Light Up the Sky - The Afters

4 (5) - better than most

The Afters third main label release may not be the best pop album I have heard this year, but I must say it was an enjoyable listen nearly for top to bottom, even if less than original. Having been accused of being a sound-alike band for years, this quartet has now come out and established where it belongs: on the radio. Debuting their new slick rock sound, it is obvious that this band is headed for the airwaves and their title track "Light Up the Sky," a smash hit already, is proving that this approach could pay off.

Beginning on an upbeat note, the lead single I mentioned before was not exactly what I expected. I'm not sure what I was thinking really but I'm guessing a guitar-driven, gritty approach would have felt more like it. But aside from being surprised, I was having fun with the lightweight pop chorus and big beats in the background. The follow-up "Lift Me Up" was a bit of a downer, sounding much like a revamping of the first, but I kept up the hope through it, knowing that often the second half is better than the previous one.

I didn't have to wait that long. In fact, the fourth on the listing "Runaway" was by far the best I'd heard to this point. I had been hoping for a more mid-tempo tune and this one was worth the wait, as it's impacting words and melody combined took me to thoughts of Brandon Heath and Tenth Avenue North. A little farther into the CD I found "Say It Now," and about this time I was starting to realize how much I was liking these tunes. I found that maybe some things are great without having all the best ingredients, because while this compilation may not have all the best songs and production, the words are good and the production and is good and that the album was really good. The Afters have put out an effort that has left me looking for more of them in the future and I hope they stay with this style for now on. I recommend it, especially for those who like what it coming out of their radio these days. ~ Christian Lingner

We Cry Out - Jeremy Camp

Jeremy Camp’s newest effort, “We Cry Out,” a strictly praise and worship based project, releases this week, and though I have enjoyed his music in the past, I wasn’t convinced about this album from the beginning. Coming in to do a review for the CD, I was expecting a bunch of lightweight covers and songs I had already heard a thousand covers of, and after listening to the first half, I was still pretty sure my thoughts were intact.

Starting on a surprisingly upbeat and pop/rock note, the lead single “Jesus Saves” was a nice thought even if it lacked some depth. “Not Ashamed” is similar with a hand-raising chorus and will no doubt be a concert favorite in the future. So far I was feeling slightly bored but was trying to stay awake through “The Way,” an uninteresting and rather uneventful track that really never dug deep enough in it’s material to keep me mentally conscious. To this point I wasn’t impressed with the overall originality shown here, though I’m pretty sure now that that wasn’t really what Camp was aiming for with this album. Simplicity was the direction he was obviously going but it took me a while to catch on.

A little over half way, “Everlasting God” got me going with a pleasantly raw sound and some extra acoustic instrumentation to add some flavor. I was ready for a turn around. Next came the eight-minute “Overcome,” but though I was preparing myself to suffocate in an overly dramatic chorus and big choirs, the song instead took a more soft-spoken and thoughtful route in what ended up one of the best tunes here. The last couple-were two of the most moving and by this time I was starting to enjoy myself. “King Jesus” and “Unrestrained” both showed off his more down to earth feel, I just wish he’d gone there more on this disc.

So here I am wrapping it up, and although I wouldn’t mention this is the best worship album of the year, I would have to say it was a good CD that Jeremy’s fans should pick up, as well as praise and worship lovers. Some would call this a cover album, but it ended up that his originals were even better than those, and that fact gives me much hope for his next outing. ~ Christian Lingner

3 1/2 (5)

Let Love Win - The Museum

After getting signed to BEC Records earlier this year, The Museum has been one of the hot topics in the genre, and especially after scoring a major hit with “My Help Comes From the Lord,” their lead single. Reviews have suggested them as one of the likely candidates for this year’s top new artist honors, and I’m here to say I would have to agree, at least to an extent.

An upbeat worship tune gets us kicked off with “Never Look Away,” featuring a nice chorus and big production that brings to mind bands like Rush of Fools and more recently, MIKESCHAIR. Next up comes the under-three-minute blast “You Are Love,” and although it was a fun enough ride, I’m still waiting for the lightweight beginning feel to wear down. The title track cools things off as they dive into a more mid-tempo and closer feel that continues into the second section in memorable fashion. In my opinion one of the, if not very best track here is the down-to-earth “Buy This,” sounding more like Brandon Heath than the poppy refrains that favored the first half. Later on there were some highlights in the almost too epic “Allelujah” and an easy listening “The Only One,” but I was still eager for the “wow” moment I was hoping for.

It really didn’t come. Not to say that this album was bad or anything, but there was never that fulfilling sense that you want to feel after a CD is done. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there was something missing in there that I hope they find in the future. But even through all of that, this is an enjoyable debut compilation that looks to go far in the coming months, I just wish that next time around they’ll give us something more to chew on. ~ Christian Lingner

4 1/2 (5)