Heat (Cd)

The sophomore album from South Carolina alt pop/rock outfit Needtobreathe has brought the band to national prominence with its entry onto four Billboard charts. The Heat is a disc of lyrical emotiveness and musical mood-setting. Headed up by brothers Bear and Bryant "Bo" Rinehart, Needtobreathe exhibits a sensitivity rarely found in today's music. They still know how to give things an edge, but they never lose sight of the almost spiritual connection they have with the listener.

The vibe is set with the brief yet sweet acoustic appetizer "Spare The Time" which opens the set. The guys then weave through some distinctive numbers that really catch the ear. Like "Again" with its blend of acoustic and electric guitars that builds in sound and passion as it moves forward. It's hooky emo that tugs at the heartstrings: "I don't want to stay, I don't want to fall/ I don't want to have to see you leave/ I don't want to stay, I don't want to fall in love."

Similarly heartfelt is the acoustic guitar-piano ballad "Return." The musical structure is such that it supports the impassioned lyrics perfectly. The pleading in this song -- with its refrain "return to me" -- comes through as very real. Therein lies the key to this band and this album.

Songs like "Streets Of Gold" and "Signature Of Divine" have a beat and a touch of bite, but the poetry is never dispensed with. The former has a slight U2 ring to it and illustrates the versatility of the outfit. The latter is a mid-tempo cut with a very '90s feel, when bands like Hootie & The Blowfish, Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd and The Monsters shaped the musical landscape.

Adding a little bounce to proceedings, the title track is jangly and shuffly and piano driven. It's the kind of song that Gavin DeGraw has made his name with and is a nice departure from much of the rest of the disc. Moving even further from their beaten track, "Washed By The Water" is a semi-gospel number that brings together piano, organ and voice in splendid unison.

Perhaps a little under the radar, Heat still just might be one of the year's best albums. If you're a little jaded with the slick, cookie-cutter pop and rock that's being produced at a rate of knots, you'll find Needtobreathe are a like a lungful of pure oxygen.