If a band has ever been through a lot of rough times and pulled through with flying colors, it's Shaded Red. Yes, this 4-piece brothers-fronted band has definitely come a long way. An accident involving their tour bus hitting a patch of black ice last January left their drummer Chris Yoeman dead and lead guitarist Jon Roberts with crushed pelvis. The band took a break as the necessary Healing of God went to work in their lives. The result was a stronger musical sound, hopeful lyrics, and a new album to turn the heads of the Christian music scene. It certainly spun mine.

Although not the best of the year (but then again, who can really hold that spot hands down?), Red Revolution delivers quality Christian modern rock with relatively solid, occasionally weak, vocals.

When I first heard Shaded Red with their self-titled debut last year, I was far from impressed and was truthfully uninterested. Same held true for this year's new release, till my ears feasted on the tasty cut "Hello," undoubtedly the best song on the album, with "Innocence," "About My Love," and "When God Ran," right on its heels.

Lead singer Jamie Roberts delivers the strongest of the two vocal choices. While Jamie carries and uplifts some of the above-mentioned tracks and others, his younger brother Jon tends to nearly sink "Slow Suicide" and "Endless Summer Days." Jamie's voice seems more tamed while Jon's remains rough and gritty like sandpaper, which works for songs like "Wait" and "Tonight," but invades as a bridge in "Hello."

Although the "flaws" mentioned above may seem a little harsh at times, be assured that this album is clearly a great piece or artwork and has proven the band to have grown tremendously. Shaded Red is a band to certainly watch in the future, and in the meantime, don't miss Red Revolution or you may possibly be missing out on one of the greatest Revolutions since the Revolutionary War.

- Review date: 7/26/99, written by John DiBiase