From their glorious location in the sunshine state of Florida, West Palm Beach quartet Tenth Avenue North is ready to take the world by storm with their debut Over And Underneath. With an EP and two independent records locked in, they have proven themselves experienced in working together as a band and in creating music. Only time (and record sales) will tell if Tenth Avenue North has what it takes to have longevity as a signed artist.

Soft, acoustic riffs saturate the air as the hit single "Love Is Here" gracefully opens, illustrating Christ and his character of love. "Lift Us Up To Fall" can be classified as a typical worship anthem, while "By Your Side" promises the comforting reassurance of Christ as the cornerstone of our everything and the fact that His presence is always near. "Let It Go" reveals how freedom and life are experienced to the fullest when surrender and abandonment are practiced, as stated in the chorus, "You say let it go…You say life is waiting for the ones who lose control."

"Break Me Down" is quite possibly the most upbeat track on the record, with a catchy tempo guaranteed to make heads bop and smiles form. "Hold My Heart" is defined as a desperate cry to sense God's presence and sweet voice ("If You're everything You say You are, would You come close and hold my heart?"), whereas "Times" represents the repetitive cycle of a Christian's high, low, and in-between points. In addition, the song also expresses how our Father offers His unfathomable and unchanging love in spite of all the ups and downs within our spiritual walk.

"Beloved" emphasizes the bridegroom-bride relationship we share with our Savior, while "You Are" leaves the listener entranced in a state of awe and amazement at the vast wonder of our God. "Satisfy" exhibits pure and intense worship both vocally and musically, a quality that is rare and valuable. "Hallelujah" declares highest praise to the One who was slain for our sins and closes the album on an appropriate note.

This debut emits an incredible amount of talent, but unfortunately seems to be lacking in originality. Maybe adding more energetic tracks to the listing (perhaps those resembling "Break Me Down," for example) would have evened out one of the few flaws. Overall, this album isn't groundbreaking, but it manifests itself to be a solid worship project. Hopefully the band's sophomore compilation will establish an even greater identity for Tenth Avenue North than Over And Underneath.

- Review date: 5/18/08, written by Laura Sproull