One of my fave church albums, I actually just turned it on as I came to this section of the site....just exciting Pharoah now....a undderrated album for sure. Pharoah is a great, edgy, moody opener...which seems to be the undercurrent of the album. Metropolis, not my favourite song, kinda lightens that up. Love the ending of that song though. Terra Nova Cain brings you right back into that edgy, moody feel. City is a nice, jangly bridge...Monday Morning I love the lyrics to, the song is so-so...and then Russian Autumn Heart kinda cranks it up, then Essence. Essence has to be, one of my fave Church songs. Again, back to the edgy, moody undercurrent. The intro is great, the guitars are amazing, and the outro, the ending, how can one no love it? Like Terra Nova Cain, another song with a killer ending, the guitars are just amazing. Gets me everytime. Then, from that to Youre Still Beautiful. Now, I have to say before I had even heard the song I was worried about it because it had this label of being the worst Church song; and some people do think that I guess. I dont, I think it was as perfect choice for a single. It has a great great guitar riff; very catchy. The lyrics are great, and I love the bridge. I even think the video is pretty good; and I dont like most of the Church's videos. I think its a great little rocker that, for some reason, a lot of people dont like. Disappointment has grown to be another favourite of mine; just so very well done. Its a great slow, mournfull song. Transient kicks up the energy again; another good addition by Peter Koppes. Laughing and Fading Away are so-so for me; sometimes I really like them, sometimes they feel like filler tracks. However, they do carry the mood along to Grind, one of their best closing tracks on any of their discs. (though nothing quite beats Invisible in my mind) Grind really kind of, captures the whole of the cd; the mood and the feel of it all. Its a great way to wrap it all up; and again, great guitars as usual.

The only thing that kind of muddies the cd are the drums. Now, I dont mind them, I think it works great as is; I just think it wouldve had a different feel or touch to it if there were real drums through all the songs. The production I actually love; the desertish wailings on Terra Nova Cain and Pharoah are great. The only song the drums really bother me on sometimes is Grind; but again, the album might've been worse off with real drums recorded, who knows. Bottom line is that this is a great cd, one that is very much underrated in my opinion...