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  Overall rating: ++

Album Reviews

Alternative Power Pop." Now that's a mouthful. But I suppose it's the best way I can sum up this sophomore release by the band formed by techno / dance / pop star Ian Eskelin. If I tried to accurately capture all of the musical influences and styles the band covers, you'd probably never read long enough to get to the review!

I reviewed the band's self-titled debut album about a year and a half ago, and had lots of good things to say about both the music and the message of All Star United. If I thought the first CD was good, this one simply knocked me off of my feet! ASU mixes in lots of electronica and techno influences, but melds them into a hard-rocking recipe with influences from alternative to grunge to good old rock 'n' roll. I dare you to sit still through this CD!

"Welcome To Our Big Rock Show" is the perfect introduction to this outstanding CD. It shows the bands hilarious wit, their musical variety and prowess, and the downright unbelievable energy they put into everything. For those of you who have been to a rock concert, I would bet many of you never put any thought into what goes on behind the scenes. It's easy to take the show for granted, thinking "this is what they do." You may even think it is a glamorous life - on the road all the time, visiting lots of places and meeting lots of people. ASU uses a humorous bit of songwriting to put such thoughts to rest: "Five guys take a ride, drive a day and half a night. Get to see some pretty scenery, but if that's all there is to this, this band would split right down the seams ... Welcome to our big rock show; wind us up and watch this puppy go, hope you heard a single word we said." After the humor, though, they subtly comment on the reason bands (at least Christian bands) put up with the rigors and high expectations: "We're driven to give you what we know, like postmen through the snow ... Find the message buried in our big rock show." They know there is something important enough that it's worth telling, even if it means driving halfway across the country to tell it.

"Popular Americans" turns up the adrenaline several notches, and mixes in some ska-ish horns in a sweet medley of sound. Add to that some hard-hitting bass that practically demands a subwoofer capable of heavy-duty volume, and you have a musical recipe for success. I can only imagine the phenomenal experience seeing these guys in concert would be! When they mix wit and a message about the "image is everything" attitude that has flooded America recently - the attitude that is broadcast through every TV commercial, through every product's packaging, and that is pounded into people practically from the day they are born - the end result demonstrates a band that has a right to be heard around the world.

"International Anthem" alludes to the purpose of this band - to the anthem that transcends languages, nationalities, physical characteristics - in deed, humanity itself. It's the anthem of Christianity, the anthem that those of us who are the children of God have the privilege of singing. When we cross the canyon that separates us from God, by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we join a family that has something in common that is stronger than anything on Earth.

Paul said in First Corinthians that the greatest thing is love. That when everything else is burned away, faith, hope and love remain, but that the greatest of those is love. ASU hints at the impact we would have on the world "If We Were Lovers" - if we showed each other and the world the immeasurable love God has for us and for them. "An extraordinary love offers heal for hurt and kind for cruelty. Words are not enough - a revolution might start with you or me."

In the same vein, "Theme From Summer" pokes fun at the way we seem to be in high spirits so much more often during the summer than the rest of the year. Psychologists may try to explain it away, but I think ASU has the right idea: their theme from summer is love. I like that idea - love is something you can have, and can share, year-round. Hey, I love summer just as much as the next person, but why let my attitude be dependent on the weather when I can enjoy life every day?

I also like "Superstar," an upbeat (imagine that!) tune towards the end of the CD. The song comments on how people are always looking for a person of an ideal to put up on a pedestal and worship, whether it's a conscious effort or not. "It's true - we were born to worship someone; it's true - I do." But we weren't made just to worship any someone. We were made to worship The One - the One that made us. Why go through life worshipping people who will fall out of the spotlight, or ideas that will pass on, when we could focus our worship on the one we were wired to worship?

I'm impressed. International Anthems For The Human Race blew my socks off. It rocks, it's impossible to sit still through, and the bands humor wit is outstanding. It's hard to find a band with the combination of musical excellence, lyrical wit, and an unashamed message to tell. Fully half of the CD could be considered "praise rock," but it's not the traditional praise and worship you may think of - it's outstanding rock for my generation and the next. Kudos, All Star United - keep up the good work!

~ David Longenecker

Holland, Turkey, Ireland, Bosnia, New Zealand—these boys really get around. Since the release of their '97 debut album All Star United has traveled the world. And it shows with their new release, International Anthems for the Human Race. The song writing is ironic and sarcastic, reminiscent of Steve Taylor. The music is a blend of whatever you want to call it: 80's pop, glam, arena rock. But however you want to describe it, it boils down to just plain fun. As front man Ian Eskelin says, "With this record, we knew we needed to take things up a notch. The songs on International Anthems have more instrumentation and polish than other stuff we've done. We spent a lot of time working out cool tones, sounds, and nuances that add a little something special to each track. In addition, we've got a brass section on several songs, and a 12-piece string section on others. Things like that help take the songs to a new level. I think that each time someone listens to the record they'll hear something that they didn't catch the time before. Sonically and musically, Anthems is a big step forward for us." And it may just bring them closer to their tongue-in-cheek mission statement of "being one of the few Christian bands to take over the globe." This record is definitely worth a listen.

~ Kevin H.