Reviewed by Jacob Wain

Down the years, the Georgia-born singer/songwriter has found an international audience for his songs of frailty and faith, gradually moving away from the acoustic roots sound of his early releases to a more generic pop rock style suitable for large auditorium anthems. This, Bebo's eighth album, is an intricate mixture of soft rock, artful pop with occasional folk tinges. Most tracks engage the listener through pacey choruses and mellow refrains. On the contemplative "Pull Me Out" Bebo looks into his past to "remember when I was young and hungry." This song is about seeking guidance from God, a theme expressed in several other tracks. One song on this set which has gained considerable publicity is "Britney". This talks about our culture and what it does to young women like a certain pop icon. In the words of Bebo's Myspace, "It's all about the lies we tell them about fame and money. . . It's an apology for those lies. . . It's an invitation to the truth about a God who is bigger than the pain this world so often leave us in." As Bebo himself says about this album, "I like that we took the core of where I come from as a writer and made it feel new again." If you want an album with catchy heartfelt songs that stick in your head and profound lyrics make sure you get to hear 'Bebo Norman'.

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