Church of Scars is the debut studio album by British singer Bishop Briggs. The album was released on 20 April 2018 through Island Records.

Church of Scars
Studio album by
Released20 April 2018 (2018-04-20)
Length33:37
Label
Producer
Bishop Briggs chronology
Bishop Briggs
(2017)
Church of Scars
(2018)
Champion
(2019)
Singles from Church of Scars
  1. "Wild Horses"
    Released: 5 December 2015
  2. "River"
    Released: 9 May 2016
  3. "Hi-Lo (Hollow)"
    Released: 7 May 2017
  4. "Dream"
    Released: 13 October 2017
  5. "White Flag"
    Released: 23 February 2018

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!9/10[1]
Slant     [2]

In a rave review, Jenna Mohammed, writing for Exclaim! called McLaughlin's voice "immensely powerful". Mohammed described the album as "high-energy from start to finish", and that her "style and essence is very reminiscent of Florence + the Machine and Banks, but she sets herself apart through intense beat drops and her gospel choir roots".[1] In a more mixed review, Sal Cinquemani, writing for Slant Magazine described the album as "largely joyless", saying that "across 10 tracks, though, Briggs's formula ultimately reveals itself to be one-note."[2]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Tempt My Trouble"
  • Bassett
  • Jackson
  • Scott
3:13
2."River"
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Jackson
  • Scott
3:36
3."Lyin'"
  • Jackson
  • Scott
3:06
4."White Flag"
  • McLaughlin
  • Bassett
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Bassett
  • Jackson
  • Scott
3:50
5."Dream"
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Wilson
3:14
6."Wild Horses"
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Jackson
  • Scott
3:09
7."Hallowed Ground"
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Jackson
  • Scott
2:54
8."Water"3:21
9."The Fire"
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Jackson
  • Scott
3:03
10."Hi-Lo (Hollow)"
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Jackson
  • Scott
4:11
Total length:33:37
Church of Scars Target exclusive bonus tracks[3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Hold On"
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Jackson
  • Scott
2:48
12."Dream" (Noah Neiman Remix)
  • McLaughlin
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Wilson
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Wilson
  • Noah Neiman[r]
3:27
Total length:39:52

Notes

  • ^[v] signifies a vocal producer.
  • ^[r] signifies a remixer.

Personnel

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Musicians

  • Sarah McLaughlin – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 10)
  • Mark Jackson – background vocals (tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9, 10), electric guitar (1–3, 6, 7, 9), drum programming (1, 3, 4, 7, 9), keyboards (1, 3, 7), acoustic guitar (1, 3, 9), bass guitar (2, 6, 9, 10); drums, programming (2, 6, 10); percussion (2, 6), acoustic guitar (4), glockenspiel (9)
  • Ian Scott – background vocals (tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9, 10), keyboards (1–3, 6, 7, 9, 10), drum programming (1, 3, 4, 7, 9), organ (1, 7), glockenspiel (1); drums, programming (2, 6, 10); percussion (2, 6), piano (3), acoustic guitar (4), bass guitar (6)
  • Dave Bassett – background vocals, drum programming (tracks 1, 4); bass guitar, electric guitar (1); piano (4)
  • Dan Reynolds – background vocals (track 3)
  • Sean Douglas – background vocals (track 8)
  • Stephen Wrabel – background vocals (track 8)
  • John Hill – guitar (track 8)
  • Dave Palmer – keyboards (track 8)

Technical

  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering
  • Neal Avronmixing (track 1)
  • Mark Jackson – mixing (tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10), engineering (1–7, 9, 10)
  • Ian Scott – mixing (tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10), engineering (1–7, 9, 10)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 4, 5)
  • Dave Bassett – engineering (track 4)
  • John Sinclair – engineering (track 5)
  • Rob Cohen – engineering (track 8)
  • Michael Freeman – mixing assistance (tracks 4, 5)
  • Brian Brundage – engineering assistance (track 5)

'Visuals

  • Ryan Rogers – art direction, design
  • Jabari Jacobs – photography

Charts

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Chart performance for Church of Scars
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[4] 91
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[5] 56
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[6] 90
US Billboard 200[7] 29
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[8] 5
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[9] 5

References

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  1. ^ a b Mohammed, Jenna (20 April 2018). "Bishop Briggs Church of Scars". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (12 April 2018). "Bishop Briggs Church of Scars". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Bishop Briggs - Church Of Scars (Target Exclusive)". Target Corporation.
  4. ^ Ryan, Gavin (28 April 2018). "Australian Charts: J Cole 'KOD' Debuts At No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bishop Briggs – Church of Scars". Hung Medien.
  7. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2022.