''Wide-Eyed and Mystified'' is the third official album release by

Christian rock Christian rock is a form of rock music that features lyrics focusing on matters of Christian faith, often with an emphasis on Jesus, typically performed by self-proclaimed Christian individuals. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Ch ...

band

Downhere Downhere (stylized as downhere) is a Christian rock band from Canada. They have released six studio albums to date: ''downhere'' (2001), ''So Much for Substitutes'' (2003), ''Wide-Eyed and Mystified'' (2006), ''Ending Is Beginning'' (2008), ...

. It is the 1st official album release through

Centricity Music Centricity Music is an American contemporary Christian music record label that was founded in Washington. The label's roster includes artists such as Lauren Daigle, Jordan Feliz, Jason Gray, North Point Worship, Andrew Peterson and NEEDTOBREATHE. ...

, to which the band was signed in 2005.

Critical reception

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 ...

's Jared Johnson said that the album title "is a line in the infectious track "The More," referring to the awe with which we look at God." Johnson called the album a "masterly crafted melodic rock." Johnson evoked that "the theme is uplifting, but you never feel like the guys are talking down to you." ''

CCM Magazine ''CCM Magazine'' is a twice-monthly online magazine focusing on contemporary Christian music, published by Salem Publishing, a division of Salem Communications. History ''CCM'' was first published in July 1978, as a printed magazine. It has bee ...

s Andrea Bailey noted how the lyrics on this album "indicate a deep, seasoned relationship with the Lord, subtly interweaving paraphrased scripture with themes of love and surrender". Bailey proclaimed this album to be a "drive-with-the-windowsdown fare that rocks more smartly and cleanly than ever." ''

Christianity Today ''Christianity Today'' is an evangelical Christian media magazine founded in 1956 by Billy Graham. It is published by Christianity Today International based in Carol Stream, Illinois. ''The Washington Post'' calls ''Christianity Today'' "evange ...

s Russ Breimeier alluded to how the album as "successfully captures both styles. Combining a pounding piano with thick guitars".

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 ...

's Mike Rimmer praised this as being "their absolute best and this is my first candidate for album of the year 2006." Jesus Freak Hideout's Matt Johnson acclaimed "If you pass on this one, you're making a big mistake. Not only is this the best yet from downhere, but it's also one of the best records of the year to this point! Downhere fans will be eating this up. Pop-rock fans will be hard pressed to find anything better for their money, and people just looking for a more 'artsy' approach at popular Christian music would do well by themselves to not let this one slip through the cracks. This could be the sleeper hit of the year!" New Release Tuesday's Kevin Davis also praised this as being "literally Unbelievable in its greatness."

Track listing

Personnel

Downhere * Jason Germain – vocals, keyboards, guitars, string arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) *

Marc Martel Marc Martel is a Canadian Christian rock musician born in Montreal, Canada. In 1999, he formed the band Downhere before going solo in 2013. Aside from his own work, Martel is known for his Queen covers and his vocal likeness to frontman Freddie ...

– vocals, keyboards, guitars * Glenn Lavender – bass * Jeremy Thiessen – drums, percussion Additional Musicians * Greg Collins – synthesizers (4, 8, 11, 12),

Mellotron The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...

(4, 8, 11, 12), electric guitar (4, 8, 11, 12) * Zac Rae – Mellotron (4, 8, 11, 12) * David Angell – strings (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) * David Davidson – strings (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) * Sarighani Reist – strings (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) * Kristin Wilkinson – strings (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) Production * Mark Heimmerman – producer (1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10) * Greg Collins – producer (4, 8, 11, 12) * Downhere – producers (6, 7, 13) * John Mays – executive producer

Singles

* "The More" (2006) - Rock & CHR * "Surrender" (2006) - CHR * "A Better Way" (2006) - AC * "Little Is Much" (2006) - AC * "Forgive Yourself" (2007) * "The Real Jesus" (2007)

Accolades

This album won a 2007 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.

References

2006 albums Centricity Music albums Downhere albums Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year albums {{2000s-Christianrock-album-stub