LEAVING BEHIND WHO THEY ONCE WERE

     Rush of Fools are admired by their fans for hits such as 'Undo' and 'When our Hearts Sing'.  WE ONCE WERE (2011, Entertainment One) finds the band with a new label and sounding reinvigorated.  In their thanks for the album they write: "To 90's alternative rock for inspiring this record.  To our friends who buy this: our hope is that you fall more in love with Jesus through our music.  This is the new story.  May it be for the glory of God and His Kingdom."
     WE ONCE WERE begins with the title track, a rocker, about the importance of moving forward and pressing on in life: "Now we feel our hearts beating out/We feel our lungs breathing/Now we feel our hearts/And we're never going back/Never going back/No, we're never going back to the...Same as we once were/Living in the blur/Looking backwards/We can see that we'll never/Be who we once were (2X)/Who we once were."  'Come Find Me' is a song of crying out to the Lord: "Fallen since the day I began/Learning how to reach for Your hand/You're calling this sheep gone astray/And I pray You'll leave the ninety-nine/Come find me/Come shine Your light in my dark/Come find me/Put consuming fire in my heart/In a world that can't seem to find what it needs/Give me faith in a place that my eyes have not seen."  'A Civil War' is about surrendering oneself to God's will: "It's time to bow out of this race/'Bout time for me to be in last place/I got myself in a civil war/It's time to fight for, fight for/What's worth fighting for/Joining the lines of/Those who have raised and flown a white flag/And I know there is a victory/In losing myself/And gaining liberty."  'Won't Say Goodbye' packs a musical punch and is about persistently holding on to hope: "I won't say goodbye, tonight/'Cause I don't wanna leave until my dreams collide/With life, I'm still fighting/And even though I'm barely breathing/I can feel my heart's still beating/Holding on tonight, I won't say goodbye."
     'Grace Found Me' is a melodic song of gratitude to God: "And Your grace found me/I thought I wasn't breathing/My heart now sings/'Cause You chased for me/I never saw You coming but my eyes now see/Your grace found me/I'm covered over/I'm so wrapped up/It's all Your love (2X)."  'You're the Medicine' features prominent percussion and acknowledges God as the Healer and Great Physician: "You are, You're the medicine/Not a sedative/I wanna feel my heart beat again/You are, You're the remedy/The cure to this disease/I need You here with me/I need You/Whoa (3X)."  'End of Me' speaks of laying one's burdens down: "I've always cared too much/For all my careless problems/Driving right up 65/I wanna leave it there to die/By the roadside/I finally feel alive/Whoa, whoa the time is here and now/Whoa, whoa the clouds are breaking/Whoa, this could be the end/The end of me."  'No other Love' has a fun, carefree sound to it and reflects on finding solace in God: "No other love/Looks beyond the things I have done/That I'm not proud of/No other love/Lifts me up and holds me in its arms/And lives within my heart/Here at my fall/You are still unchanging/Here at Your cross/You have come to save me/You've called my name/You alone I put my hope in."
     'Beginning to End' declares these truths about God: "Nothing was created/Not a mountain or the ocean/Without You there/Before there was a heaven/You were bound to nothing/But You were there/Now Your glory has opened up the skies/From beginning to end God You reign, You reign/Over time and space You stand as You remain/Sovereign over all."  'The Wrong Things' has a bit of a darker feel to it and talks of fighting the flesh: "There's a lot of me that I don't care for/A part of me that I can't get rid of/It's taking over everything that I want to be...I've got to give this up (3X)/I've gotta give it over/I've gotta give it over to/You, ooohhhh, to You, ooohhhh."  'Help our Unbelief' is musically creative and asks the following of God in a sincere manner: "Oh my God why can't we see/That You have come to redeem Your children?/Bring us home/My God don't let us be/But help our unbelief/Help our unbelief."  'Inside and Outside' closes out the album.  It is a song of self-assurance for times of trouble: "I'm not over, I'm not finished yet/I've got a ways to go, I'll be alright/When it comes down to that moment/Where my dreams have lost their way/At the end of the night/I'll be alright." 
     This third album by Rush of Fools is a winner!  On it you will hear a youthful band excited about their faith in Jesus Christ.  The vocals and guitars are second to none.  I'm recommending WE ONCE WERE to fans of the pop, rock, and alternative sounds of bands such as Switchfoot, Sanctus Real, and Bleach.  For more info visit http://www.rushoffools.com/.  My rating is 85%.