Two

The Calling made serious waves in 2002 with its rookie release Camino Palermo, due largely to the talents of its young frontman Alex Band and the signature ballad "Wherever You Will Go."

The passionate sonority of Band's voice granted him a gravitas sharply at odds with his hyper-stylized boy band looks, and invited global comparisons to Creed's Scott Stapp and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

That vocal power, partnered with the multiple musical talents of guitarist/songwriter Alex Kamin, let The Calling seize blue chip real estate on the charts and established the group as a household name in short order.

The professional chemistry that made Camino Palermo such a success hasn't changed on The Calling's sophomore release Two -- although it has been enhanced by personal growth, artistic maturity, and general polish.

"I think we've just grown up. We're a little more grounded," Band told the Associated Press. "You can't go through what we've experienced the past couple of years and not learn from it." (www.msnbc.com)

Those lessons have resulted in a more accessible album with a stronger international appeal -- there's less angst, more pop hooks, and vastly higher production values, spearheaded by BMG North America's legendary Clive Davis.

"When I heard their material, I was knocked out by it," Davis said. "They've taken their time in writing their new material. ... The lyric content and the songwriting have matured beautifully."

That growth is reflected in Two's inspiring and uplifting message of togetherness -- a message that lends itself to The Calling's traditional soaring rock ballads.

"One By One" opens in tried and true fashion, Band's gentle, intimate vocals building over Kamin's subtle counterpoint to climax in an uplifting anthemic chorus.

Kamin's guitar shines especially bright on "Things Will Go My Way," his acoustic licks a subtle yet effective foil to Band's charismatic croon.

"Our Lives," however, is eminent among Two's uplifting rock hymnals, an emphatically positive reminder to live one's life to the fullest. It's Two's "Wherever You Will Go," a song that will be used in countless weddings, inspirational montages, and high school graduations this coming year.

Clearly, The Calling has perfected their rock ballad formula -- so it's exciting to hear them exploring new and different sounds. "Dreaming in Red" is a heady blend of Counting Crows' heavily layered acoustic rock and Better Than Ezra's unabashed pop. "Surrender" also has a hipper, more upbeat feel driven by more complex percussive scoring and a reduced focus on Band's sheer vocal power.

Change is good -- the artists of The Calling are far too talented to lock themselves into one sub-niche of music. Two gives us hints of how Band and Kamin's music will continue to evolve around the band's overall message -- that we are all more alike than we are different.

"We all want the same things in life. We all fear the same things in life," Kamin said. "This album is meant to be a reminder of the commonality in people's lives."

By Isaac Clemens