These Simple Truths - Sidewalk Prophets

Although they are new to a major label, recent addition to the Fervent Records alumni, Sidewalk Prophets have been gathering fans and experience for the past half decade, touring with several contemporary christian artists and averaging about 150+ dates a year. Upon their college formation, they won a local campus recording contest and soon wound up preforming in front of 20,000 fans alongside fellow musicians Audio Adrenaline. After a relocation to Nashville, the then-duo added a drummer and bassist, and took their music to the next level. Now several years later, they have finally produced their first full-length album, "These Simple Truths." The 11-song collection begins with "Just Might Save Your Life," featuring the driving riffs and an upbeat, pop sound that permiates the rest of the album. The lead single, "The Word I Would Say" continues this pattern with a well produced feel and an anthem like chorus that will connect with listeners early on. With a pop/country feel, the mid-tempo ballad, "You Can Have Me" is probably the farthest in-depth the disc reaches, the chorus as follows: "When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming? Forgetting what the world has told me, Father of love, You can have me". While there is plenty of great material here, the title of the album pretty much explains itself, these are just simple truths. And that's a good thing. "All Things New" is another radio ready tune, sounding similar to Big Daddy Weave and even mixes in the worship styles of Fee and Aaron Shust while one more worthy of mention is the guitar jamming "You Will Never Lead Me" which may not be lyrically great, but is yet again a sure soon-to-be-hit tune that these guys seem to pull off track after track. If I have heard any new artists with great potential this Summer, these are the guys that stand out. And while this is not, like I have said so many times before, groundbreaking, this serves as an unblemished icebreaker for an up-and-coming band. ~ Christian Lingner

4 0f 5 stars