"All good things..." It's a phrase that seems most applicable when acts like PfR, Seven Day Jesus, and Reality Check disband. "All good things must come to an end." Although that may seem true, it's not always. New artist, Parkway demonstrate that. Last year, Essential records artist, Silage, hung up their guitars. But Damian Horne and Lance Black needed to continue doing music. Enter Parkway. Keeping a sense of Silage, but creating a brand new feel, the band's debut album, Glad You Made It, boasts strong pop rock tunes with a hip hop edge.

"You Found Me Out," a song about struggling with sin, opens the disc with a smart blend of electric and acoustic guitars, record scratching, and bass beats, carried along by Damian and Lance's vocals and BGVs. Parkway immediately proves themselves as not being musical rookies. In a way, it's hard to believe they were once a part of the edgy Silage. The album's first single, "Your Love Surrounds Me," is the first of numerous of the album's ballads. Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine provides some vocals and background vocals to accompany the melodies. Pete Stewart also volunteers his acoustic guitar talents on this track. The album's ultimate highlight, "Don't Do It," is a song from a non-believer's point of view saying they don't want to be belittled when "preached" the Gospel to. The catchy rhythm and strong electric riffs aid the emotion of the song and help it stand out as a will-be fan favorite. "Are You Bored?," yet another groove-laced tune, encourages Christians that we're all called, "no matter what our background, to come to Him."

"Need Someone" briefly switches gears as fellow new Essential artist KJ-52, lends his rapping talents for a fun piece about how even when our friends let us down, Christ offers a love that will alway be available to us. "Soothe Me," which is basically a prayer to God asking Him to give us strength to be the kind of person that He would not be disappointed with, is a pop ballad which features the the help of Jars of Clay's Charlie Lowell on BGVs. The electronic drum loop and synths set a prayerful, soothing atmosphere.

An impressive debut, Glad You Made It, introduces a group who prove themselves to be an up and coming artist to watch.

- Review date: 5/22/00, written by John DiBiase