Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Fans of straight forward melodic power pop/rock will love this. As a fan of Cheap Trick I was immediately drawn to Joe Club's sound (a cross between CT and the Gin Blossoms) and then read that the band had previously released an EP produced by Trick's Robin Zander! Paying their dues on the club circuit under the name Right Mind, Joe Club began to feel disillusioned with the whole quest for fame. Slowly the band started reading the Bibles they found in the hotel rooms and discussing the message in the tour bus, started going to church and got saved! Changing their name, this is their debut album and it's a stonker! Strong tunes, plenty of guitar and lyrics that get to grips with things. For me the songs that stand out are "Message" which encourages the listener to take the road less travelled. I love the title tune which is a song of surrender and "Miracle" is a surprise, reminding me of John Cougar Mellencamp! The closing testimony song "I Called Your Name" and the poetic "Let Me Know" demonstrate that this band is capable of blending tender moments into its rock'n'pop approach. I'm hooked!

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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