7 Spin Music - not exactly the biggest or most well-known record label in Christian music. But certainly a label that has boasted some pretty skilled and recognized artists. For instance, hip hop extraordinaire Playdough, as well as the pop rock act All Star United and pop/punk outfit Inhabited. Now, fans of Eleventyseven and Hawk Nelson, let me introduce you to 7 Spin newcomers, Hello Kelly.

"10 Good Reasons" opens in a similar fashion to the starting track of Roper's Brace Yourself For The Mediocre, featuring some quick drums that immediately spring into a pop/punk guitar riff and some synthesizers. The Roper resemblance ends soon thereafter, with Francois Goudreault's awkwardly sung vocals coming in, which slightly, and disappointingly, are similar to the vocals of The Chemistry. And it's not exactly the sound of the vocals, just the way they are sung (singing on beat, but almost in a different time signature than the music). The less-than-impressive vocal style seem to be the biggest problem for this album, as they sound really breathy and nasally and somewhat held back at times on most of the tracks, like "My Girlfriend" and "Disappearing" for example. On occasion, some amateur lyrics will spring in too, such as in "Favorite Arcade," "How can I hate you when you buy me flowers? How can I trust you when they always die?" A good thought, and it definitely has potential, but it probably could've been expressed differently.

The music on Hello Kelly is pretty good, showcasing some fun and upbeat pop/punk that is no doubt a blast to bounce around to at a show. The beginning of "The Right Thing" is even close to being epic, with driving guitars and a symphony of synth. Then there's "Simple Love Song," which could pass as a song by The Spill Canvas or The Rocket Summer, however, it also goes back to the issue of displaying mediocre lyrics, "If you got it bad girl/ Why don't you tell me all your feelings?/ You can't run from love forever/ Nobody should/ If you got it bad, you got it good." It definitely takes some points away from the song, which otherwise would've been an album highlight.

While Hello Kelly may not end up being album of the year, it does a good job of getting the band's name out there, and it shows that the guys have potential for the next album to be an even better release. Don't make it a point to rush out and buy it, but while you're scoping out some new tunes, make sure to add Hello Kelly to your list of bands to check out.

- Review date: 6/17/08, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com