One thing to note about Last Tuesday's new album Become What You Believe is that it picks up where their previous release, Resolve, left off. It might not be exactly the same, whereas this album has new artwork and even new songs, but any or all of this album easily could have been a part of Resolve. Steve Gee's gritty vocals still dominate, preserving Last Tuesday's signature sound and one of the problems of Resolve at the same time. It's not that Gee can't sing, but those expecting a polished sound will need some time to get used to his less radio-friendly punk styling. If you do find yourself enjoying Gee's approach, then you should have no trouble enjoying this album.

Although it isn't groundbreaking, the boys of Last Tuesday probably avoid the dreaded sophomore slump here with this, their second album on Gotee Records rock imprint Mono vs Stereo. Instead of turning to Relient K's Matt Thiessen this time around, former OC Supertones members Ethan Luck and Dan Spencer (now of My Red Hot Nightmare) take the helm for much of the production. This change, along with the addition of a new guitarist, hasn't really changed much, however. Become What You Believe is a solid mix of catchy punk and pop punk tunes just like its 2004 predecessor, Resolve.

Just like before, the lyrics revolve around common, yet relevant Christian issues such as living out your faith and trusting in God. It's obvious from the very beginning that Last Tuesday holds these beliefs as the title track "Become What You Believe" serves as the theme for the entire album, starting it off right. Probably the best track on the album, "Deal with it" questions God on what we should do as Christians to surrender our lives and dedicate them to telling others about the hope and love found in Him. The album is worth buying for this track alone, even though it is surprisingly not a single, because it characterizes what we all should be asking for daily to grow in Christ and is a message we all need to hear and think upon. Fortunately, much of the rest of the album is just as powerful.

Last Tuesday's Become What You Believe may sound similar to some of their previous efforts, but there is a distinct edge and perhaps more of a shift to the harder areas of punk and rock that fit Gee's vocals much better. There is still a lot of room for growth while this more aggressive turn is still sometimes subtle, but it would not be a stretch to say that they are moving in the right direction.

- Review date: 8/12/06, written by John "Flip" Choquette