Oh for Joy

Background and release

The album was released on October 4, 2011 by sixstepsrecords, and it was produced by the band themselves. This was the first Christmas studio album from the group.

Critical reception

Oh for Joy received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Jesus Freak Hideout, Ryan Barbee gave the album four-and-a-half stars, and stated that the band did justice to the material of these songs. Jono Davies of Louder Than the Music rated it the same as Barbee, and noted how the band crafted these into "fresh intriguing tracks." At Christian Music Zine, Tyler Hess rated it four stars, and he evoked that the album had "high quality of musicianship". Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout rated it the same as Hess, and commented that the album was a "success".

At New Release Tuesday, Sarah Fine rated it a perfect five stars, and proclaimed the album to be a "must-own". Tom Frigoli of Alpha Omega News graded the album an A, and wrote that "Fans of the band won't be disappointed!" At Allmusic, James Christopher Monger rated the album three-and-a-half stars, and he felt that the band made "each moment count." Jamie Lee Rake of The Phantom Tollbooth rated it as Monger, and wrote that the band could "have made it a bit more fun."

However, Cross Rhythms' Ben Lloyd rated it six out of ten squares, writing that the album "give[s] the impression of a band winding down slowly." At CCM Magazine, Grace S. Aspinwall rated the album three stars, writing that the album was "not a stroke of genius, but it is solid, festive and classic." The Christian Manifesto's Matt Jerles rated it like Aspinwall, and felt that "While Oh For Joy started off a little slow for me, once it got good, it got really good."

The album reached a peak of #6 on Billboard's Christian Albums chart and #82 on the Billboard 200.

Personnel