Reviewed by Ian Thomson

A new packaging for these two solid Avalon albums. For those new to Avalon, perhaps this is worth considering. In the last 13 years, Avalon have released seven studio albums, 'The Creed' being the fifth and 'Stand' the sixth. Anyone who has heard and enjoyed the latest offering, 'Reborn', will also enjoy this look into the band's past; Avalon is noted for the dizzying list of past members, and only Janna Long bridges the three year gap between 'Stand' and 'Reborn'. However, Avalon's production team have managed to keep the band at the forefront of Christian pop almost from the word go. Notable tracks include "I Wanna Be With You", singer Greg Long's first big lead, and the classic "Orphans Of God". The combination of these two studio albums brings out the differences in theme as well; 'The Creed''s reflective, pain-conscious style lays the groundwork for the hope of 'Stand', with its anthemic declarations of God's faithfulness. The backing, somewhat standardised in places, is still beautifully executed. Classy Nashville pop.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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