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Sunday Drive is a fairly even cross between DC Talk power pop meets Rap and the always-ready-for-radio-airplay vocal artistry of bands like Avalon and Newsboys. On just about every song the band seems to mix DCTalk perfectly with Newsboys, delivering this interesting albiet non-specific blend in note-perfect form.
The band had a huge hit with "God is Believable" in 97. Now, three years later they have emerged with an album where every song seems to have every intention of recapturing that excitement, and on some levels they succeed.
One level is pure music sensibility. This is finely crafted work, with good production and layering in the mix. Songs like the opening track "Doors Open Wide" have an even distribution of sounds, so you are never overwhelmed by too much vocals or a piercing guitar solo. It is a calculated and perfected sound, compressed by digital equipment used mainly by pop bands that raises the lows and lowers the highs - thus making it very listenable and non-jarring. Every major pop artist from Jewel to U2 uses compression in this way, and it does nothing but help the Sunday Drive sound.
Another plus is that the singing is very good, especially on songs like "God is Good" where each member can have a moment to shine. You will never wonder if anyone is out of tune or not following the vocal lead. It's right on every time.
Songwriting is somewhat predictable. God is good, powerful and holy - on just about every song. No, this is not Rich Mullins. But I think the band is not trying to say something especially clever here, just sending up praises. In that sense, it is as good a praise record as a pop record. The closing song (a very upbeat rendition of "Lamb of God") is easily one of the best, highlighting all the many strengths of the band and quite possibly offering the best hope for a hit than any other song.
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