“Old & Faded” is the first track on The Sunrise’s “Spread The Word”, providing listeners with a sampling of their own style of rock. This style touches upon seventies rock, gospel, R&B, soul, and does so while providing a message. “The Way To Live” provides this message of uplift and righteous living alongside guitar work that is simply fantastic. The overall sound of “The Way To Live” will garner fans of Christian and secular artists alike, whether it be the Newsboys, Michael W. Smith, or even Lenny Kravitz and Tom Petty. “Don’t Tell Me That You’re Spiritual” may just be the most impressive track on “Spread The Word” as it feels as if The Sunrise cranks the dial to 11. Whether it be through the inclusion of a more jam-band based feel, a clap track, or a chorus that will stick around listeners’ brains for months after the first listen, The Sunrise have themselves a great little single.
“I Love My Wife” continues this same type of momentum, with a laid-back approach taken to the guitars, drums, and vocals. The song shines brightest on the instrumental side of things, with the band taking an about-face in the transition from stanzas to the chorus. A hallmark of any good band, this spontaneity keeps listeners focused in through the rest of the album. This is a great thing, as the penultimate track “There Is A Faith” is a late-disc gem.
“There Is A Faith” features a stripped-back The Sunrise, with the band playing softly to properly highlight the uplifting message present. The Sunrise should be seen as a revolutionary, contemporary Christian act. This is because there has been a lot of complacency and preaching to the choir with a great many CCM acts in the last decade. While this is a good way to ensure that Christians do not err in their ways, praise music should be made to glorify God and show exactly what listeners may be missing in their life. The Sunrise are able to have a strong, Christ-centered message but are able to wrap it in a very technical and catchy form. They are able to show the beauty present in Christianity while making some great music – buy a copy of “Spread the Word” if you’d like to see what I mean.
Top Tracks: Don’t Tell Me That You’re Spiritual, There Is A Faith
Rating: 8.0/10
The Sunrise – Spread The Word / 2011 Self / 7 Tracks / http://www.thesunrisemusic.com