Reviewed by Oscar Hyde

This Oklahoman quartet are beginning to make a name for themselves as an outreach band; they're moving away from the Kutless-style radio rock and have taken on large dollops of Family Force 5 and TobyMac. The lyrics aren't the most poetic - "'I'll be shouting, yeah, whoa, that's my Dad!" - but that's not necessarily a bad thing; it fits with the broad strokes that help spread the good news to the world. I'd be perfectly fine with this set as a party album with Christian overtones if it were more. . . party-like. The bass is never quite as powerful or danceable as it could be; the anthems feel as if the singer is holding back; the rapping lacks energy. The production, though it's full of interesting burbles, leaves wide empty spaces in the music; the songs lack drive or even much energy. It wouldn't feel disappointing if each song didn't feel like a four-minute introduction ending before it gets a chance to drop. The best song here is "You Told Me I Am Your Son", which contains genuinely lovely and heartfelt expressions of thankfulness, but still bubbles just under the surface and is based on an age-old (but cool) chord progression.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.