Reviewed by A T Bradford

Sean Croley's recent announcement of the dissolution of the band once called "the Canadian Coldplay" is a shame and renders this 13 track album all the more poignant. The Week Need offer a rare balance of Christian integrity and musical grit, where spiritual content meets authentic rock genres with neither being compromised. This is essentially a concept album, comprising (as the band says) "loss, seeking, bad advice, pain, victory and promises", with an underlying question as to why we only turn towards God when we have run out of road. Answers on a postcard please. Highlights include tight electric guitar (Rob Brayshaw and Cezar Curescu) and drums (Kerry O'Brien), notably on "Created" and "Gravity". Croley himself offers keyboard, synth and a great vocal range with lyrical imagery to match - "I stare into the hourglass, sand falls from the bottom half, and scatters like my faith upon the floor..." ("I Believe"). "All I See" opens with low-key background conversation breaking into a tight drum and bass (Junior Riggan) combo and an invitation to "Break through the noise, cut out everything that keeps me from your praise, for all I seek is favour in your eyes". The Week Need are a band that could and maybe should have gone a lot further in their former incarnation, but one can still look forward to what Mr Croley now has in store.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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