 According to lead vocalist Bart Millard , MercyMe had started as a rock band and had wanted to make a rock record . Following the success of their breakthrough single " I Can Only Imagine " , a ballad , they were advised to " duplicate [ ' I Can Only Imagine ' ] on the next two records " . Millard says they felt that they were at a point where " we are known more for ballads than the rock band we wanted to be " . With the consent of their label , which felt there was a trend towards heavier music , MercyMe decided to make an " edgier " record . In particular the band focused on up @-@ tempo songs , trying to put more edge into what they were making . Millard noted that while the songs are still pop rock songs , the band tried to put a bit more edge into them . Additionally , the band decided to work with producer Brown Bannister , who had produced the group 's Christmas record and Millard 's solo album <unk> No. 1 , as opposed to Pete Kipley , who had produced the band 's previous three albums . Bannister 's producing style was different from Kipley 's ; while Kipley was a hands @-@ on producer , " involved in every part of the song " , Bannister would wait until the band had " run down all [ their ] avenues " before giving input . The band felt <unk> was an " amazing encourager " and were satisfied with the Christmas album Bannister had produced with him ; although they felt Kipley did a great job on their previous records , improving themselves as a band and as songwriters , they felt it was " time for a change " . Another factor in the decision to use Bannister was his previous recording experience ; Bannister had produced one of Millard 's favorite albums , White Heart 's 1989 album Freedom . The different approach the band took with Bannister resulted in a sometimes " radical " approach , with the band " taking songs apart , putting them back together and , at times , totally reinventing them " . One song , " Something About You " , shifted from " an aggressive rock song to a soaring anthem " . 
