Staying Power
Posted November 07, 2007
By IronJedi,
With the release of their sophomore album, BEC artist Mainstay is out to prove that they are aptly named. Become Who You Are, the band's second release in as many years, avoids any hint of a sophomore slump and gives notice that this band is here to stay. In fact, it confirms the band's growth since the release of 2006's Well Meaning Fiction, and further reinforces the band's talent for creating mature, superbly-fashioned, melodic pop/rock.
The tracks of Become Who You Are are a study in dichotomy: they examine the fragility of life and faith; but instead of being brooding or anguished, the music reinforces the child-like expression of hopefulness in Justin Anderson's vocals. It could be argued that this is a concept album because each song seems to echo the progression indicated by the title. But it seems more serendipitous to believe that the songs are intimate glimpses of the band's soul. From the self-indicting title track to the intimate confession of "Hang On", each song of Become Who You Are acts as honest testimonies of faith and expectation.
Mainstay's Become Who You Are is a finely-crafted, modern rock album that is genuine and optimistic without being naïve, and encouraging without resorting to cliché. This sophomore album serves to establish the band as its namesake in the realm of modern rock. Fans of Stay-era Jeremy Camp, Switchfoot, new artists Our Hearts Hero and Sevenglory, and Sanctus Real will not be disappointed in the music or message of Become Who You Are.
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