Reviewed by Ewan Jones

Charlotte, North Carolina-based rock man John Mark McMillan delivers a great CD that hooks you in from the first fuzzy bars of "London Town" and just continues to grow on you. It's definitely a layered experience - by the end of your first time through, the melodies are in your head. On the second and third listens, the cleverness and the un-clichéd poetry of John Mark's lyrics and the thoughtful arrangements begin to grab hold. His voice is distinctive but carries the depth of Third Day's Mac Powell and the rawness and vulnerability of early Switchfoot's Jon Forman. Equally, the music vies between southern country rock (you could line dance to the verses on "Next To You" before it all rocks out) and indie-funk. John Mark's band performs admirably - their rhythms are intelligent and imaginative, as is the production, particularly on tracks like "Ashes And Flames", opening with a melancholic acoustic drawl and ending in distorted beats and warped electronics. The CD is packed with honest expressions of the doubts and hopes, questions and faith of a struggling, journeying Christian. Definitely one of the best independent albums to come out this year.

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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