Sounds like …
the soaring, straightforward Christian pop/rock of bands like needtobreathe, Jackson Waters, The Afters, and Downhere, with occasional similarities to Maroon 5, Jon McLaughlin, and Gavin DeGraw.
At a glance … a worthwhile introduction for a promising new band, though most of Grey Holiday's debut EP sounds a little too much like songs done by several other Christian bands in recent years.
The EP or mini album is not a new tool for record labels to debut artists, but Provident Music Group is still trying to utilize it in a new way. The concept? "New Music, More Often," meaning they plan to introduce a new band like Grey Holiday now, and then offer more music to fans just ten months later. Which makes some marketing sense, but do people really prefer to buy shorter albums with greater frequency? Or will they feel as if they're buying a full album on an installment plan?
However you slice it, The Glorious Revolution is an introductory EP that ultimately gauges response to Grey Holiday without fully committing to a complete project (yet). Consider it a toe-dip in the pool before jumping in—six songs for seven dollars, plus plenty of bonus content. An audio interview with "Nigel" (bassist R.T. Bodet feigning a British accent) acquaints you with Grey Holiday's heart and history, while your computer can also access a journal, self-produced music videos, and more. Informative? Sure. Innovative? Not really. Enhanced CDs have been around since the mid '90s.
Marketing and bonus content aside, this San Antonio foursome is rather good, which is impressive considering that two members hadn't even played their respective instruments before joining. You'd never guess it from the sound, with soaring and straightforward Christian pop/rock resembling needtobreathe, Jackson Waters, and The Afters—Matt Minor even resembles the vocals of Bear Rinehart (needtobreathe). "Glorious" in particular overflows with energy through pounding drums and busy electronic touches, and the bouncy "Where You Want Me" makes fun ear candy. But then again, you've heard songs like most all of these before, from the power ballad about coming back to God ("You Belong to Me") to the infectious rocker whose title alone should indicate a shout-along chorus ("Revolution").
Don't expect the disc to be cutting edge or particularly distinctive in sound, but there's strong potential here. Grey Holiday is certainly enjoyable and catchy enough to warrant more music in 2008; I'd daresay a full-length album's worth.
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