Reviewed by Paul Kinvig

There is an immediate problem with any American Christian AOR album - you know beforehand that the playing and production will be first rate. Therefore it takes something extra - that exclusive X factor - to turn a good album into a great one. Sadly, that 'something' is missing here. 'Somewhere In The World' doest leap out of the speakers and grab you by the ears and shout LISTEN TO ME!! Having said that, there are a couple of times when Illustrator (iffy name) get it right and play it as it should be - blistering guitar, soaring vocals and more hooks than a angler's fishing basket. Side one's standout tracks are "Dying To Meet You", a Wang Chung-style workout that hits like a Tyson right hand, and the obligatory big ballad, "Hold My Heart". Both feature great guitar from Dan Gaub and some cool backing vocals. The rest of the side is competent soft rock with the exception of "I Surrender", which can't decide if it's a praise chorus or not, and as a result doesn't work at all. Side two is more of the same with the gem being "Should'a Been Love", which has a neat chorus and an interesting lyric about divorce from a father's point of view. The album closes with what could have been a real belter in "Carry The Cross". It cries out for a massive vocal. But in the words of a certain TV commercial: "It's good, but not that good".

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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