Art of the State
Studio album by AD
Released	1985
Genre	Christian rock
Length	43:19
Label	Sparrow
Producer	Kerry Livgren
AD chronology
Time Line (1984) Art of the State (1985) Reconstructions (1987)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Art of the State is the first studio album by the Christian rock band AD, and the third solo album for its leader Kerry Livgren. The album was re-issued in the late 1990s under Livgren's new record label, Numavox Records.

Background

In the previous year, Kerry Livgren and his newly formed group, AD, released their first album, Time Line. In the year following its release, Livgren was caught in a legal problem with his contract connection with Kansas, causing the band to make a decision. Unable to sell or perform their material in the Non-Christian Marketplace*, AD had to release their newest records in the Christian Marketplace; a move that Livgren and the others never had expected would happen at first when the band was originally formed.

• Non-Christian Marketplace: a name for broader venues which carry music by artists, including artists who are Christians whose music is outside the scope of the Christian Marketplace. The Non-Christian Marketplace has also been called the New Order Nation Christian Marketplace, a reference to promotion of artists like Black Sabbath and Ronnie James Dio, who promoted body of Christ cultural references/recognition/adherence/membership in some of their material, with some band members who identified within the Christian ring of sects/denominations.

Realizing the limited options, the group accepted the offer and began work on their next record, which contained songs relating in strictly Christian themes. Livgren also decided with the others that AD should receive full credit for the production of the album, rather than the album being split half and half for its creation. The tour for the band, unfortunately, was not as successful as intended, resulting in Warren Ham's departure from the band after the tour for Art of the State had ended.

Reception

Compared to review that Time Line received, AllMusic gave Art of the State a much more favorable review of four stars out of five; a drastic improvement from the 1984 release that both Livgren and AD took ownership of. Marked as a religious album, it was said to be unique in its own way and has created an enjoyable experience for the listener. It has been said to be strongly focused on songs of worship and praise while providing other songs of controversial subjects at the same time.

Track listing

All songs written by Kerry Livgren, otherwise indicated

1. "All Creation Sings" - 4:22
2. "We Are the Men" - 4:41
3. "Lead Me to Reason" (Michael Gleason) - 3:56
4. "The Only Way to Have a Friend" - 4:16
5. "Games of Chance and Circumstance" (Gleason) - 4:18
6. "The Fury" - 5:34
7. "Progress" - 4:39
8. "Heartland" (Gleason) - 3:42
9. "Zion" (Warren Ham, Livgren) - 3:26
10. "Up from the Wasteland" (Gleason, Livgren) - 4:25

Personnel

A.D.

• Michael Gleason – lead vocals (1, 5, 6, 10), backing vocals, keyboards, guitars
• Warren Ham – lead vocals (1-4, 7-9), backing vocals, keyboards, harmonica, woodwinds
• Kerry Livgren – keyboards, guitars
• Dave Hope – bass guitar
• Dennis Holt – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional vocals

• Debi Chapman (1, 10)
• Susan Shewbridge (1, 10)

Production

• Mark Ferjulian – executive producer
• Ken Marcellino – executive producer, art direction, front cover art concept
• Kerry Livgren – producer, engineer
• Michael Gleason – assistant engineer, front cover art concept
• Gary Westman – additional engineer
• Glenn Meadows – mastering at Georgetown Masters (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Bill Murphy – art direction
• Tim Wild – front cover illustrations
• FM Management – management

References

External links

• Review