For all intents and purposes, Temple Yard is a new band; but seasoned Christian world beat fans will recognize the reggae roots of Christafari in this soulful blend of pop with the sounds of the Caribbean islands. Of course, the similarity is natural; Temple Yard is the entire Christafari crew minus only Mark Mohr. The remaining five players, led by Erik Sundin, continue exploring the connections between reggae, pop music and the Gospel message. A sophisticated pop sheen, not unlike what you expect from UB40, emanates from tracks like "Tell Me," "By Your Side," "Give It Away" and "Speak the Truth." Never drifting too far from a smooth, polished sound, Sundin & Co. do get a little grittier on tracks like "Lion of Judah," "Wicked Stone" and "Freedom In Captivity." Generally, the vocals feel a little too high in the mix, forcing the fun dance rhythms into a rather subdued position, but that may be a matter of personal preference. Still, there's no denying the band's overall musicality. Taut rhythms, lite-funk grooves, smooth keyboard and horn runs (especially the jazzy solo by guest Kirk Whalum on "Give It Away") are fresh and effective. Emphasizing a message that humanity is lost and captive apart from the liberating love of God in Jesus, Temple Yard manages to please musically while lifting spiritually. It's "Not Too Late" to feel the warm island vibe of pop music from the Caribbean.
