Plan
With its youth-oriented ministry and techno musical approach, Raze is easy to misunderstand. While the casual listener might dismiss Raze as kid's stuff, it's more accurate to say the group is kid-friendly, working in a genre that naturally attracts younger listeners.That said, techno-pop music is tough to get right. Go too far to the pop side, and you risk silliness a la Mike Myers' "Dieter" character. Go too far to the techno side, and you'll dish soulless, passionless pabulum that betrays the gospel spirit.Landing somewhere to the elementary pop side is Raze'sThe Plan.Despite inventive musical sparks-and a few inspired cuts-The Plantoo often mistakes simplistic for simple. That is, in giving listeners a straightforward take on faith, The Plan often becomes mired in musical, lyrical and spiritual clichés.Some parts of this record work. The infectious cover of Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" is lyrically retrofitted and honed to a funky finish. Elsewhere, interlude passages add welcome bits of radio theater. "If You Go" pleasantly blends gurgling synth percussion and cheesy keyboard strings with acoustic guitar. "I Wish" filters male and female voices through a pitch-bending effect.Yet many choruses have a grating, bumper-sticker-meets-football-cheer quality. Take the title cut, which showcases some tight harmonies and engaging Moog synth bleeps that would do Joy Electric proud. In the end, it's wasted on a throwaway refrain: "Let go of all you know/Just trust in God's plan/Put your life in His hands." Likewise, the chorus on "Follow Your Dreams," no doubt meant to inspire, sounds decidedly tired lyrically.The Plandoes close on a high note, though. The bonus track, an altar call, musters an earnestness and subtle, attractive directness that's sadly lacking elsewhere on this disc. --Lou Carlozo(c) 2000 CCM Communications, Inc. --From CCM Magazine -- Subscribe Now!