View source for Scripted

{{other uses|Script (disambiguation){{!}}Scripted (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Scripted
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Icon for Hire]]
| cover      = Icon for Hire Scripted cover.JPG
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|2011|08|23}}
| recorded   = September–December 2010
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]]
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative metal]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[electronic rock]]
* [[pop punk]]
}}
| length     = {{Duration|m=31|s=47}}
| label      = [[Tooth & Nail Records|Tooth & Nail]]
| producer   = Rob Hawkins, [[Aaron Sprinkle]]
| prev_title = The Grey EP
| prev_year  = 2009
| next_title = [[Icon for Hire (album)|Icon for Hire]]
| next_year  = 2013
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Scripted
 | type        = Studio
 | single1     = [[Make a Move (Icon for Hire song)|Make a Move]]
 | single1date = July 5, 2011
 | single2     = Get Well
 | single2date = October 29, 2011
 | single3     = Off With Her Head
 | single3date = November 20, 2011
 | single4     = Fight
 | single4date = December 3, 2011
 | single5     = The Grey
 | single5date = December 10, 2011 
}}
}}

'''''Scripted''''' is the debut studio album by American [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Icon for Hire]]. It was released on [[Tooth & Nail Records]] on August 23, 2011, and went on to break the label's new artist record for albums sold during the first week of release.<ref>{{cite web|title=Icon for Hire Touring With RED and Brian "Head" Welch|url=http://christianmusic.about.com/b/2011/09/13/icon-for-hire-touring-with-red-and-brian-head-welch.htm|publisher=About.com|accessdate=February 12, 2012|author=Kim Jones|date=September 2011|archive-date=October 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008083727/http://christianmusic.about.com/b/2011/09/13/icon-for-hire-touring-with-red-and-brian-head-welch.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Background ==
This is the band's first [[Record label|label]] release; they had released two [[EPs]] prior to being signed, ''Icon for Hire EP'' (2008) and ''The Grey EP'' (2009). Three songs from those recordings reappear here with altered arrangements and lyrics: "Off with Her Head", "The Grey", and "Only a Memory" (originally called "Pernilla"). Two other songs were also reworked but only released as bonus tracks in the Japanese Edition: "Call Me Alive" and "Fall Apart". This is also the band's first recording without original bassist Joshua Davis; Josh Kincheloe would be brought in to replace him in 2011.

==Recording and production==
The album was [[Sound recording and reproduction|recorded]] during the last quarter of 2010 and was co-produced by Rob Hawkins and [[Aaron Sprinkle]]. Recording was done in two parts: first with Hawkins in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], then with Sprinkle in [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0fETdN0IrY Icon for Hire on TVU's Most Wanted] (video interview), 0:54 - 1:18</ref> Frontwoman Ariel commented on working with the two: "Their work selves could not have been more opposite. We worked with Rob first and it was like go, go, go from nine to five everyday solid and [then] we get to Aaron. He was just like so chilled. Just hanging out. He’s like, 'We’ll get to it when we get to it.' So, it was a lot of adjusting to the two extremes of work styles."<ref>{{cite web|title=Icon For Hire Goes Off Script|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=765|publisher=New Release Tuesday|accessdate=May 12, 2012|author=Bill Lurwick|format=interview|date=January 2012}}</ref>

==Release and promotion==
"Make a Move" and "Get Well" were both released as [[Singles (music)|singles]] (the former as a [[lead single]]) and both had [[music videos]] made for them. "Make a Move" gained popularity on [[RadioU]]<ref>TVU interview, 1:29-1:38</ref> and its video premiered as an exclusive on ''[[Guitar World]]''{{'s}} website on August 15, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/exclusive-icon-hire-premiere-make-move-music-video |title=Exclusive: Icon For Hire Premiere "Make A Move" Music Video |author = Josh Hart|work = [[Guitar World]] |publisher = [[Future plc]]|date=August 15, 2011 |accessdate=February 8, 2012}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[About.com]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Icon about.com">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://christianmusic.about.com/od/Christian-Cd-Reviews-I-J/fr/Icon-For-Hire-Scripted.htm|publisher=[[About.com]]|accessdate=February 6, 2012|first=Kim|last=Jones|work=About.com Entertainment|archive-date=May 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524044135/http://christianmusic.about.com/od/Christian-Cd-Reviews-I-J/fr/Icon-For-Hire-Scripted.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Icon allmusic">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/scripted-r2229035|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|accessdate=February 6, 2012|first=David |last=Jeffries}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[CCM Magazine]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Icon ccmmagazine">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/2011/sep/40.htm|work=[[CCM Magazine]]|accessdate=September 1, 2011|first=Argyrakis|last=Andy|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115175206/http://www.ccmmagazine.com/magazine/2011/sep/40.htm|archivedate=January 15, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| rev4 = The Christian Manifesto
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Icon thechristianmanifesto">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.thechristianmanifesto.com/main/index.php/2011/08/15/music-review-icon-for-hire-scripted/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411223936/http://www.thechristianmanifesto.com/main/index.php/2011/08/15/music-review-icon-for-hire-scripted/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 11, 2013|publisher=The Christian Manifesto|accessdate=August 15, 2011|first=Moore|last=C. E'Jon}}</ref>
| rev5 = Christian Music Zine
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Icon christianmusiczine">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://christianmusiczine.com/icon-for-hire-scripted/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219034737/http://christianmusiczine.com/icon-for-hire-scripted/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 19, 2013|publisher=Christian Music Zine|accessdate=August 22, 2011|first=Hess|last=Tyler}}</ref>
| rev6 = CM Addict
| rev6Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Icon cmaddict">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.cmaddict.com/reviews_page.php?review_id=29|publisher=CM Addict|accessdate=August 14, 2011|first=Yoder|last=Grant|archive-date=August 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828071506/http://www.cmaddict.com/reviews_page.php?review_id=29|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev7 = [[Cross Rhythms]]
| rev7Score = {{Rating|9|10}}<ref name="Icon cross rhythms">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Icon_For_Hire/Scripted/117100/|publisher=[[Cross Rhythms]]|accessdate=February 6, 2012|first=Jamie |last=Maxwell|date=November 2011}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[HM (magazine)|HM]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Icon hm">{{cite web |url=http://issuu.com/hmmagazine/docs/july-2011 |title=Icon For Hire – ''Scripted'' |last=Lugo |first=Joanna |date=July 1, 2011 |work=HM |accessdate=March 11, 2014 |page=49 |archive-date=January 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120155415/http://issuu.com/hmmagazine/docs/july-2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev9 = Indie Vision Music
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Icon indievisionmusic">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2012/03/26/icon-for-hire-scripted/|publisher=Indie Vision Music|accessdate=March 26, 2012|author=Shawn H.|date=March 26, 2012 }}</ref>
| rev10 = Jesus Freak Hideout
| rev10Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Icon JfH">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/Scripted.asp|last=Schexnayder |first=Nathaniel|publisher=Jesus Freak Hideout|accessdate=February 6, 2012|date=August 2011}}</ref><br />{{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Icon JfH" />
| rev11 = Louder Than the Music
| rev11Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Icon louderthanthemusic">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.louderthanthemusic.com/document.php?id=2507|publisher=Louder Than the Music|accessdate=August 29, 2011|first=Davies|last=Jono}}</ref>
| rev12 = New Release Tuesday
| rev12Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Icon newreleasetuesday">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/userprofile_reviewssinglepost.php?review_id=19106&user_id=4152|publisher=New Release Tuesday|accessdate=August 22, 2011|first=Sheads|last=Kelly}}</ref>
| rev13 = The Phantom Tollbooth
| rev13Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Icon thephantomtollbooth">{{cite web|title=Scripted|url=http://www.tollbooth.org/index.php/home/music-reviews/799-icon-for-hire-scripted|publisher=The Phantom Tollbooth|accessdate=February 7, 2013|first=Crosslin|last=Matt|archive-date=March 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312212735/http://www.tollbooth.org/index.php/home/music-reviews/799-icon-for-hire-scripted|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

The album received mostly positive reviews from the critics. Kim Jones of [[About.com]] wrote that "''Scripted'' offers fans of rock a lot of passion, completely authentic lyrics and hard-hitting music that will appeal to your inner head banger, regardless of your age. Icon For Hire has a lot to offer and their debut album satisfies while leaving you wanting more."<ref name="Icon about.com" /> Jamie Maxwell of [[Cross Rhythms]] praised the "sheer energy" of the guitar work, as well as the "real honesty and originality" of the lyrics, he conceded that the band "straddle that fine line of credibility between an honest, edgy statement and an embarrassing copycat act," although ultimately claiming to be "fairly satisfied that Icon For Hire manage the former, and they manage it better than the vast majority of mainstream artists, let alone those in the [[Christian music]] scene."<ref name="Icon cross rhythms" /> ''New Release Tuesday''<nowiki/>'s Kelly Sheads vowed that "''Scripted'' does not disappoint."<ref name="Icon newreleasetuesday" />

Andy Argyrakis of ''[[CCM Magazine]]'' found that "there's actually many more facets to its label debut ''Scripted''", which this is found in the instruments used such as "brooding guitars, monstrous drums, and ferocious vocals," and noted that "there's a harder overall edge, merged with and underlying pop sensibility. All the while, the group sings of shedding depression and seizing each day, which is just as vital and powerful as the accompanying sounds."<ref name="Icon ccmmagazine" /> ''Christian Music Zine''<nowiki/>'s Tyler Hess said that ''Scripted'' is "full of tracks that can both rock your face off and edify you hearts."<ref name="Icon christianmusiczine" /> ''Indie Vision Music'' evoked how "This album does show hints of similarity with acts like [[Flyleaf (band)|Flyleaf]] & [[The Letter Black]], but at the core this album is genuine."<ref name="Icon indievisionmusic" />

David Jeffries of [[AllMusic]] was complimentary, calling the band "intense and infectious in equal measure" and praising their "fresh attitude and sense of purpose".<ref name="Icon allmusic" /> ''The Christian Manifesto''<nowiki/>'s C. E'Jon Moore found that "''Scripted'' is a strong debut that stands on its own and demands our respect", which that is because "''Scripted'' features all the necessary pieces without feeling derivative."<ref name="Icon thechristianmanifesto" /> Grant Yoder of ''CM Addict'' surmised that "Overall this album is very good, but left me wanting more."<ref name="Icon cmaddict" /> ''Louder Than the Music''<nowiki/>'s Jono Davies said that "The production on this album is top notch, for a band made up of three members they seem to have created a full sounding album."<ref name="Icon louderthanthemusic" /> Matt Crosslin of ''The Phantom Tollbooth'' stated that "Regardless of influences the songs are catchy and filled with passion and energy."<ref name="Icon thephantomtollbooth" />

''Jesus Freak Hideout'' reviewers Nathaniel Schexnayder and Michael Weaver were more reserved; despite praising the production and the album's overall enjoyability, Schexnayder found the lyrical quality mixed and the album's sound generic: "To recap, complete with puns: although Icon For Hire’s first album is well-acted with slick, catchy refrains, they never deviate from the script to truly be a genuinely remarkable production."<ref name="Icon JfH" /> Weaver also criticized the band's unoriginal sound, but expressed appreciation for the band's "tongue-in-cheek mentality" and optimism that "album number two will be powerful and a little more unique."<ref name="Icon JfH" /> At ''[[HM (magazine)|HM]]'' magazine, Joanna Lugo wrote that the lyricism is very familiar and the band has an "edgy pop sound", which the releases "overall production and fluidity [...] proves to be one of quality and continuity."<ref name="Icon hm" />

Unanimous praise was given to lead singer Ariel's vocal work: Jeffries called her "a mix of powerful and approachable that might very well be the inspiration for the band’s tongue-in-cheek name";<ref name="Icon allmusic" /> Maxwell noted that "what is most notable, and most commendable, about this album is the sheer force with which singer Ariel delivers her vocals";<ref name="Icon cross rhythms" /> and Schexnayder reported that her "voice runs seamlessly through the tunes without ever going overboard like her fellow label mates in The Letter Black", calling her voice "gifted" and one of the reasons to be interested in the album.<ref name="Icon JfH" />

== Track listing ==
{{Track listing
| headline        = Standard and digital edition
| collapsed       = 
| extra_column    = 
| total_length    = 31:51
| all_writing     =
| all_lyrics      = 
| all_music       = 
| title1          = Overture
| note1           = Instrumental
| writer1         = Hawkins
| lyrics1         = 
| music1          = 
| extra1          = 
| length1         = 0:29
| title2          = Theatre
| note2           = 
| writer2         = Icon for Hire
| lyrics2         = 
| music2          = 
| extra2          = 
| length2         = 2:42
| title3         = [[Make a Move (Icon for Hire song)|Make a Move]]
| note3          = 
| writer3        = Icon for Hire
| lyrics3        = 
| music3         = 
| extra3         = 
| length3        = 3:03
|title4          = Get Well
|writer4         = Icon for Hire, Sprinkle
|length4         = 2:57
|title5          = The Grey
|writer5         = Icon for Hire
|length5         = 3:27
|title6          = Off with Her Head
|writer6         = Icon for Hire, Joshua Davis
|length6         = 3:05
|title7          = Fight
|writer7         = Icon for Hire, Sprinkle, [[Ben Kasica]]
|length7         = 3:00
|title8          = Up in Flames
|writer8         = Icon for Hire, Sprinkle, Christopher Stephens
|length8         = 2:48
|title9          = Iodine
|writer9         = Icon for Hire
|length9         = 2:32
|title10         = Only a Memory
|note10          = originally released as "Pernilla"
|writer10        = Icon for Hire, Joshua Davis
|length10        = 3:50
|title11         = Pieces
|writer11        = Icon for Hire, Hawkins
|length11        = 3:54
}}
{{track listing
| headline       = Japanese edition
|title12         = Fall Apart
|writer12        = Icon for Hire, Joshua Davis
|length12        = 3:15
|title13         = Call Me Alive
|writer13        = Icon for Hire, Joshua Davis
|length13        = 4:47
|total_length    = 39:49
}}

==Personnel==
; Musicians
* Ariel — lead vocals
* Shawn Jump — guitar
* Adam Kronshagen — drums

; Production
* Matthew Arcaini — [[digital editing]], [[Engineering (music)|engineer]]
* [[Chris Carmichael (musician)|Chris Carmichael]] — [[Strings (music)|strings]]
* Matt Carter — bass, engineer
* [[Ryan Clark (musician)|Ryan Clark]] — [[graphic design]]
* Joshua Davis — [[Composer (music)|composer]] <small>("Off with Her Head" and "Only a Memory")</small>
* [[Brandon Ebel]] — [[executive producer]]
* Troy Glessner — [[mastering engineer]]
* Rob Hawkins — bass, guitar, composer, <small>("Overture" and "Pieces")</small>, producer, [[Programming (music)|programming]], [[string arrangement]]s, synthesizer
* [[Ben Kasica]] — composer/lyricist <small>("Fight")</small>
* Cabel Kuhl — [[photography]]
* J. R. McNeely — [[Mixing (music production)|mixing]]
* Ben Phillips — engineer
* Adam Skatula — [[A&R]]
* [[Aaron Sprinkle]] — composer, engineer, keyboards, percussion, producer, programming
* Christopher Stephens — composer <small>("Up In Flames")</small>

==Charts==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2011)
!Peak<br>position
|-
|[[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="Icon for Hire billboard">{{cite magazine|title=''Scripted''|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=icon for hire|chart=all}}|magazine=[[Billboard.com]]|accessdate=February 6, 2012|date=September 10, 2011}}</ref> 
|align="center"|95
|-
|[[Billboard Top Rock Albums]]<ref name="Icon for Hire billboard" /> 
|align="center"|22
|-
|''Billboard'' [[Top Christian Albums]]<ref name="Icon for Hire billboard" /> 
|align="center"|5
|-
|[[Billboard Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums]]<ref name="Icon for Hire billboard" /> 
|align="center"|16
|-
|''Billboard'' [[Top Hard Rock Albums]]<ref name="Icon for Hire billboard" />
|align="center"|7
|-
|''Billboard'' [[Alternative Albums]]<ref name="Icon for Hire billboard" />
|align="center"|16
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Icon for Hire}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2011 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Aaron Sprinkle]]
[[Category:Tooth & Nail Records albums]]
[[Category:Christian punk albums]]
[[Category:Icon for Hire albums]]