We Can't Stand Sitting Down (CD - 2006)

On its highly accessible 2006 album, the Christian punk-pop act Stellar Kart presents a charming set of amped-up, faith-based anthems. Though many of the band's peers downplay the praise-oriented aspect of their music, Stellar Kart fully embraces it on songs such as the emotive "Me and Jesus," while tunes like the energetic "Activate" offer more general messages of inspiration.

How poppy does a pop-punk band have to get before you drop the "punk" designation altogether and start calling them something else? And what if, despite a complete lack of aggro attitude, they're still so speedy and crunchy that the word "pop" alone doesn't really work, and the term "power pop" makes you think inappropriately of middle-aged men with shag haircuts? Maybe this is speed-pop, then, or something like that. Call the music what you will; what matters is that Stellar Kart serves up candy-coated hooks, sweet harmonies and satisfyingly crunchy guitars at roughly the speed of a well-tuned Porsche, and anyone who doesn't have a constitutional intolerance for expressions of Christian faith is likely to find the band's sophomore effort pretty much irresistible. Of this album's 12 songs (there's a hidden 13th track as well, a not-particularly-memorable remix of "Hold On"), there's an indication that more than half can be described as "a bracing blast of speed-pop hookiness," with some ("I'm Pretty Good," "Procrastinating") being especially bracing and speedy. When they take it down a little bit they deliver praise anthems ("Angels in Chorus") and something that comes perilously close to being a pop-punk polka ("Always Waiting"). And, as always, when they start trying to actually write in the voice of God ("Hold On") things get just a bit creepy and uncomfortable. Skip over track five, though, and you've got a solid half hour of pure pop bliss. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson minimize