Reviewed by James Lewis

Q. What's the difference between a label compilation and a sampler? A. Up to £11.50! Which this falls into, I don't know, but it provides 15 tracks by artists all on the Brainstorm label. It has been said recently that if you are a good, young, Christian alternative act, then you're on Tooth And Nail. If you're a Christian alternative pioneer, then apparently you're on Brainstorm - The Seventy Sevens, Adam Again, Daniel Amos, ex-Altar Boy Mike Stand's new band Clash Of Symbols, and Mike Knott with Lifesavers all appear on this taster. There are some fresh faced youngsters here as well, who seem to be having a competition to find the weirdest name, Pspazz (sic) taking joint first place with Spooky Tuesday. Both bands peddle here the same grungy sound that all new Christian alternative acts seem to have. I like the tracks just fine, but could we have some new sounds before we pass saturation point? Not that all the artists here are rock - soul supremo Jon Gibson is included, along with rap from (ex?) Freedom Of Soul frontman, Peace 586, veterans SFC, the rambling LPG and Dynamic Twins. The latter offer up a sound similar to Cypress Hill until the R&B chorus which I can't help but feel lets it down a little. Plenty of class here, but same problems as with any mixed genre album -will the grunge audience want any hip hop and vice versa?

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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