Delirious? has become known as one of the leading modern worship groups in Christian music today. Straight from the UK, the band has made it a habit of releasing brand new projects in their home country first before releasing them to the United States via an American label. The latest UK-first project is Audio Lessonover?, a project released this summer, but won't be hitting the U.S. till the spring of 2002. What are you in for?

The album doesn't exactly get off to a very strong start. While I've come to expect artsy well-crafted melodic pop rock tunes from these guys, I was surprised to hear the first two cuts, "Waiting for the Summer" and "Take Me Away" are less serious, more fun poppy tunes. However, the rest of the album changes its mood to exactly what I have come to expect. "Love is the Compass" is a melodic rock song that, although a little ambiguous, can easily be a worship song. And be warned, this is not an album like Glo or Cutting Edge. Audio Lessonover? is lyrically more like Mezzamorphis and musically different. "Alien" lowers the mood and slows the tempo dramatically before delivering an infectious but dreary-in-mood chorus driven by Martin Smith's passionate vocals supported by fuzzy guitars. "Rollercoaster" is an album highlight, beginning with some electronic beeps and sounds as a backdrop for a moderately funky drum beat and Smith's almost whiney yet fitting vocals. "Fire" is the ugly duckling of the project yet probably the best song in the bunch. Taking their sound further and in yet another direction on the project, the song opens with crunchy, fuzzy guitars and layered vocal harmonies leading into a pumped-up chorus with layered shouts and choruses resembling an anthem of faith.

"Bicycle Gasoline" is another highlight, a dreamy rock ballad with beautiful harmonies and melodies. The rest of the album doesn't stand out nearly as much, however does include pretty good upbeat pop rock tunes like "Show Me Heaven," and "A Little Love." Ironically, considering recent events earlier this month, "America" is a lyrically really simple song calling for a peace among the world's nations. "Stealing Time" is a unique gem. The song is a slow dreary rock ballad that opens with eerie sounds you'd expect to hear on Halloween night from someone's home while trick-or-treating in a local town. It's a really unique song that fits nicely as a closer for the album (not including the bizarre hidden track at the end).

It's interesting to see the next step in Delirious' musical evolution. They're a truly gifted group with a lot to offer. If you don't order this one online, I suggest checking it out when it hits the states next year.

- Review date: 9/26/01, written by John DiBiase