Lift (CD - 2001)

LIFT was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Gospel Album.

Audio Mixers: J.R. McNeely; Aaron Swihart; Joe Baldridge.

Photographer: Marina Chavez.

Christian rockers Audio Adrenaline are about to cross over, and not in the spiritual sense. Vocalist Mark Stuart's Bonoish scrape is uncanny, firmly laying the groundwork for LIFT on opening track "You Still Amaze Me." The band perpetuates the U2 vibe on "Beautiful," quoting musically from Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side." More often than not, using pronouns in their lyrics softens the holy message to make it much more palatable to a wider audience. "Ocean Floor" has the emotional grandiosity to potentially make it a timeless rock ballad, while on the other end of the spectrum, bonus demo track "Lonely Man" has a rap metal meets Soundgarden groove.

On the aptly titled tracks "Rejoice" and "Glory" a more obvious religious message is wrapped around the band's polished pop sound. Whether it's gentle majesty ("Speak To Me"), asking for mercy ("Tremble"), or describing the paradise of the afterlife ("Summertime"), LIFT shows us that it's cool to rock and have deep faith, sans the bumble bee spandex. minimize