Believe, receive, obtain, withstand, never die. These words comprise the extended version of the P.O.D. album Brown. Ever wondered where the band might have been if not for the creation of this album which paved the way to their signing to Atlantic Records in 1999? This project is beautifully crafted and well presented compared to indie projects that were released around the same time back in 1996.

From the grinding guitars in "Know Me" to the thought-provoking "Preach," this album is a must for die-hard POD fans. Lyrically, this project has alot to offer. "Selah" explains how the world won't take away a man's faith in God no matter how bad they might toture him while "Live and Die" boldly states 'live by the sword and die by the sword' referring to those who prefer to live a life of sin until their death. One song relates to personal experience; "Full Color" deals with Sonny's personal struggle with his mother's death back in 1992 where he blamed God for the death but eventually overcame his pain and had to put all his trust in the Father.

Other highlights on the album include the band's willing to experiment with other genres of music as shown in the "Punks Rock" and "Reggae Jam" interludes. The boys really shine when they team with rapper Dirt for the pulsating "Breathe Babylon." The only downside to the project is that the tracks "Visions" and "Brown" are almost absent of lyrics except a few spoken words which fit well but leave the listener hoping for more context.

Missing a CD in your P.O.D. collection? Check out the project that gained the band wide recognition for their efforts that lead to the blockbuster success of their albums Fundamental Elements of Southtown and the critically acclaimed Satellite. Do yourself a favor and pick-up a copy of Brown where available.

This is truly a work of art, and a definite highlight of CCM history.

- Review date: 5/7/03, written by Paul Portell