Nashville-bred pop outfit Sidewalk Prophets have been around since 2003, yet they seem to get lost in the shuffle of the Christian radio scene. Much like being mistaken for someone else by having "that kind of face," you've probably heard their songs on the radio, without knowing it was them. While they've won Dove Awards and have many songs filling the airwaves, their overall sound hasn't had much, if any, trademark influence and has not tapped into their enormous potential nearly enough. Their fifth studio album, The Things That Got Us Here, while being relentlessly joyful, doesn't do enough to break that mold...

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Kevin Max, the artist, is tough to pin down. Though defining him has become a fool's errand, many have tried (this longtime listener included). The truth is, no one word fully fits, though "versatile" would certainly come close. Perhaps the greatest double-edged sword for Max over the years is that, although he had an indelible part of shaping Christian music with DC Talk, his solo output doesn't truly belong in the oft narrow confines of the genre. This is not for a lack of trying, with a brief stint as the lead singer of Audio Adrenaline from 2012-2014, covers albums, and a myriad of solo projects featuring different musical palettes. These wide-ranging expressions swung from euro rock, pop/rock, gospel, and indie to spoken word poetry, 80s new wave, and then a full-on electronic concept album among them. Commendable through all musical endeavors, is the fact he has always done it on his own terms. Sticking to his guns and following his creative muse wherever it leads has alienated some, but it has also cultivated a fierce following in the process, with Kevin happy to have it no other way...

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It's been a big year for Centricity Music's happy-hip-hop artist PEABOD since the release of his Backpack EP a year ago this month. He's been featured on some high profile tours, tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, and started his own social media-based talk show during the coronavirus quarantine. But now Isaac Peabody is ready and poised to release new music, starting with the first single of the year, "Big Feelings." From the start, there's a darker tone to the track, with an edgier beat and mood set. But there's still a playful twist to the sound; angst isn't really PEABOD's persona, so when his topics turn serious, there's...

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In 2019, a little-known, yet well-loved rock band called American Arson joined the Facedown family and gave us a measly two-song taste of what was to come in Rise & Fall. It was enough to whet fans' appetites, though, as have the singles they've been releasing over the past few months. Their first major label full-length is now here, and it does not fail to deliver. A Line in the Sand is American Arson at their finest. The duo has a terrific chemistry, a great sense of melody...and they just rock. Much of the album gives off a Rise Against vibe - it's energetic and...

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