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JFH Music Review


Plus One, Obvious

Plus One
Obvious



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 43 minutes, 25 seconds
Street Date: February 26, 2002


After hearing Plus One's stellar debut with clean vocals and catchy music, I have to admit that my childhood self was initially disappointed with Obvious. Even at a young age, I recognized Plus One's attempt to cross over to mainstream radio, while trying to copy the techno-driven sounds of *NSYNC or post-"Millenium" Backstreet Boys. The lyrics of Obvious were also more ambiguous, sometimes to the point where it was nearly impossible to tell if the boys were singing to God or a lover. Despite the change in the band, I had this album in my player for six months straight, and it definitely grew on me to the point where I could almost listen to the whole album through.

"Camouflage" is a drum-beat driven, rock opener and immediately reveals the band's new sound as it talks about breaking away from the everyday life and making God's Word known. The following track, "Use Me," is a slightly repetitive song in which the band asks God to do His work. "Let Me Be The One" is a slow ballad from the perspective of God toward His children, or to a lover (A few years after the release of Obvious, Jesse McCartney covered the song under the title "Come To Me" with the latter approach). After the uneventful "Under The Influence" comes "You," another slow ballad that's more Christ-based which focuses on the fact that all we need is the love of Jesus. "I Don't Care" follows with catchy guitar-driven verses, and "Kick Me" holds a chorus that talks about the harsh reality of life and that you cannot let it get you down.

"Going Crazy" is a spiritually ambiguous song that only reveals the band's Christian roots in the lyric, "I thank God for the life I lead" (which was unfortunately altered when the song earned radio airplay on Radio Disney). The tracks that follow are the highlights of the album. "Start To Fly" talks about one who is discovering their faith. Despite the melancholy music, the lyrics are uplifting throughout the song, with lines like, "If you just look past your scars/ you will see it's not that far" and "everything that you need/ it is right there can't you see." "Calling Down An Angel" is yet another ballad, but this time with lyrics appropriate for AC radio, unlike most of the album's songs which are aimed for the pop stations. The most enjoyable track on the album, "Forever," features slight vocoder overtones in the beginning, but also features some impressive singing. The semi-acoustic music of "Forever" reveals another more CCM-oriented song that is reminiscent of *NSYNC's "God Must Have." While not a highlight of the album, it does a sufficient job as a closer.

I picked this album up off the shelf a few months back and I am so glad that I did. While it did not showcase the singers' voices as much as their previous album, or have as many God-glorifying lyrics, it is still an enjoyable album. The final tracks are definitely most similar to their previous sound, but if you are a fan of boy bands even though they are way out of style, I recommend the entire album. Although, singing along to the songs was a throw-back in time, many of the songs are still relevant to the people's lives today. So, if you have some spare change, I without a doubt recommend that you check out the band (and I'm still hoping that someday they will have a reunion).

JFH Reader Review: Review date: 4/3/09, written by Raul Camp for Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Word Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 43 minutes, 25 seconds
. Street Date: February 26, 2002
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Camouflage (2:32)
  2. Use Me (2:45)
  3. Let Me Be The One (3:36)
  4. Under The Influence (3:08)
  5. You (3:51)
  6. I Don't Care (3:32)
  7. Kick Me (3:18)
  8. Going Crazy (4:20)
  9. Start To Fly (4:13)
  10. Calling Down An Angel (4:03)
  11. Forever (3:47)
  12. Who Am I (4:15)

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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