Church of Scars

Church of Scars
Church of Scars
Studio album by Bishop Briggs
Released	20 April 2018
Length	33:37
Label	Teleport; Island;
Producer	Dave Bassett; Mark Jackson; John Hill; Ian Scott; Dan Wilson;
Bishop Briggs chronology
Singles from Church of Scars
	"Wild Horses"; Released: 5 December 2015; "River"; Released: 9 May 2016; "Hi-Lo (Hollow)"; Released: 7 May 2017; "Dream"; Released: 13 October 2017; "White Flag"; Released: 23 February 2018;

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

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
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

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Tempt My Trouble"	Sarah McLaughlin Dave Bassett Mark Andress Jackson Ian Scott	Bassett Jackson Scott	3:13
2.	"River"	McLaughlin Jackson Scott	Jackson Scott	3:36
3.	"Lyin'"	McLaughlin Jackson Dan Reynolds Scott	Jackson Scott	3:06
4.	"White Flag"	McLaughlin Bassett Jackson Scott	Bassett Jackson Scott	3:50
5.	"Dream"	McLaughlin Jackson Scott Dan Wilson	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"	McLaughlin Sean Douglas John Hill Wrabel	Hill Rob Cohen^[v]	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.	Title	Writer(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

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 Avron – mixing (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

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

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

[Exclaim-1] Mohammed, Jenna (20 April 2018). "Bishop Briggs Church of Scars". Exclaim!. Retrieved 27 May 2018.

[Slant-2] 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.

[ac_BillboardCanada_Bishop_Briggs-5] "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2022.

[ac_Switzerland_Bishop_Briggs-6] "Swisscharts.com – Bishop Briggs – Church of Scars". Hung Medien.

[ac_Billboard200_Bishop_Briggs-7] "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.

[ac_BillboardAlternative_Bishop_Briggs-8] "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2022.

[ac_BillboardRock_Bishop_Briggs-9] "Bishop Briggs Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]