The Wonderlands: Darkness

Darkness is the third in an extended play series The Wonderlands by Jon Foreman. lowercase people records released the EP on September 4, 2015. The EP was a collaborative effort amongst many producers and mixed by Future of Forestry's Eric Owyoung. The series is a collaborative effort, with a different producer for each song, and Foreman sending in tracks recorded backstage while on tour.[1]

Darkness
EP by
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2015 (2015-09-04)
GenreChristian alternative rock, folk, folk rock
Length27:58
Labellowercase people
Jon Foreman chronology
Shadows
(2015)
Darkness
(2015)
Dawn
(2015)

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
365 Days of Inspiring Media     [2]
CCM Magazine     [3]
Cross Rhythms          [4]
Jesus Freak Hideout     [5]
     [6]
New Release Today     [7]

Kevin Sparkman, giving the EP four and a half stars for CCM Magazine, states, "Despite its name, this short set doesn't play like a musical dirge, rather keeping The Wonderlands tradition alive with sonically diverse sensations and ongoing brilliance."[3] Awarding the EP four and a half stars at New Release Today, Mary Nikkel states, "Musically, this project is equally strong."[7] In an eight out of ten review for Cross Rhythms, Helen Whitall criticizes several tracks, which she writes "slightly diminishes what is otherwise another stunning release."[4]

Joshua Andre, rating the EP four and a half stars from 365 Days of Inspiring Media, writes, "If you thought that Sunlight and Shadows were both epic, then Darkness continues on that trend."[2] Signaling in a three-and-a-half-star review by Jesus Freak Hideout, Jeremy Barnes replies, "Darkness may be the weakest of The Wonderlands releases for reasons unrelated to individual songwriting."[5] Dylan O'Conner, indicating in a four-star review at Jesus Freak Hideout, responds, "Darkness is an engaging experience that draws us closer to the finale of the Wonderlands saga."[6]

Track listing edit

Track list
No.TitleLength
1."Come Home"4:51
2."Beautiful, Pt. II"5:15
3."You Alone"3:53
4."She Said"4:24
5."Larger Than Life"3:56
6."June & Johnny" (featuring Sara Watkins)2:36
7."Inner Peace"3:03
Total length:27:58

Chart performance edit

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[8] 22
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[9] 7
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[10] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] 30

References edit

  1. ^ "The Rabbit Room | Jon Foreman Discusses the Wonderlands series". 25 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b Andre, Joshua (September 6, 2015). "Jon Foreman – Darkness EP". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Sparkman, Kevin (October 1, 2015). "Jon Foreman: The Wonderlands: Darkness". CCM Magazine: 36. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Whitall, Helen (November 12, 2015). "Review: The Wonderlands: Darkness - Jon Foreman". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Barnes, Jeremy (November 29, 2015). "John Foreman, "The Wonderlands: Darkness" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  6. ^ a b O'Conner, Dylan (November 23, 2015). "John Foreman, "The Wonderlands: Darkness" Review – Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Nikkel, Mary (September 4, 2015). "Singing in the Dark". New Release Today. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Jon Foreman Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Jon Foreman Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Jon Foreman Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Jon Foreman Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2015.