Christian rock. It is difficult for one to approach it without disdain or doubt, unless of course one is god’s humble servant, which is the definition of Deas Vail. Jimmy Eat World, Goldspot, and, most particularly, Copeland are recycled into White Lights, a title track and record, the band’s second attempt at pragmatic originality and depth. Wes Blaylock sings overheard lyrics in an angel’s voice, easily swaying from falsetto to his regular soprano. The melodies are quickly registered and sold, yet the percussive machine gun that is Kelsey Harelson beats a crisp snap for attention, replying to Blaylock’s intensity. Of Russellville, Arkansas, the American pop quintet offers a clean five-song EP that follows their previous Brave New Worlds full-length, All the Houses Look the Same. Easily adaptable to North American life, there is no doubt a place for their sound to accompany images on modern television shows such as The O.C., One Tree Hill, or Grey’s Anatomy. Whether or not we believe the sermon, these twenty minutes should fill fans of the above-mentioned shows to the brim.
--David Ferron [October 4, 2008]
