In a Different Light
With "Testify to Love," the longest running No. 1 Christian single of the 1990s and 1999's Dove Award-winner for Pop Song of the Year,A Maze of Gracehardly falls to the wayside with the release ofIn a Different Light. Yet even with Nikki Hassman's departure and the subsequent addition of Cherie Paliotta, Avalon has another monster hit.In a Different Lightraises the bar on harmonics, resulting in a dense, rich sound that retains its slick pop veneer. The quartet has found a vocal balance that showcases individual differences without compromising the quality and consistency of the whole. "Let Your Love" gets funky and electronic with a pulsating dance beat beneath the upbeat anthemic melody; "Can't Live a Day" is a diva-style ballad; "I'm Speechless" is an octane-powered pop tune; and the title cut is an unadulterated smash featuring Avalon's signature tight group harmony on the refrain.--Paige La Grone