Reviewed by Paul Keeble

If you like well put together, played and produced guitar-led rock, you should check out this album. However, I must admit on first listen, as track followed track, with a couple of exceptions (such as the title track - great hook), it felt a bit samey. On further plays, more of the strength of the Montana-based singer/songwriter emerges, and this could be one of those albums that grows on you some more with each listen (come and ask me in a year). Having said that, we are still kept waiting to track six, "Collider", before a significant change down from an up-tempo big sound. This song, followed by "Gun" and "Umbrella" give a nice change of pace and show some variety, before "Something Good" picks up the pace again. Lyrically these are songs about life, people and issues written from a Christian perspective rather than overt evangelism or worship. "Polarized" is an excellent reflection on dysfunctional relationships: "We're not even listening/We're waiting for our chance to speak/These are some of the reasons we are at war." In "Gun" Luke acknowledges his own complicity along with everyone else (rather than just blame bankers, etc) - "There are darker things than war machines/Hidden deep inside of me/And everyone I know/Wants to rule the world/But you can't change the world with a gun/You can't change the world without love." "Big Sky" looks at tragedy and the death of loved ones - we've all been there, or will be - with lyrics have the potential to be a parable, as in provoking thought and reaction and pointing to deeper truth.

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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