In a time where Christian rock music has all but lost its confident and passionate Christian pride to adopt two extremes: worship music vs. mainstream music, it's difficult to find a band with the kind of music and message like many who came before who were not ashamed to sing about their faith. Artists are nearly forced to be put in some kind of box, so when someone comes around trying to exist outside the prefab boundaries, listeners are hesitant to embrace them.

Spur58's Indelible debut Sleepwalkers is a call for Christians to wake up and live out their faith. The record opens with more artistic pop/rock promise (save for the monotony of the album's opener, "Always Been There") before slipping into more worship commonplace. This Houston-bred band attempts to break out of that modern worship mold, but slips into its trappings with such formulaic tracks like "Sustaining Me," "I Am Yours," and "All To My God." But it's songs like the refreshing theme of surrender "Ready To Love," which shows a bit of Mae influence, the passion-driven, aptly titled "Kyle's Lament," the catchy title track, and the powerful melodic closer "Start Over" that make Spur's national debut Sleepwalkers stand out from the abundance of modern worship acts. But even if a few songs seem to drip with familiarity, there are artistic elements that the band infuses into their songs, whether it be a superior drum beat or grandiose ending, that make this record more lively.

Even at its weakest point, Spur58's Sleepwalkers is still one of the more creative worship albums you're likely to hear this Fall. This band definitely has the potential to take worship music to new levels.

- Review date: 10/8/06, written by John DiBiase