''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. Cook collaborated with
Jason Ingram and Paul Mabury in the production of the album.
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
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.
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. Cook also disconnected from social media and spent time with close friends in the process of creating the album.
Cook first visited the house in January 2018.
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.
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
Crypto.com Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. The arena opened on October 17, 1999; it was ...
in Los Angeles and
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
in New York City.
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.
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. The tour was later cancelled.
Critical reception
''
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."
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."
Timothy Holden 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 ...
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
Accolades
Commercial performance
In the United States, ''House on a Hill'' launched at No. 6 and No. 52 on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Christian Albums and
Top Album Sales chart dated April 13, 2019. 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.
Track listing
* Songwriting credits adapted from PraiseCharts.
Personnel
Adapted from
AllMusic.
* 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
Brian Johnson (born 5 October 1947) is an English singer and songwriter. In 1980, after the death of Bon Scott, he became the third lead singer of the Australian rock band AC/DC. He and the rest of the band were inducted into the Rock and Rol ...
– 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
Release history
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2019 albums
Amanda Cook (singer) albums