Bleach
Critics of the modern Christian rock sound should take heed of Bleach's new self-titled release. They'll be hard-pressed to find fault.Bleachis wonderfully surprising both in its complexity and accessibility. The Ramone-like choruses on "Heartbeat," "You Are Good," and "Once Again Here We Are" show the band knows a good melodic hook when it writes one. Yet for every power-pop gem, Bleach counters with "Sun Stands Still" and "Straight Shooter," hard-rockin' numbers that are deep and wide and allow the group to flex its musical muscle. For good measure, the band throws in the acoustic, pensive "What Will Your Anthem Be" and the praise-and-worship-oriented "All to You," firming up the fact that singer Dave Baysinger has a real rock & roll voice that can carry a lyric through loud and soft. After two inconsistent releases, the third time's the charm for Bleach.--Michael Lyttle