STYLE: Pop RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 177181-28763 LABEL: Radiate Music FORMAT: CD Album
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
In a recent interview, lead vocalist Ryan Payne stated that the sixth album from his band Attaboy aims to "speak to a wide spectrum of human experiences" with songs about rising above anxiety, negativity and despair being the order of the day. Kicking off with a delightfully retro '80s feel with the stall-setting "Waking Up", it's clear that the Indiana-based pop group wears its heart on its sleeve when it comes to matters of faith and, perhaps surprisingly given the middle ground chart fodder feel of the album, some of the tracks contain quite hard-hitting spiritual warfare elements. For instance, "Dirty Lie" (featuring a cameo from rapper Beacon Light) calls the Devil out for what he is whilst "Fire" tells of vultures in the skies, darkness calling and demons with an overriding message of the hope and victory found in God. Elsewhere, resolute numbers like "Never Going Back" and "Giving Up The Fight" skilfully provide valuable advice to the group's Gen Z target audience in terms of getting through the loneliness and anxiety facing many youngsters today - all set to an expertly-executed EDM backdrop conjured up by producer Doug Weier.
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