Artist Info:Discography Album length: 13 tracks: 50 minutes, 27 seconds Street Date: February, 1996
Review #1
Fans of Audio Adrenaline's first two projects were a little taken back upon hearing the band's
junior release Bloom in February, 1996. Their electronic-based pop sound was traded entirely
for a raw and honest rock sound that more appropriately represented the band's live performances
(and incidentally left keyboardist Bob Herdman with far less to do live and on the recordings).
From the opening fade-in guitar riff of the memorable rock anthem "Secret," to the fun and loose closer "Memoir,"
Bloom had taken the young band to the next level.
While Audio Adrenaline would prove to be best known for the infectious pop smash hit "Big House,"
it's hard to forget the almost as irresistably catchy "Never Gonna Be As Big As Jesus" or even
the lyrically simplistic - yet musically delectable - "I'm Not The King." Bloom was a brave
and risky album for the band that only proved to be an ultimately wise stylistic change. While
it may not be the band's most recognized effort, it's among their best, and a darn good 90's rock album.
- Review date: 8/13/05, written by John DiBiase
Review #2
With their third album, Audio Adrenaline offer up a significant change in sound from their
last offering Don't Censor Me. While Don't Censor Me was a fun, party record,
its rock edge felt subdued and limited, with only a couple of songs showcasing AudioA's heavier side.
However, with Bloom AudioA have turned up their amps just a little bit, crafting a
grunge-influenced, and a far more rock-sounding, album this time around.
The louder guitars are obvious from the get-go, with the distorted-guitar intro leading off
the opener "Secret." "Secret" has a strong grunge rock flavor that already displays a much heavier vibe than
any song from the album Don't Censor Me. The rock onslaught continues with "I'm Not the King" and
the massive riffs of "See Through." It's on these songs that guitarist Barry Blair really shines.
However, despite the heavier songs on the album, the band has not forgotten how to write
catchy/upbeat pop songs in the process - after all, this is what the band is known for. For those who
enjoyed "Big House" on the last album, the band provides the catchy single "Never Gonna Be as Big as Jesus,"
as well as the upbeat pop of "Walk on Water." These are classic AudioA tunes that fit their pop/rock
sound quite well.
The band also knows how to slow it down from time to time, and two great songs definitely showcase
that. "Man of God" and "Bag Lady" both show AudioA's sensitive, more introspective side - it's a side
that often gets overlooked among the upbeat tunes on the album.
The band throws in a couple of neat surprises, too. There is the cover of Edgar Winter's "Free Ride"
as well as the appearance of Mark's alter ego, 'Smooth Steve,' on the skit "Jazz Odyssey." The skit injects
some humor in the album and adds a fun vibe in the process ('Smooth Steve' would later make a
reappearance on the "Houseplant Song" for the album Underdog). Also included is "I Hear Jesus
Calling," a song that was almost left off the album and was thoughtfully preserved in its demo form
when the decision was made to leave it on. The demo has a nice raw feel to it that definitely enhances
the wonderful simplicity of the song. The album comes to a close with yet another great rocker
"Memoir."
All in all, Bloom is a fantastic album that manages to develop AudioA's rock sound
quite well, while holding on to their signature pop/rock roots in the process. The songwriting has
vastly improved from their previous two albums and Bloom definitely takes a step in the
right direction towards establishing Audio Adrenaline as a premier rock group in CCM. This is an
essential record for any AudioA fan!
- Review date: 12/25/04, written by Sherwin Frias
Artist Info:Discography Record Label:Forefront Records Album length: 13 tracks, 50 minutes and 27 seconds
Street Date: February, 1996
Artist Info: 
