Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

Consisting of Jordan Phillips and Adam Stark, Nashville-based alt-pop duo Apollo LTD's debut album is a masterclass in intelligent dance-tinged pop which strikes the perfect balance between being supremely radio friendly and having more than enough depth to stick in the mind. The electro pop song of surrender "Drive" kicks proceedings off in confident fashion and sets the scene for a collection of songs which surreptitiously communicate something of the Christian message in a way that will be picked up by those in the know without alienating the mainstream listener. A prime example of this approach is found in the meaningful "DNA" which could either be about God or a love interest whilst "Supernatural" sounds a bit like Maroon 5 doing a worship song. This album simply has it all from its inventive musical backing - every note, instrument and electronic effect is there for a reason - to some perfect pop vocal performances from the boys whilst its generally unrelenting high octane nature makes for a thrilling and attention-grabbing rollercoaster ride throughout. In addition, this is a lyrically and thematically meaningful album with songs like "Misfits" and "Tired Of LA" passing comment on acceptance and the hollowness of Hollywood respectively whilst lines like "I've seen the devil at the altar/A God inside the bar" on the dancefloor thumper "Heaven" showcases the lyrical maturity of this top class band. A stripped back alternate version of that very song is tagged onto the end to prove that Messrs Phillips and Stark can also turn in a powerful performance without all the bells and whistles.

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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