Bottle Rocket is one of the albums from Christian rock band Guardian. The album was released on August 5, 1997 and was produced by Steve Taylor.
This album delved deeper into the alternative and grunge genre the band explored in their previous album.
Contents
Track listing
"Are We Feeling Comfortable Yet?" (Rowe, Taylor) - 3:15
"Bottle Rocket" (Bach, Palacios, Rowe, Taylor) - 3:43
"Coffee Can" (Palacios, Taylor) - 3:44
"Revelation" (Bach, Rowe) - 3:46
"What Does It Take?" (Rowe, Taylor) - 4:09
"Babble On" (Palacios, Rowe, Taylor) - 4:26
"Blue Light Special" (Bach, Palacios, Taylor) - 2:43
"Break Me Down" (Palacios) - 3:40
"The Water Is Fine" (Palacios, Taylor) - 2:45
"My Queen Esther" (Palacios) - 3:47
"Hell to Pay" (Palacios, Taylor) - 3:22
"Fear the Auctioneer" (Palacios, Taylor) - 2:56
"Harder Than It Seems" (Rowe, Taylor) - 4:15
"Salvation" (Bach, Palacios, Rowe) - 3:58
Song Meanings
"Coffee Can" was written by guitarist Tony Palacios and was inspired by a recurring dream his mother had shortly before she died of cancer. In the dream she was trying to fly to heaven on a coffee can, but couldn't get it more than a foot or two off the ground. "The dream image became a metaphor for the futility of trusting in one's own strength, and consequently a metaphor of the deep need for grace".
"My Queen Esther" and "What Does It Take" deal with the easing of burdens at the foot of the cross for "those who labor and are heavy laden."
The title cut, "Bottle Rocket," (a 90's version of "This Little Light of Mine") is an encouragement to live out your faith in view of the world.
Personnel
Guardian
Jamie Rowe – vocals
Tony Palacios – guitars, vocals
David Bach – bass, vocals
Karl Ney – drums
Guest musicians
John Mark Painter – theremin (2), strings (2), Mellotron (2, 10, 11), keyboards (12)
Eric Darken – percussion
Russ Long – tambourine (6)
Shane Boyd – poetic recitation (7)
Production
Steve Taylor – producer
Jim Chaffee – executive producer, A&R direction
Russ Long – engineer, mixing
Steve Bishir – additional engineer
Wade Jaynes – additional engineer
David Schober – additional engineer
Chris Grainger – recording assistant, mix assistant (5, 9, 14)
Rich Hanson – recording assistant
Dave Latto – recording assistant
Amanda Sears – recording assistant
Jason Van Pelt – recording assistant
Kenton Kelsey – mix assistant (1-4, 6-8, 10-12)
Bob Ludwig – mastering
Buddy Jackson – art direction
Christine Knubel – design
Matthew Barnes – photography
Lord & Michaels Inc. – management
Studios
Recorded at Quad Studios and The Carport (Nashville, Tennessee).
Mixed at Sound Kitchen (Franklin, Tennessee) and The Carport.
Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine).