Never Going Back to OK (CD - 2008)

Christian indie rockers the Afters weigh in on the side of positivity on their sophomore release, NEVER GOING BACK TO O.K. Songs such as "Tonight" and the title track talk about personal transformation and leaving the limitations of one's former self behind, amid a wall of guitars and energetic, push-pull rhythms. There are softer moments on the album ("Ocean Wide") and some light, fun fare ("MySpace Girl"), but the Afters are at their best when they let loose, as on the hopped-up, anthemic "We Are the Sound." For contemporary Christian rock that is as tuneful and exciting as it is inspirational, NEVER GOING BACK TO O.K. fits the bill.

The Afters approached their sophomore release as if they had nothing to lose -- as if they were still undiscovered bandmates serving lattes at Starbucks in Mesquite, TX. In reality, however, expectations for the foursome following their landmark debut could hardly be higher. Their melodic hit "Beautiful Love" had led them on an impressive run -- it was featured on MTV's 8th and Ocean and was iTunes' most downloaded inspirational track in 2006. Combine that with their Best New Artist nod at the Dove Awards, and the band underwent a metamorphosis from unknown to unavoidable. Never Going Back to OK touches on this theme, suggesting that a similar transformation from ordinary to extraordinary is part of each believer's journey. The album, a cross between Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown and Sanctus Real's The Face of Love, adds a great depth to the Afters' repertoire with deeply palpable modern rock ballads like "Oceans Wide" and "Summer Again." But the core of the album is a steady dose of radio-ready rock, from the powerful essence of "Keeping Me Alive" to the urgency of "Tonight." Without straying too far from their roots, the Afters distanced themselves from the pack with this record. ~ Jared Johnson minimize