Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Canada's The Weak Need aren't just a great band with a great name. In 'Write it Real' they have emerged with another gem of a release, featuring songs every bit as good as their "I Believe" and "James 1" which have previously connected with Cross Rhythms listeners. In fact, the new lineup, new sound TWN have pulled off that most difficult of feats, making music that will sound great on radio without being stylized and willfully generic. The new sound has been described by frontman Sean Croley as "Mutemath meets Elbow" but such a statement creates the impression these guys are cloning big name groups. Let me state emphatically that there's no hint of such activity here (unlike some of the Coldplay imitators that clog up Christian music). In fact to my ears, other influences abound (for instance, on "Holding Nothing Back" there is a fleeting hint of Radiohead). But as I said, fleeting. Stepping away from the pointless rock scribe obsession with influence-spotting, let me say that whether it's the hauntingly evocative "Childhood Mornings" or the doomy "Pretty Little Thing" (with its poignant memorable confession of being "cold inside") the listener is offered atmospheric songs penned by one of the most underrated songsmiths in Christendom. And unlike so many art pop rockers Sean doesn't go in for lyrics layered in quasi-poetic obscurity. As he emotes on "Childhood Mornings", "I've found the man that breaks the chains that bind me." Clearly those broken chains were creative as well as spiritual ones. A fine, fine EP.

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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