NEEDTOBREATHE

The Heat

Atlantic Records

14 tracks @  52:41

Grade - C-

            This South Carolina’s band’s second record sounds really great.  The killer drums open on “Restless” and vocals reminds me of Aerosmith.  “More Time” makes a great candidate for the “Oh Brother Where Art There” soundtrack.  The one clearly hristian song “Signature of Divine (Yahweh)” sounds like tree63.

            Lead singer Bear Rineheart says, “I think everybody wants to mature on their second record and we certainly have.  You can’t help but learn when you’re able to tour with great acts like Train, Edwin McCain, Collective Soul, Will Hoge, Sanctus real, and Jars of Clay, but oddly enough I think the thing we gained most from the experience was the confidence to be ourselves.”

            Some of the themes on the record include reconciliation, “Again,” Rinehart’s father, “Washed by the Water.”  I have no problem with Christian artists exploring life themes.  However, 13 of the14 tracks on this record fall into that “generic” category.  Examples include “return to me,” “nothing left to lose,” “let you go,” and “I won’t ever let down, so long as you’re around me.” That stuff is pretty trite.

            Also, I caught most of their performance at Lifest this year and can’t say I was real impressed with what they had to say, which wasn’t much of anything.

Rob S.

www.needtobreathe.net