So many of us are questioning the future direction of Christian music. It seems as though the number of artists within the genre who are trying to crossover and make it big in the mainstream far outnumber those who are pleased simply with their success inside the realms of the Christian music world alone. Don't take this the wrong way - we need to have Christians witnessing in the mainstream, but the problem comes when satisfying secular culture takes over as priority instead of glorifying God. Young artists are truly in control of the next move for Christian music in general. That's why up and coming talent like Luke Benward (he's just 13 years old!) is extremely promising.

Luke first gained popularity from his lead roles in 2006's theatrical release of How to Eat Fried Worms and Disney Channel's Minutemen. His venture into music is only recent, but a successful career in the industry for Luke seems nearly guaranteed. Opening cut "Get Up" encourages a tween audience to make a difference in someone's life. Making a Christian theme out of a secular song, "Higher Love," is a popped-up remake of Steve Winwood's original 1986 hit. Another notable track on the album is "Let Your Love Out," which was given promo on ABC's The Rachael Ray Show earlier this year in their TV ad spots.

Unfortunately, you can hardly call this CD an album. 5 tracks? Really? With a targeted audience of kids, tweens, and teens, the minimal track listing will unquestionably come as a huge letdown to most fans.

But, with the world at his fingertips, and decent, yet somewhat generic songs in the fold, the name Luke Benward will be sticking around. This short, over-popish, yet enthusiastic and unashamed record may not go far, but if Luke continues to explore and expand his musical horizons in the Christian industry, the future is wide open. It's not hard to look forward to see what could be around the corner as this young artist matures in both his music and his faith. Stay tuned.

- Review date: 4/18/09, written by Logan Leasure of Jesusfreakhideout.com