Sparrow Records' rock group The Elms have returned for round two in their musical career. While it's avowedly an interesting diversion, some might have a hard time converting over from their old sound to the new.
Yes, they've changed their sound. And as soon as you pop the album into your player you will notice the change when the first track ("Speaking In Tongues") commences. Sure, there are traces of the Big Surprise here and there such as in the ballads, but for the most part it seems like a departure.
While it does have its somewhat-addicting tracks such as "Speaking In Tongues," "Burn & Shine," and "You Got No Room To Talk," some of the tracks (IE: A few ballads) tone the "rock" sound that the album is supposed to have right down so it is not heard. At times you may even feel like skipping a couple of tracks, which is a rather unfortunate thing.
Lyrically The Elms have done a good job here for the most part. Sometimes it can be thought provoking while other times it's not too deep. The one track that I'm rather disappointed with lyrically is "All The While Having Fun!" though, as it only showcases five lines worth of lyrics which just repeats. The sound is good, but lyrically it just has a bit of an indolent look. Not a huge deal though.
Overall, the album is fairly enjoyable, but I can't really see it having a permanent spot in my CD player anytime soon. If you are a fan of The Elms, I imagine you could probably just go and buy this one. But otherwise, only check the album out first, as this is definitely one that's not for everybody.
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Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #99Reviewed by John J. ThompsonThere are frightful few bands in Christian music that seem all that interested in keeping the flame of good old fashioned rock and roll burning. Post-this and alterna-that thinking dominates the affections of an increasingly MTV-weaned crop of artists and the "me-too" fixated labels. Real rock bands don't do well in Christian music, or so goes the thinking. Don't tell that to the triple Gold…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WilsonThe Elms' first album, 2001's Big Surprise, split critics into two camps. Some hailed it as a glorious throwback to the British pop of the sixties, while others, most notably HM, condemned it as an overproduced, slick pop record that refused to be daring. Apparently some of the criticism hit home, for the press materials on the Elms' new album, Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll, use phrases like "searing…Similar sounding releases
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