| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| CCM Magazine | B [4] |
| CCMmagazine.com | B+ [4] |
| Chicago Tribune | C+ [4] |
| Cross Rhythms |   [5] |
| Christianity Today (Herman) | A- [4] |
| Christianity Today (Farias) |  [6] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [7] |
| USA Today | C [4] |
Different Kind of Free is the third studio album from Christian girl group ZOEgirl. It was released on September 16, 2003 through Sparrow Records and was produced by Lynn Nichols, Robert "Aurel M" Marvin, Damon Riley and Tedd T. "You Get Me", "Beautiful Name" and "Feel Alright" were released as radio singles. Different Kind of Free marks the band's departure from the bubblegum pop music of their two previous albums, in favor of a pop rock sound.
Background
ZOEgirl's Mix of Life was released on September 24, 2002. This remix album's Trip Rock Mix of "I Believe" foreshadowed the girl group's transition from bubblegum pop music to pop rock music.[8]
During the autumn of 2002, Chrissy Conway-Katina started working on a draft for the lead single "You Get Me" with her future husband James Katina. Its chorus remained the same in the finished version of the song.[9]
On February 2, 2003, an animated banner appeared on ZOEgirl's official website, encouraging visitors to "listen to the [Trip Rock] remix" of ZOEgirl's hit single "I Believe".[10] Those who participated in this activity were instructed to listen to the original, pop version of "I Believe". Afterwards, they listened to the Trip Rock remix of "I Believe". Finally, they would comment on the remix, indicating whether or not they enjoyed it.[11]
The album's official release date was announced on May 22, 2003 via the group's official website.[12] "You Get Me" was released to radio stations on June 22, 2003. On July 15, 2003, ZOEgirl announced the album's title: Different Kind of Free.[1] The lead single "You Get Me" was released to retail stores on July 24, 2003.[13]
Release
Different Kind of Free peaked on the Billboard 200 at No. 149. It reached No. 9 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart, and No. 4 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart.
Reception
Despite the girl group's musical transition, the album received generally favorable reviews among Christian music critics. Jesus Freak Hideout stated in their review: "ZOEgirl strips away the electronic sugar and spice to offer up the smoothest transition from pop to pop/rock since Rebecca St. James made the same move in the mid-nineties." CCM Magazine said that "No. offers plenty of good advice on ways to be different and, in this case, godly kinds of girls."[14]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Theme verse | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Beautiful Name" | Alisa Childers, Chrissy Conway, Kristin Swinford, Lynn Nichols, Tedd T | Acts 4:12 | 4:47 |
| 2. | "You Get Me" | Conway, James Katina | Psalm 139:1–3 | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Inside Out" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols, James Katina | 1 Peter 3:3–4 | 3:16 |
| 4. | "Love Me For Me" | Swinford, Nichols, Tjornhom, Jarod McBride | Romans 15:7 | 3:32 |
| 5. | "Unbroken" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols, Tjornhom, Mark Byrd | Psalm 34:18 | 4:59 |
| 6. | "Wait" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Tjornhom | Psalm 142:6 | 4:34 |
| 7. | "Feel Alright" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols, Tjornhom | Hebrews 12:1 | 3:10 |
| 8. | "She" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols, Tjornhom | John 8:7 | 4:49 |
| 9. | "Contagious" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols | 2 Corinthians 2:14 | 5:35 |
| 10. | "Different Kind of Free" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols, Mat Kearney, Robert Marvin | John 8:32 | 4:33 |
| 11. | "Life To Me" | Childers, Conway, Swinford, Nichols, Tjornhom | Psalm 89:5–6 | 5:50 |
| Total length: | 48:53 | |||
References
- ^ a b "ZOEgirl's Chrissy Conway Awarded ASCAP". Archived from the original on August 11, 2003. Retrieved September 10, 2017.. ZOEgirlOnline.com on August 11, 2003 via the Internet Archive. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ Tommy2.net » Daily News. Published on February 24, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- ^ Loftus, Johnny. Different Kind of Free at AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Making The Grade" (PDF). CCM Magazine. 26 (4): 62. October 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- ^ "CR Mag 78". Cross Rhythms. January 2004. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ Farias, Andree. "Different Kind of Free review". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ DiBase, John. "Different Kind of FREE review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ "Different Kind of Free". Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2012. review on Christianity Today. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ ""You Get Me" draft". Archived from the original on February 13, 2004. Retrieved September 10, 2017.. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "ZOEgirlOnline.com". Archived from the original on February 2, 2003. Retrieved August 28, 2010. on February 2, 2003 via the Internet Archive. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "ZOEgirlOnline.com". Archived from the original on February 19, 2003. Retrieved September 10, 2017. questionnaire via the Internet Archive. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "ZOEgirlOnline.com". Archived from the original on May 29, 2003. Retrieved August 28, 2010. on May 29, 2003 via the Internet Archive. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "New CD Single in Stores Now". Archived from the original on August 11, 2003. Retrieved September 10, 2017.. ZOEgirlOnline.com on August 11, 2003 via the Internet Archive. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "Different Kind of Free" - Music Review. Retrieved August 28, 2010.