Over and Underneath (CD - 2008)

On its 2008 debut, OVER AND UNDERNEATH, the Floridian Christian ensemble Tenth Avenue North unveils a passionate collection of faith-based rock anthems. Working in the same accessible vein as such secular contemporaries as the Fray, the band excels at chiming guitar-driven tunes, exemplified by "Love Is Here" and "Hold My Heart."

Good, not new -- a familiar but pleasant AC worship sound characterizes this quartet's much-hyped debut. A quick perusal of the song titles reveals that the band keeps things simple. The breadth and depth of subjects do not approach a degree that would be considered challenging or groundbreaking, yet the realization that the songs address common themes tends to work in their favor. Without expecting them to turn Christian music upside down, you can enjoy the disc the way it was intended: as a means of emphasizing faith-based messages in a straightforward, contemporary pop vein. There's enough songwriting talent here to dig deeper on future releases, as the thoroughly enjoyable "Break Me Down" proves in its first ten seconds. What holds them back is the undeniable aligning of their sound to what was dominating CCM radio at the time of its release. The "chicken vs. egg" question comes to mind: are more bands purposefully sounding like what's on the radio, or are radio producers choosing to play the songs that sound most like what they already keep in heavy rotation? All in all, Tenth Avenue North deserve the buzz as long as you remember that "the next big thing" isn't exactly a big surprise. ~ Jared Johnson minimize