Reviewed by Andrew Wallace

After plying their trade for years on the indie scene Macon, Georgia-based JJ Weeks Band finally achieved success in 2013 with their major label debut. After transitioning to Centricity Music in 2015 their latest release, produced by Jonathan Smith, is out now. Many of the cuts come with a radio-friendly production sheen fitting the formula of upbeat, melodic pop/rock, catchy hooks, swirling guitars, meaty beats and gentle intros building up to rousing choruses. Prime examples are lead single "Alive In Me" which is pure singalong ear candy, and "In The Name Of", a straight-up worship ballad in Chris Tomlin territory. As infectious as these are they border on the generic at times mainly due to the lack of imagination in the lyrics department. Things get really interesting when the band let loose and rock full-on; "Higher" is a wall of muscular Southern rock sound with a barnstormer of a chorus looking to God for help. "Rooftops", the album highlight, is a combination of crashing keys, pounding drums and wailing guitars in a no-holds-barred praise anthem topped off by rapper Tedashii spitting his rhymes at the end. JJ's vocals shine impressively throughout, confidently covering a range of styles whether rock powerhouse or soft country tinge.

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