Not since the giants of Christian rock came out with their multi-hit albums has a new band even made a ripple in the noise before sinking to the bottom. Going up against bands like Relient K, Switchfoot, Audio Adrenaline and Superchik; who could blame them? However, DECEMBERADIO isn't another one of those bands.

In their first week, as with most new releases, they appeared on shelves right next to bands currently up for Grammys. Some people bought the CD before realizing it was Christian rock they were blasting from their speakers. And once they heard the music, the rest just faded away.

I was one of these people. Armed with a music sampler and headphones I scanned the CD and was instantaneously sucked in by the smooth vocals of lead singer Josh Reedy. The first song, 'Can't Hide', is a hard rocking alternative song about the omnipresence of our God that proves to be no problem for this vocalist. With the sound of Bo Bice (American Idol) meets Scott Stapp (Creed), Josh easily switches from songs like 'Can't Hide' to soft love songs like 'Drifter'.

The bands sound is one of a kind. Guitarist Brian Bunn really delivers the unique sound this band has created. While one can easily classify them as a Christian rock group, you can just as easily pick up on a country sound, best heard in the intro for the song 'Love Found Me'.

The lyrics are exactly what separates the mainstream bands from the Christian artists but somehow that boundary is being crossed. Hundreds of thousands of non-Christians have attended Switchfoot concerts and stood in line to buy Relient K Cd's. I believe DECEMBERADIO might just have the spark to become a hit in both worlds, able to bring the message of Gods love to mainstream music.

Chad Bokelman (Duke Ireland) [www.myspace.com/chadrick13]

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