It's rare to find a band that is so good that even the reject demos they release are worthwhile, but that is exactly the case with Centricity Record's rising star band, Downhere. This is album is filled with demo versions of songs recorded during the sessions of the band's 2006 release, Wide-Eyed and Mystified, including a few demo versions of songs that made the record. This collection is mainly geared towards fans of the band and I wouldn't recommend that this be something you could use to bring in new fans. However, it provides some sweet entertainment for those already invested in what this band puts out.

The rocking opener "Close To Midnight" is a terrific song that you wish they went all the way with to put on the record because, if polished and finished, it could've been one of Downhere's best songs to date. "I'm All About You" follows next with another rocking anthem. You can tell that these are demos due to the raw sound, but this is Downhere and somehow they still make it work. "I Can't Lose Forever" is another terrific cut. "Fifteen" and "Story In The Making" are catchy tunes with melodies that get stuck in your head, while "Not About Wings," "The Invitation," and "Someone" are great slower songs on the album.

Unfortunately, not every song is good. "Sing This Song" just feels out of place with being so short. "Jesus Ellipsis" is the Demo version of "The Real Jesus" from Wide-Eyed. It's still good, but you really can appreciate the finished version when you hear this demo. This can also be said for the "1000 Miles Apart" and "A Better Way" demos as well.

All in all, this album offers some new tracks for Downhere fans to enjoy that will likely never be released outside of this collection. While not as golden as a full length release, there are more than enough gems in here to make purchasing this collection of songs worth it for Downhere fans.

Review date: 7/15/08, written by JJ Francesco for Jesusfreakhideout.com