You Alone (CD - 2006)

Indie Christian rockers Echoing Angels toiled in relative obscurity for the better part of seven years in their native Atlanta before signing with INO Records to release their debut, YOU ALONE. The band successfully merges an alternative hard-rock sound (as on the driving "Let Go") with a crossover pop sensibility (best evidenced on power ballads like the title track), while infusing the whole package with declarations of Christian faith. YOU ALONE is polished and assured--a promising debut that should definitely win attention from Christian rock fans.

The down-home boys from Atlanta deliver one of the most sensational and promising rock debuts since MercyMe's Almost There. Echoing Angels, formerly Two Bare Feet, performed for seven years before releasing their INO Records debut. Their fan base grew as they played at more festivals and cultivated more original material. There's something about the blue-collar ethic and Southern-style camaraderie of these guys that contributes to the album's overall attractiveness. Producers Scotty Wilbanks (Third Day, NewSong) and Pete Kipley (MercyMe, Rebecca St. James) preserve the quintet's raw grit and powerhouse energy, laying toe-tappers like "Let Go" alongside power ballads like the buoyant "Coming Back to Life." Volume-wise, the boys crank it up on the album's best track, "Living Inside of Me." The captivating title track was the album's first single; it features delicate guitar work and a simple affirmation of devotion. Other tracks with staying power include "Rise Up," "Make It Better," and "Free." You Alone lays the foundation for a solid career with a musical approach similar to Lifehouse, Matchbox Twenty, and Tonic. Overall, it is a welcome introduction to a band that shows plenty of potential. You can't help but root for these guys. ~ Jared Johnson minimize