Plain Clothes
Long Way to Go
Reviewed by Brent Hershey
A bit more flashy than their name implies, Plain Clothes take hold with a solid 9-song independent release titled Long Way to Go. Fortunately, the album title doesn't apply to their musical talents, either. Professional, surprisingly slick power metal in a Stryper/Tamplin vein is the initial attention-grabber; that the wall of sound comes from only a trio is another. Scott (bass, vocals), Todd (guitar, vocals), and Matt (drums, vocals) are active, sharing vocal, songwriting and performance duties better than some five-piece bands. The title cut, along with "Can't Stand the Heat" and "Honest to God" are the standout tracks.
Lyrically, Plain Clothes are not spell-binding, but not banal, either. "Long Way To Go" is a vulnerable, personal confession that all is not perfect -- an attitude that should be shared more often, and one that gets the band off on the right foot. A similar sincere desire for reconciliation is the subject of "Honest to God," and "Sin is Sin" warns that there is only one way to heaven, and just being a good person isn't it. "Hallelujah to Ya!" closes the tape with a track that takes cues from the rap-group shout-outs (though no in rap style) to other Christian rock performers: "Carman is addicted, Petra knows the way/And Dale and Troy are here to stay/ Rez is on the rampage, Satan takes a loss/ Daily take up your Whitecross."
The production throughout is very clean, and give everything, this suit fits.