Rebirthing, The Last Night, Those Nights, Whispers in the Dark, Comatose... all great songs, and big hits.
But Awake went in a different direction, exactly as Skillet wanted it to. There were several more acoustic songs, with electric choruses, and the style of the harder rock changed dramatically. But Monster, Hero, Awake and Alive, Forgiven, Dead Inside, and Never Surrender were phenomenal. I give this album a five star rating (out of five stars).
For those of you who are equally impressed and want to learn the songs, come check out my profile, as I am constantly adding new Skillet tabs.
~Winged_ninja712

[Gerard Way Jr]

hiddenwuss wrote:

Sooo...maybe it was just me, or did anyone else feel like "Monster" sounds way too much (TOO SIMILAR) to "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace...just saying...

I agree.

checked!

[jaylastarlight]

I love this album. =) And I continue to love it more and more every time I listen to it. Skillet never ceases to amaze me.
So what if it's not as loud as 'Comatose'? There are still so many wonderful songs on 'Awake' if you give them a few good listens. Skillet can make anything sound good. I'd love them even if the did their own version of the 'Old MacDonald' song. I've waited three years for this album, and I haven't been disappointed.

Keep doing what you do, Skillet!! I can't get enough of you guys!! XD

[Gerard Way Jr]

"I am just a man, I'm not superhero man."
...what the hell is that?
This record's lyrics are awful.

[Vauxite]

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

"I am just a man, I'm not superhero man."
...what the hell is that?
This record's lyrics are awful.

*I am just a man
Not superhuman

Lrn2listen.

[Gerard Way Jr]

Vauxite wrote:

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

"I am just a man, I'm not superhero man."
...what the hell is that?
This record's lyrics are awful.

*I am just a man
Not superhuman

Lrn2listen.

Yeah, because one word makes such a difference, and the second time the phrase is used, it's as I quoted it.
Lrn2stopbeingaperfectionist.

[xcrunner1]

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

Vauxite wrote:

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

"I am just a man, I'm not superhero man."
...what the hell is that?
This record's lyrics are awful.

*I am just a man
Not superhuman

Lrn2listen.

Yeah, because one word makes such a difference, and the second time the phrase is used, it's as I quoted it.
Lrn2stopbeingaperfectionist.

stfu Gerard! Comatose wasn't as good as Collide, and I'm glad Awake doesn't sing about loneliness every two seconds.

[Gerard Way Jr]

xcrunner1 wrote:

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

Vauxite wrote:

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

"I am just a man, I'm not superhero man."
...what the hell is that?
This record's lyrics are awful.

*I am just a man
Not superhuman

Lrn2listen.

Yeah, because one word makes such a difference, and the second time the phrase is used, it's as I quoted it.
Lrn2stopbeingaperfectionist.

stfu Gerard! Comatose wasn't as good as Collide, and I'm glad Awake doesn't sing about loneliness every two seconds.

Yeah, so, just because your opinion is out there means it's the one everyone has to adapt to?
I don't think so.

[iljh]

I love Awake, I love Comatose, and Collide was their best. If you think about it, Awake is the natural step after Comatose. I enjoy the songs very much.

[nickchuck17]

So Comotose was an amazing album, and I fooled myself into thinking they could do it again. Not that it's bad, it just went from amazing to pretty good. These guys put on one of the most amazing live shows I have ever seen (and I've seen them 4 times) but this album just doesn't have much awesome stuff on it that the crowd can rock out to. And also, Ben (lead guitar) disappointed me. This man has some sick guitar skills and did not show off on this record.

[Gerard Way Jr]

nickchuck17 wrote:

So Comotose was an amazing album, and I fooled myself into thinking they could do it again. Not that it's bad, it just went from amazing to pretty good. These guys put on one of the most amazing live shows I have ever seen (and I've seen them 4 times) but this album just doesn't have much awesome stuff on it that the crowd can rock out to. And also, Ben (lead guitar) disappointed me. This man has some sick guitar skills and did not show off on this record.

[the83strat]

ive got to say that this album is SSSOOOO much better than comatose or collide. the riffs are amazing and the vocals/lyrics are sweet.

[xcrunner1]

^right on!

[joeycoons]

I think whoever wrote the second review has no taste in music at all. This album is by far their best album. The songs are deeper, none of them sound bad, the guitar has amped up not down, there are less solos, but much better guitar playing, vocally it is very good, and more of the strings, keyboard, and other instruments. This song tops all their others for sure. And the comment about 'Oh here is another Christian punk band' well that can be said about any other genre of music. Just because its Christian music doesn't make it any less than any other music. And they add stuff in live that they don't put in the cd, I noticed that right off the bet at the Awake and Alive tour. This album is amazing and anyone who thinks that it is bad or disappointing is really uneducated about the elements of making and writing. Try being in a band and putting 10+ songs together that are great then try and do it again year after year. Let me tell you its not easy and my band has only been together for a year.

[crazyfox]

Being that my band AFTERLIFE, is based on Skillet. I was hardcore anticipating to see what Skillet was up to. Man did they ever surprise me! I fell in love with the whole cd. The guitars are harder, the vocals are stronger, the lyrics are just...wow, amazing wouldn't even begin to cover it. Forreal, this will be and IS the milestone of their career.

[Gerard Way Jr]

joeycoons wrote:

I think whoever wrote the second review has no taste in music at all. This album is by far their best album. The songs are deeper, none of them sound bad, the guitar has amped up not down, there are less solos, but much better guitar playing, vocally it is very good, and more of the strings, keyboard, and other instruments. This song tops all their others for sure. And the comment about 'Oh here is another Christian punk band' well that can be said about any other genre of music. Just because its Christian music doesn't make it any less than any other music. And they add stuff in live that they don't put in the cd, I noticed that right off the bet at the Awake and Alive tour. This album is amazing and anyone who thinks that it is bad or disappointing is really uneducated about the elements of making and writing. Try being in a band and putting 10+ songs together that are great then try and do it again year after year. Let me tell you its not easy and my band has only been together for a year.

Once your band shows up on the top of the charts, I'll consider reading the full comment. If you had any taste in music you'd see the many, many references to other bands in this tripe record.

[alexw1020]

Gerard Way Jr wrote:

hiddenwuss wrote:

Sooo...maybe it was just me, or did anyone else feel like "Monster" sounds way too much (TOO SIMILAR) to "Animal I Have Become" by Three Days Grace...just saying...

I agree.

Yeah I noticed the lyrics are a lot alike and the arrangement is nearly the same as "Animal I Have Become". Guess that explains why I like "Monster" so much lol.

But you have to admit, the thing he does at the end (don't really know what to call it) is pretty sweet.

[Cloudxxx13]

Let me shut all of u up with this one sentence: Skillet is and has always been doing what God has told them to do through the music they make. What does this mean? u should b a tru fan and support because they do it for God not for ur satisfaction, yes i get how u may not like some of their style but others do and thats wat matters, to draw others in, all of their music rock because its for Jesus not for their own joy or for urs, thats wat a real christian rock band is, real christians!! so stop wining about how u dont like their music!

[Fausch]

First of all, I'd like to point out that I was disappointed with Awake, Comatose, and the Live Effort. I can't say I honestly loved a Skillet record since Collide. My dream Skillet album would ditch all the progginess. I just don't think Skillet can pull off the progginess. Also, take Collide's sound, add in some of Comatose's solos, a bit of the Self-titled album's stuff, and there you have it.

Being a guitarist, I'd like to see them do a bit more with guitar and Bass. On the Self-Titled album, John was a friggin whiz with the bass. Now he's just another modern rock bassist. On Collide and Comatose, Ben shows...Well at least in a couple of spots, that he IS, in fact, a good guitarist. On the newe record...he's just another modern rock guitarist.