Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Having been endorsed by Joe Public ('Mobile Orchestra' climbed high into America's Hot 200), vilified by some critics (New York Daily Times wrote "everything on the album sounds as if it was recorded by children or trolls") and supported by Cross Rhythms radio (who have selected for their playlist "Thunderstruck ftg Sarah Russell", "Unbelievable ftg Hanson", "Can't Live Without You" and "This Isn't The End"), it only remains for your favourite Internet reviewer to add his six penn'orth about this album. The truth is Adam Young does pop better than just about anyone else around at the moment, Christian or non-Christian. Whether you enjoy dancefloor delights like the catchy opener "Verge ftg Aloe Blacc" or veer more towards the dreamy vibe that turned "Fireflies" into that multi-million seller, you'll find on "I Found Love" the synth pop maestro hardly puts a foot wrong. The latter song takes on the theme of God's love ("So lead me home and lift me up above the stars and even higher/I'm not afraid because your love falls like rain and burns like fire"). Not all of Adam's lyrics deal with the divine of course. The track with Hanson uses some colourful snapshots of childhood nostalgia ("When I was a kid I ate Spaghettios, played laser tag and GI Joe/And if you vowed 'no girls allowed' then you could join my club/When I was a kid I spent my Saturdays blowing on Nintendo cards/The newest thing was Lion King and I could feel the love"). Adam continues his winning way with memorable imagery right through to the close "This Isn't The End" sensitively dealing with issues like abandonment and suicide. The hipster reviewers may call Owl City shallow and cheesy. But the hipster reviewers are wrong.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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