''Expect the Impossible'' is the third studio album from the Christian
pop punk
Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...
band,
Stellar Kart
Stellar Kart was an American pop punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, signed to Inpop Records and Capitol Records. The band released their first album, '' All Gas. No Brake'', in February 2005. Most of their singles have been accepted exclusively o ...
. It was released on February 26, 2008 under
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian faith-based entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is owned by Curb Records, and is a part of Word Entertainment. It is distributed by Warner Records (the former Warner Bros. Records).
History
In 1 ...
.
Awards
The album was nominated for a
Dove Award
A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Awards ...
for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year at the
40th GMA Dove Awards
The 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards presentation was held on April 23, 2009 recognizing accomplishments of musicians for the year 2008. The show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee, and was hosted by Rebecca St. James, Matthew ...
. The song "Shine Like the Stars" was also nominated for Rock Recorded Song of the Year.
Critical reception
The album was generally positively received from most professional music sites and reviews, however multiple reviews also rated the album as average.
Jared Johnson of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
optimistically stated the album "worked well, thanks to that same peppy charm that catapulted
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 2005, the band's lineup has consisted of twin brothers Joel Madden (lead vocals) and Benji Madden (guitar and vocals), Paul Thomas (bass), Billy Martin (g ...
and the
All-American Rejects
The All-American Rejects is an American rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, formed in 1999.
Jay Heilman of The Christian Music Review Blog warmly said: "I was really impressed with ''Expect the Impossible''. I have to admit, the Christian punk scene has really lacked in the ‘message department’. I guess Christian music doesn't have to be about Christ anymore. The point is Stellar Kart delivers a great album balanced with great music and an equally great message. I would suggest this one to any who are looking for something cool to listen to and wants to be ministered to while be entertained. The lyrics are simple but yet effective in making the listener know what the band wants to say."
On the flipside, Josh of Indie Vision Music plainly stated: "The inevitable single "Jesus Loves You" comes off as a gimmick trying to capitalize on the success of "
Me and Jesus
"Me and Jesus" is a song by the Christian band Stellar Kart, from their album ''We Can't Stand Sitting Down''. It was released as a single on July 26, 2006.
The song spent seven weeks as a number-one single and was the eleventh-most-played song ...
". Hopefully that wasn't the case but it’s how I took it. The album has a few good tracks but overall is a letdown and there are plenty of better pop punk/powerpop bands out there. Hopefully they'll learn their lesson and the label will allow them some room to grow. Otherwise we'll continue to get a very similar album each time. It does seem like the band tried to do some newer sounds but will never fulfill it fully while working and co-writing the majority of tracks with Eskelin. I can't say it enough. Working with new people, perhaps a producer who’s done lots of grittier punk would do this band wonders. They've got the pop thing covered but some edge will draw them a whole new crowd." Spencer Priest of Jesus Freak Hideout went on to say: "It's bittersweet to listen to an album that has some great songs and takes some risks, yet at other times plays it too safe, because it's clear the band was capable of even more than it accomplished. Stellar Kart should please a wide audience with this release, but hopefully, if their sound continues to progress in a creative direction, we'll get more blockbusters on their next release and a few less sequels." Nathan of New Release Tuesday remarked: "Agee wanted something for everyone including sounds from
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. The band's current lineup comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave Farrell, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn and drummer ...
and
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec, formed in 1999. The band's lineup consists of Pierre Bouvier (lead vocals, studio bass guitar), Chuck Comeau (drums), Jeff Stinco (lead guitar), and Sébastien Lefebvre (rhythm guita ...
. But that really didn’t bleed through as their quality wasn’t even close to them or their Christian peers like
Hawk Nelson
Hawk Nelson is a Canadian Rock music, rock band from Peterborough, Ontario. Formed in 2000, the band has released eight studio albums to date.
History Early independent releases (2000–2003)
In 2000, Dunn, Clark, and Paige founded a Peterborou ...
,
Eleventyseven
Eleventyseven (stylized eleventyseven) is an American pop punk band from Greenville, South Carolina which was formed in 2002. They chose the name "Eleventyseven" because "it's the one that looked cool the next morning". The band was originally sig ...
, or
Everyday Sunday
Everyday Sunday was an American Christian rock band from Columbus, Ohio with the founding member Trey Pearson as lead singer. The band released two albums on Flicker Records including '' Stand Up'' and '' Anthems for the Imperfect''. ''Wake Up! ...
. After three albums Stellar Kart should be passed the stage that they have been in for a while now, and while the lyrics are more advanced, the music and themes are a little subpar on ''Expect the Impossible''." Finally, Mike Rimmer of
Cross Rhythms
Cross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It operates an FM and online radio station, produces radio shows sent internationally, and its website has resources about contemporary Christian music.
Hi ...
frankly said: "Stellar Kart are to be applauded for their ministry direction and for attempting to stretch out their sound. However, the weakness is that some of ''Expect The Impossible'' sounds too much like songs I've heard before."
Singles
"Jesus Loves You" was the first single off the release, and well as the tenth most-played song on R&R magazine's
Christian CHR
Christian contemporary hit radio (sometimes abbreviated as Christian CHR) is a radio format that is common in the United States and Australia focusing on playing current and recent music as determined by the contemporary Christian music Top 40.
Se ...
chart for 2008. "Innocent", the second single off the release, followed a few months after the release of the album.
Track listing
Personnel
Stellar Kart
*Adam Agee - lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
*Cody Pellerin - guitar
*Brian Calcara - bass
*Jordan Messer - drums
Production
*
Ian Eskelin
Ian Eskelin (born October 17, 1969), is a record producer, songwriter, solo artist, and founding member and lead singer of the Grammy-nominated Christian rock band All Star United, and president of recording and publishing company Radiate Music ...
recording
A record, recording or records may refer to:
An item or collection of data Computing
* Record (computer science), a data structure
** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity
** Boot sector or boot record, ...
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
(on track 3, 6 & 10)
*David Davidson -
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
(on track 3, 6 & 10)
*Ronn Tabb -
cowbell
A cowbell (or cow bell) is a bell worn around the neck of free-roaming livestock so herders can keep track of an animal via the sound of the bell when the animal is grazing out of view in hilly landscapes or vast plains. Although they are t ...