Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

There are quite a few reasons why you could argue that The Waiting's debut album is one of the best alternative rock albums of last year. Firstly. the lyrics of singer Brad Olsen are sheer poetry with spiritual truth and clever twists. Secondly, they manage to combine beautiful musical textures (the strings on "It Is Enough", the English horn on "Hands In The Air") and compelling tunes which get better with every listen. To specifics, there aren't many better songs about the grace of God than "How Do You Do That" or a better metaphor for the way we sometimes kick against the intimacy of a love relationship with God in "Better Off As Friends". The centrepiece has to be the song of surrender "Hands In The Air" (co-written with producer Steve Hindalong) which is a real epic with musical peaks and troughs of intensity and beauty, almost prog rock! Then to prove their diversity, the band kick into 'Number Nine", a straight ahead alternative rock tune! If you're looking for intelligent music in the same ballpark as VOL, then this is worth checking out, you won't be disappointed.

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