Reviewed by Chris Berry

Now OK, so I'm a sucker for singer/songwriters, but I tell you, it's often they who bring out the best music because they know what they're trying to get across better than anyone. And on this album Wes has truly excelled himself, starting off with the driving, rhythm based anthem of "I Believe". Then there's the strumming sermon of "Second String", a message to all of those who feel that they're not A team players, but merely substitutes, check out the David and Goliath simile. Best of the lot, and it's a terrific lot at that, is "Carolyn", an out-and-out love song, no ultra Christian lyric, no massive message, just a lovely marriage of melody and lyric which will wind its way into your brain for weeks to come. I suppose if Wes ever makes it big in the mainstream he'll be accused of 'selling out' which will be a crying shame because here's a guy who has that unique gift of being able to communicate at any level with any level of song. Christian contemporary music lovers should think carefully before accusing. He nearly equals "Carolyn" with a second pretty love song in "Move To The Moon", lightly played, delightfully sung. But in case you're thinking that this is just a love songs selection, you'd be wrong - take a listen to the sadness of "John", a mother's final word and the care of "The Robe". You can always tell how good an album is by the number of tracks a reviewer mentions in the course of the review, and I could easily have mentioned the rest. This is a fabulous album by one of Christian contemporary music's outstanding talents. Somewhere between Michael W Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman without the overproduction sometimes attributed to the latter. Well done, Wes.

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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