What kind of rock band does it take for this crit to appreciate Eli and Steven Curtis Chapman? Daily Planet, a group of young guys who look as if they could play the Warped Tour but sound appealing to the crossover demographic that both listens to "Christian hit radio" (the kind of stations that profess to be reaching out to youth but are really "hot" adult contemporary in their heart of hearts) and watches VH1. Therefore, nothing on D.P.'s Hero rocks harder than that with which a skittish late 20-something/early 30-something youth pastor might be comfortable, delivered with an attitude that suggests aspirations for popularity outside the evangelighetto dampened by a bit too much contentedness in playing 'n' preaching to the proverbial choir. Thing is, like Chapman and Eli, the Planet is capable of some fetching songcraft; what's readily appreciable about those guys, however, is that those Christian radio vets have no apparent illusions that they're playing for much of anyone but churchfolk. Pretty as some of the string arrangements among the trad rock instrumentation here is, and how some listeners may appreciate the band's syncretism of the elements that make Dave Mathews and Matchbox 20 such populist draws, Daily Planet doesn't merit a general market breakthrough quite yet. Chapman, on the other hand....
Editors' ratings - Doug 2.5/5, Jason 1.5/5
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by David MartinAllow me to introduce the best new rock band of the year 2002: Daily Planet. Perhaps I'm a little biased, since the young quartet was formed while attending Azusa Pacific University here in my native Los Angeles County, but regardless of that and the kabillion comparisons critics have thrown at these guys, something about this new band makes me smile from ear to ear. It's not rocket science -…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WilsonNew Reunion band Daily Planet falls directly into the Dave Matthews/Matchbox 20 brand of straightforward, occasionally meandering modern rock on their debut, Hero. That's not a bad thing if it's done well, which it is. The album's best moments are the upbeat ones. Lead singles "Flying Blind" and "Tangled Web" rock with a Matchbox-esque flair, while "More To Life" and "Five" bring in the funky…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Brian A. SmithDaily Planet will satisfy fans of The Waiting, Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox 20, and Kevin Max. "Flying Blind", about total trust in God, and "More to Life" most resemble DMB, with the latter adding a Blues Traveler dimension to Jesse Butterworth's vocals. "Lost and Found" centers on appreciating God through his Creation, and being renewed through that process: I see the paradox With wheat, the…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Josh McConnellReunion Records has done it once again by successfully signing another winning band, the new rock group Daily Planet, which consists of four guys from southern California: Jesse Butterworth, Seth Davis, Danny Lund, and Bobby Reinsch. As soon as you pop Hero into your CD Player and press Play you will never want to hit the Stop button until the album is completely finished (unless you strongly…Similar sounding releases
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