Stand

They may look and sound like a regular pop group, but Avalon is so much more. The quartet is one of the most popular contemporary Christian acts on the planet. With more than three million albums sold, and 20 number one hits, the four-piece has made an indelible mark on not only the Christian community, but the music world in general. The group's new album Stand is proof that you can make hook laden pop music and praise God while you're doing it.

Stand finds Avalon adding a bit of rock and roll and a touch of R&B to their sound. The electrifying "The Other Side" kicks the disc off in full-throttle fashion. A powerful beat drives the song forward while the members take turns at the microphone. Bonnie Tyler comes to mind on the positive track. "Love Won't Leave You" keeps the tempo cranked to 11. A pounding rhythm section and tight vocal harmonies deliver a one-two punch that might knock a few listeners straight into the kingdom. Lyrics like, "Love won't leave you empty handed/ Broken down and somewhere stranded," remind us that God, who is love, will never forsake the faithful.

"Somehow You Are" mixes acoustic and electric guitars with a thumping hip-hop beat. The inner peace that comes with having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is the message behind the music. The aptly titled "Jesus" is a mid-tempo piano number with heart-piercing cello and strings throughout. The one name that means so much to so many, the one name that strikes fear in the hearts of the wicked, the one name that is more than worthy of a song such as this, is celebrated here. "I Survive" owes a serious debt to the guys in Jars Of Clay. Avalon rocks the house on the jolting track. The song bounces between softly chugging verses and explosive choruses.

The upbeat material on Stand is a real treat, but it's the ballads that really touch the soul. "Orphans Of God" cuts to the spiritual bone. The emotional track confesses the truth - that even though we may be outcasts in the world, none of us are outcasts in God's kingdom. "Slowly" is a piano power ballad that could have easily been recorded by a secular pop act like Bon Jovi. Avalon has the arena-sized ballad thing down to a tee. The album's crowning moment comes with the disc closing "Where Joy And Sorrow Meet," another piano number. The potent track will leave a few listeners with a lump in their throat.

If you like music with a message, and you like the pop sounds of the Top 40, minus the questionable lyrics, Stand is the album for you.

By Todd Sterling