VOTA (album) explained

VOTA
Type:	studio
Artist:	VOTA
Cover:	VOTA Album Cover.jpg
Released:	November 11, 2008
Recorded:	2006–2008
Genre:	Christian rock
Length:	37:52
Label:	INO/Columbia
Producer:	Nathan Dantzler
Prev Title:	Live in Wichita
Prev Year:	2007
Next Title:	VOTA Special Edition Digital Download
Next Year:	2009

VOTA is the second self-titled album (though the first by this name) by the Christian rock band VOTA, formerly known as Casting Pearls. The album was released as a digital download on November 11, 2008, and released as a physical CD on February 10, 2009. The band is able to give $40.00 USD to Food for the Hungry through a matching grant with US AID for every album sold from their online store and merchandise table on tour.^{[1] [2]} Since the digital release of the album in November, the band has helped raise over $200,000 for the Food for the Hungry project in Kenya (as of July 2009).

Track listing

All tracks written by Bryan Olesen/Case Maranville/Scott Rutz except where noted.

1. "Hard to Believe" – 2:56
2. "Be Mine" – 2:56
3. "Love's Taken Over" – 3:13
4. "Honestly" Jason Ingram/Doug McKelvey/Bryan Olesen – 3:10
5. "Not Finished" – 3:06
6. "I'll Go" – 3:28
7. "Give It to Me" – 3:00
8. "Free to Fail" – 4:04
9. "Save Ourselves" Nathan Dantzler/Brad Irby – 3:51
10. "Bye Bye" – 3:35
11. "In My Heart" – 4:33
12. "Everyday Is the First Day" (Bonus Track) – 4:02
13. "Our Time Now" (Bonus Track) – 3:56
14. "Alright" (Bonus Track) from the Casting Pearls release
15. "Weighted" (Bonus Track) from the Casting Pearls release
16. "You Alone" (Bonus Track) from the Casting Pearls release

Personnel

• Bryan Olesen – lead vocals, guitar
• Case Maranville – bass guitar, background vocals
• Scott Rutz – drums, percussion, background vocals

Additional personnel

• Phil Joel – background vocals
• Anthony Porcheddu – keyboards
• Chris Carmichael – string arrangements and performances (violin, viola and cello)
• Jim Cooper – piano, background vocals
• Nathan Dantzler – digital editing, programming, piano, percussion, keyboards, background vocals, additional guitars
• Gang Vocals: Riley Friesen, Brandon Spinazzola, Nathan Dantzler, Brad Irby and Paige Dantzler

Charted singles

• "Hard to Believe" #17 (May 2, 2009)^[3]

Notes and References

1. via VOTAband.com, http://www.votaband.com/kenya. Accessed February 29, 2009.
2. via Zambooie, http://www.zambooie.com/stores/Detail.tpl?cart=123438439671411327&sku=VOTACARD100&st_id=283. Accessed July 13, 2009.
3. Web site: R&R magazine's May 2, 2009 chart. May 2, 2009. Weekend 22. 2009-05-09.