Reviewed by Simon Eden

What do Marilyn Manson, the Pussycat Dolls and JPT all have in common? Answer is they have all done covers of the song Gloria Jones originated and Soft Cell made famous - "Tainted Love". JPT's version is beach ball bouncy rock that is played with a cheeky grin. This is the first album from the New Jersey band, but only if you discount their previous guise - 'JustPassingThrough'. Whilst the majority of this eclectic album contains original radio friendly rock, it is accompanied by older worship tracks in a new guise, including Paul Baloche's "Praise Adonai" and "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High" which you don't quite expect to be treated this way, but both really work. In the world of metal, this is cadmium; you know it's not lead, but you're not quite sure what it is. It is certainly accessible, as Mooki's lead vocals are clear and the rest of the instrumentation is sharp with catchy guitar riffs. The album starts loud with "Deeper Than", a stadium rock track guaranteed to get a crowd jumping, yet the track nine version of it doesn't sound that different. "One" is a softer, acoustic-led love song, singing of being "one with you" as "everything I wanted was in you", but it is subtly God focused. Generally, there is quality musicianship here though it all lacks much punch.

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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