Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The San Diego band's first two albums were good, if a tad inaccessible, but this is something else. Anthemic, gutsy, pop rock songs full of glorious layers of guitar play against dazzling examples of the producer's art, while singer Jon Foreman swoops across the polyrhythms with a passion only previously hinted at. The dense layers make the opener "I Dare You To Move" one of the most sonically thrilling rock excursions for years. Then there's the title track with a laconic vocal-cum-prayer as Jon purrs ("I'm finding that you and you alone can break my prayer") with the same kind of haunting atmosphere that permeates the best of Jars Of Clay. Lyrics throughout avoid the twin pitfalls of oblique obscurity and shallow sloganeering, deftly making apposite observations on abandonment to God ("Playing For Keeps"), the banality of culture obsession ("Poparazzi") and the mysterious dimensions of grace ("The Economy Of Mercy"). Literate songs, fine rock arrangements, breathtaking production from Charlie Peacock and Jacquire King (five songs each) and a clear demonstration as to why Britain's brightest new Christian label would want to sign up this American three-piece.

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