In a time where fresh new music isn't exactly easy to find, Columbus, Ohio-based Everyday Sunday comes as a surprise release. Produced by Michael Tait of dc Talk fame and Quinlan (Benjamin Gate, Rebecca St. James), Everyday's debut release Stand Up fuses catchy pop/rock and honest songwriting. The opening track "Would You Leave" has radio hit written all over it before leading into the ever-catchy "Mess With Your Mind," the band's first rock single. Trey Pearson's rough sandpaper vocals aren't easily digestible at first listen, but work best when the band is rocking out the tracks. Pearson's vocals aren't easy to compare with any one artist off the top of my head which helps create a different feel for the band, even when musically, at times, they might sound like your typical pop/rock band. "Wait" is the band's most aggressive offering on Stand Up, a rock track prepared to rival mainstream rock radio. The title track shifts gears to an almost Dave Matthews vocal delivery set to a catchy acoustic-driven melody. "Live For You Tonight" is another rock highlight while "Hanging On" is a worshipful rock ballad about surrender. "Lose It Again" is a pop/punk offering while "Sleeper" is another catchy rock song encouraging people, "Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you. Lay there no longer it's time to arise and never go back through." "Don't Leave," another rock ballad, closes out the record, my least favorite offering on Stand Up, featuring Pearson's vocals mumbling across a memorable rock rhythm, but for some reason doesn't seem to fit right and doesn't work as well as the tracks preceding it.

Everyday Sunday's pop/rock debut Stand Up is a refreshing listen for those looking for something out of the ordinary in rock today. Some will embrace it right away while others, like myself, might take a little longer to "get it," but essentially Stand Up is a great debut from a promising young group.

- Review date: 9/21/02, written by John DiBiase