Reviewed by Ian Homer

Colton Dixon, having emerged from the make-me-a-star rugby scrum of American Idol, has established himself as a major figure in today's CCM and is currently sporting a hit on Cross Rhythms radio with the appealing "Fool's Gold" from Colton's 'Anchor' album. This release is a combination of two EPs, 'Calm', described as "a stripped down collection of acoustic songs," and 'Storm', a "compilation of energetic remixed tracks." The best track on the former is "Limitless", with a bass-line sounding spookily like U2's "With Or Without You", the song lyrically trying to inspire the listener that we're much more capable than we think we are with God's Spirit within us. Dixon's strident vocal really carries it off. Almost as good is "Never Gone", a song underpinned by a strong piano melody and although maybe a bit over dramatic in parts is still pretty effective. "You Are" features Colton's sister Schyler; the tight harmonies make this love song really sparkle. The fifth track, "Where I End", is the only completely new offering on the album and attempts to bridge the two EPs. It starts out like a lamb with strings and a lovely echoey piano and then roars in like a lion bringing in some much bigger sounds and a driving beat by verse two. It is an unashamed declaration of faith and surrender. Of the tracks sourced from 'Storm', Echo - is obviously aimed at radio play and is a pop / dance affair with quite clichéd lyrics. "Dare To Believe, with its blend of dubstep and rock, tackles the issue many Christians face if they were raised that way, namely how faith gets challenged as you pass from being a child to an adult: "We get older, life gets harder/We grow farther away and lose the faith we fought so hard to keep/I will dare to believe that you are the Saviour." One assumes this is written from personal experience and it will undoubtedly chime with many of his fans.

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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