Wherever You Are (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Ashley Cleveland (vocals); Scotty Wilbanks (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Don McCollister (keyboards, percussion); Geof Barkley (keyboards, background vocals); Blair Masters (keyboards); Eric Darken (percussion); Ellie Bannister, Mac Powell, Mark "Anarchy" Lee, Travis Cottrell, Michael Mellett, Drew Cline, Brad Avery (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: F. Reid Shippen; Joe Baldridge.

Recording information: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, England; Nickel And Dime Studios, Atlanta, GA; Oxford Sound, Nashville, TN; SOuthern Tracks Recording, Atlanta, GA; The Bat Cave, Marietta, GA.

Editor: Don McCollister.

Photographer: David Dobson.

Arranger: Don McCollister.

With their husky vocals and uplifting roots-rock anthems, Third Day come off as post-Hootie heartland rockers before the faith-based aspect of their sound even comes up. WHEREVER YOU ARE lacks in neither the surging tunes that made the band Contemporary Christian Music's premier rock band, nor the devotional, spiritually inspirational lyrics that mark them as part of the CCM universe.

Personal tragedies among the bandmembers' loved ones and a menacing year punctuated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita sparked an emotional, lighter rock sound on Wherever You Are. The message was that of God's concern for His children in all conditions. Mac Powell and crew musically stretched out their arms to the masses and offered a sanctuary from loss, despair, and hopelessness. It was a sincere gesture. A few uptempo tracks permeated the album, including the syncopated "I Can Feel It" and the cry against unrighteous judgment in "How Do You Know." Fans grabbed up the album, making it a Top Ten hit. ~ Jared Johnson

Personal tragedies among the bandmembers' loved ones and a menacing year punctuated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita sparked an emotional, lighter rock sound on Wherever You Are. The oversimplified message was that of God's concern for His children in all conditions. Mac Powell and crew musically stretched out their arms to the masses and offered a sanctuary from loss, despair, and hopelessness. It was a sincere gesture, though one that didn't necessarily have to fall so short of the band's potential. A few uptempo tracks permeated the album, including the syncopated "I Can Feel It" and the cry against unrighteous judgment in "How Do You Know." For the most part, however, the grit and bravado that lifted 2004's Wire to new heights were replaced by acoustic ballads and adult contemporary pop. Tracks like "Keep on Shinin'" and "Mountain of God" sound like the Southern rock-lite of Hootie & the Blowfish. Fans grabbed up the album, making it a Top Ten hit. One had to wonder, however, why the band took a side step just at the point in its career when it seemed to be outshining the rest of the hard rock pack. ~ Jared Johnson minimize