Reviewed by Steven Bridge

As one who listens to a lot of CCM, this offering reminded me of the groups Heartbeat, an ensemble who once had a Top 40 hit in the late '80s, and also Lovelight who also appeared in the same decade. Fortydays do not appear to have moved very much in time from that period. That's not to say that the songs aren't pleasant enough. The four tunes penned are OK but lack that something which would lift them out of the ordinary. My concern would be whether they could sustain a long play album. Having said that, there was enough to suggest that the collective talent represented by the nine young people that form Fortydays mirror their album title: 'Rough Diamonds'. And at the time I did actually buy Lovelight and Heartbeat! But other than family and friends who would purchase a Fortydays CD given the plethora of quality CCM available these days? Of course they may not have this as their goal with all the pop trappings or glamour dreams, and so a key place in local church ministry could be their oyster.

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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