The Normals were a CCM alternative band that seem almost lost to history today, though lead singer Andrew Osenga is still active in the Christian music scene today. I stumbled across the group's 1998 debut album, Better Than This, at a thrift store, and having heard The Normals' most well-known song, "Everything (Apron Full of Stains)" on "K-LOVE 90s" in the past, I decided to listen to the CD. I was pleased with my choice.

While The Normals' pop rock style may seem unoriginal (and even pseudo-Jars of Clay), the album is unique and intriguing through the songwriting. There is no "Christianese" that plagues modern CCM radio. Here is a demonstration of candor and raw faith, an acknowledgement of our sinfulness and brokenness and our need for the mercy of God. There is a certain thought-provoking quality to these songs that is hard to find in most Christian music. The lyrics of the title cut, which begins the album, sum it up well: "Believe in God, believe in love / It's better than this."

Next on the tracklist are "Song and Dance" and "Someone to Believe," songs about being somebody who you're not and being lonely, respectively. Each of these tracks clock in at over five minutes, leaving Osenga's "la-dee-da-da-da'"s a little tiring and repetitive by the end. The album's tone shifts from upbeat to more slow with the aforementioned radio hit "Everything (Apron Full of Stains)." The acoustic tune portrays scenarios in which we are called as disciples to love the needy - a sad waitress and a homeless veteran, to be exact. The lyrics, "Do I toss up a prayer as I walk on by / Or give him a tract and a weak, fake smile / Or do I take the time to show him a little love?" hit home for me. "What I Cannot Earn" and the frantic "I Need You" follow, continuing the lamenting theme of the struggle between our pride and God's love.

"If Tomorrow Was Forever" is another convicting song, a tranquil melody on forgiveness that features a surprise appearance by Sixpence None the Richer lead singer Leigh Nash. It is one of the highlights on the album. "What's Ailing Norman?" and "Daddy's Girl" crank up the beats, but it comes at the expense of lesser songwriting for niche situations. "Running From the Sun" is the most upbeat track on the album, covering the topic of hypocrisy (and adding a pinch of humor with the line "And I think I use the word 'I' too much"). The internal conflict of The Normals, a journey throughout the album, ends in surrender to God on the heartfelt finale, "Forgive," and a hidden track cover of the classic hymn "Take My Life."

Better Than This is a thoughtful exploration of the heart and mind of a Christian struggling to feel the love and grace of the Father, and it is very relatable for many Christians today. While the album was not amazing or revolutionary, and the acoustic-heavy sound can get tiring by the end, it's clear that The Normals have a real heart for God.