Taking Back Identity
Posted September 27, 2016
By JJFrancesco_NRT, Staff Reviewer
About A Mile seemed to be another entry in what has been something of a trend: a band of brothers signed to Word records producing a catchy mix of pop and rock, slated for an opening slot on Winter Jam. Their debut album carried the strong sound you'd expect from such a band, but after an initial impact got a bit lost in the shuffle. After stepping away from Word, About A Mile is back with their sophomore project Trust You All The Way, released independently through Ian Eskelin's Radiate Music. The result is a step in the right direction, even if the influence of industry norms retains a strong grip.
Lead single "Taking Back" got hopes high for a fresh new About A Mile when the boys dropped it last year. It's a rocking, emotional cannonball of a song that should grab some deserved attention for the album. Poppy hooks abound on Trust You All The Way's remaining tracks. The title track and the Winter Jam-ready "Outrun" make noticeable impressions, covering familiar themes of the Christian walk but keeping the melodies and music top quality to engage the listener.
"Born to Live" experiments with near-rapped verses and a slightly more electronic approach that works surprisingly well. Pop artists mixing in some rap is nothing revolutionary, but About A Mile's usage actually feels fitting for the song, making it one of the album's best cuts. Themes of individuality run strong in "Undeniable," another of the album's prime cuts. "All I Need" is the trendy acoustic soft closer, which is a fitting and soothing contrast to the album's more energetic moments. It adds nice flavor and variety to the proceedings.
I do wish the band had stretched their boundaries a bit more, but there's undeniable quality in every track that makes it hard to come away disappointed. The musical recipe may still be similar to their debut, but the execution is top notch. There's enough progress to keep listeners interested and enough highlights to keep the band's setlists fresh. Trust You All The Way should encourage you to give the guys a second chance if their debut didn't stick with you.
The Bottom Line: About A Mile avoids the dreaded sophomore slump and crafts another winning pop/rock adventure.
Song to Download Now:
"Taking Back" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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