Jars of Clay - Much Afraid (Essential) They have more than a little to prove with this album, what with their critically acclaimed self-titled debut selling close to a kaschmillion copies. But don't let the sophomore slump get you down - they sure didn't. What we got here is 11 tracks of mature modern rock. The kick off, "Overjoyed", is pure genius...complete with classic pop song structure, a smart lyric about the name God gives us, and simply unavoidably tight harmonies. Other standouts include the catchy "Tea and Sympathy", the epic, haunting "Frail", and the simply beautiful "Portrait of an Apology". Gone, but not really missed, are the programmed drum tracks (they opted for a live drummer this time around) and samples...what we have here is a smart Jars, complete with some electric distortion (!). Yeah, they might lose some fans...but I'm certain that some other band will take the place of what Jars of Clay was...this is Much Afraid. This is good. - dw

Roadside Monument - 8 Hours Away From Being A Man (Tooth and Nail Records) FIRST THINGS FIRST: A message to those who wrote them off as hardcore when the heard their track on the T&N sampler Songs From the Penalty Box: Roadside is no where close to hardcore. Seriously. The catchy hardcore song "SRB," which is really titled "Sperm Ridden Burden" (I guess "sperm" is a bad word), is more of a cherry on top of the sundae in the new album. THE REVIEW: Salvador Dali thought himself a genius. Whatever he thought or dreamed about, he painted. This proved to produce some of his most intricate, provocative, thoughtful, and sometimes disturbing work, which are treasured by the aged connoisseur and the little child. Roadside Monument must use that same genius mentality in their songwriting. The tracks on their new album are incredibly well thought through yet their meanings are at times indescernable. That isn't necessarily a negative aspect, because todays blatantly evangilical lyric stance used by most bands has become tired and old. Roadside Monument has now alienated itselves from popular culture with this release of this wholly thoughtful, beautiful, and well-crafted work. - kb

velour100 - Of Colour Bright(Tooth and Nail Records) Of all the artsy bands emerging from the woodwork of the CCM...whatever it is, velour100 is my favorite. Not just because they have a penchant for creating beautiful albums that never pause in between tracks, not just because every female vocalist they've ever used (Amon Krist, Kairin Oliver, Sydney Rentz, and especially Tess Wiley) are incredibly talented...but because they're so dang CONSISTENT. Listen to the Smiths-like swirl of "Sky From Underwater". The noise pop crackle of "Clouds" and "Pressed Flower". Even the inspiring, tear-rendering "Dolphin Grey". There is not a bad song on this album...11 tracks of pure bliss, especially the songs Tess Wiley sings...I tell you, between Sixpence None the Richer, Phantasmic, and this album, I nominate her for best female artist of ALL TIME. Props to Trey Many (velour100 mastermind) for bringing them back for a third time. Wow. - dw

The Supertones - ...strike back(BEC Recordings) Oh, no, I thought, as my church's youth intern inserted the tape into the deck. It was the new album by The Supertones. I was genuinely afraid. Well, guys, ska's not the new thing anymore and it's not the hip novelty it was a year or so ago. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones have since graced the cover of Alternative Press, and albums by new wave ska bands like The Squirrel Nut Zippers, No Doubt, and Sublime can be found at any store anywhere that sells any sort of music. Now that it's just another branch of the commercialized music kingdom, I expect as much from from ska bands as any other band. That includes Christian ska bands as well. Four or five ska songs appear on the Christian Rock Radio top ten lists every month, mostly by The Supertones, Five Iron Frenzy, and The Insyderz, with many more to come. Ska beats pop up everywhere in songs from punk bands like Value Pac and Silage. Ska is now a modern music staple. Blabbering aside, let's discuss the new Supertones album. It certainly is a grand slice of punk-ska, much in the style of the first relaese---rapping, skanthems (a word coined by me), and all. This a sharpened sickle of ska, going out to reap a skank from all of the punkers in the world. Many people camped out at music stores to get this on the first day it came out, I'm sure. I guess they really like it, those darn kids. And they have good reason to. The 'Tones have gotten some more brass, and they have definately been practicing and been playing some shows with Five Iron Frenzy. Old and new Supertones and ska fans will love it. But those of you who fall in the "hate" category af the new wave ska love-hate relationship had better stay away. Someone might get hurt. - kb

Plumb - Plumb (Silvertone/Essential) Plumb is not a band. Plumb is a sound. Plumb is a thick mix of techno-like dance beats and hard-crunching riffs with fallen angelic vocals that take over your mind. The guitar hooks are huge, and this is the loudest, best-sounding bass that I have heard on a non-punk recording since, well, I dunno. Destined to be a youth pastor favorite (it's written all over the record label), it's nice to see that we're expanding within our little CCM bubble. If you can handle a female-led rock band under a 200x lens, go buy it. Don't worry, it's not really Garbage at all. - kb

Rose Blossom Punch - Ephemere (SaraBellum) Quit holding your breath. No, this long awaited project from Aaron Sprinkle (ex-poor old lu) doesn't beat poor old lu. Hardly. Nothing ever will. With that out of the way, Ephemere is a beauty, a gem of a power pop album that demands the kind of attention poor old lu did. With poor old lu's old bassist, Nick Barber playing bass and Soulfood76's Paul Mumaw on drums, it surprisingly doesn't sound like a rehash of either. And while there is nothing here as memorable and winning and just out-and-out catchy as their @rtCore vol.1 contribution, "Sowing in the Sun", this is still a great album, especially the songs "Haunted Church" and "Windswept". - dw

Model Engine - The Lean Years Tradition (SaraBellum) No, it's not Black Eyed Sceva part 2. And while, yes, Jeremy Post and Brad McCarter (founding members of the critically acclaimed band) are contributing members here, they know how to put the past behind them. The band is tighter, thanx to new drummer Eric Herzog; the songwriting? Incredible. Post is a poet, in the best sense of the word. Twisting phrases and non sequiters around like corkscrews, he wistfully conjures up images of past mistakes. Is there an "Adrian James" or "Confirmation Day" (2 standouts from BES's debut Way Before The Flood)? Yep...plenty. "Scarred But Smarter" is the ultimate screwed-up-relationship song, while "Weathervanes" hammers it's message down with an irrisistable riff and a pounding beat. "Walking Wounded" is built around an acoustic guitar and B3 organ, and the first single, "Hang You Upside Down", has mainstream radio play written all over it in broad guitar drenched strokes. Don't miss it. - dw

Pedro the Lion - Whole ep (Tooth and Nail)After everything in this world has had its shot at us and us at it, we see that there is nothing left but a hole. This hole cannot be filled by anything we can see with our eyes. Pleading and broken, we seek something more than pride and the hate. We find a love that lasts and lives in us all. It will never leave us. It is the love of Christ. In short, this is one of the most deeply moving albums that I have heard in a long time. It's breathtaking. Thank the Lord for bands who care this much about Him and not as much about distortion. Give these guys a listen. You won't regret it. -kb