Artist Info:Discography Album length: 12 tracks: 43 minutes, 25 seconds Street Date: February 26, 2002
After hearing Plus One's stellar debut with clean vocals and catchy music, I have to admit that my
childhood self was initially disappointed with Obvious. Even at a young age, I recognized Plus One's attempt to cross
over to mainstream radio, while trying to copy the techno-driven sounds of *NSYNC or post-"Millenium" Backstreet Boys.
The lyrics of Obvious were also more ambiguous, sometimes to the point where it was nearly impossible to tell if the
boys were singing to God or a lover. Despite the change in the band, I had this album in my player for six months straight,
and it definitely grew on me to the point where I could almost listen to the whole album through.
"Camouflage" is a drum-beat driven, rock opener and immediately reveals the band's new sound as it talks about breaking
away from the everyday life and making God's Word known. The following track, "Use Me," is a slightly repetitive song in
which the band asks God to do His work. "Let Me Be The One" is a slow ballad from the perspective of God toward His
children, or to a lover (A few years after the release of Obvious, Jesse McCartney covered the song under the title
"Come To Me" with the latter approach). After the uneventful "Under The Influence" comes "You," another slow ballad that's more
Christ-based which focuses on the fact that all we need is the love of Jesus. "I Don't Care" follows with catchy guitar-driven
verses, and "Kick Me" holds a chorus that talks about the harsh reality of life and that you cannot let it get you down.
"Going Crazy" is a spiritually ambiguous song that only reveals the band's Christian roots in the lyric, "I thank God for
the life I lead" (which was unfortunately altered when the song earned radio airplay on Radio Disney).
The tracks that follow are the highlights of the album. "Start To Fly" talks about one who is discovering their faith.
Despite the melancholy music, the lyrics are uplifting throughout the song, with lines like, "If you just look past your
scars/ you will see it's not that far" and "everything that you need/ it is right there can't you see."
"Calling Down An Angel" is yet another ballad, but this time with lyrics appropriate for AC radio, unlike most of the album's
songs which are aimed for the pop stations. The most enjoyable track on the album, "Forever," features slight vocoder
overtones in the beginning, but also features some impressive singing. The semi-acoustic music of "Forever" reveals another
more CCM-oriented song that is reminiscent of *NSYNC's "God Must Have." While not a highlight of the album, it does a
sufficient job as a closer.
I picked this album up off the shelf a few months back and I am so glad that I did. While it did not showcase the singers'
voices as much as their previous album, or have as many God-glorifying lyrics, it is still an enjoyable album. The final
tracks are definitely most similar to their previous sound, but if you are a fan of boy bands even though they are way out of
style, I recommend the entire album. Although, singing along to the songs was a throw-back in time, many of the songs are
still relevant to the people's lives today. So, if you have some spare change, I without a doubt recommend that you check out
the band (and I'm still hoping that someday they will have a reunion).
- JfH Reader REVIEW:
Review date: 4/3/09, written by Raul Camp for Jesusfreakhideout.com
Artist Info:Discography Record Label: Word Records
Album length: 12 tracks: 43 minutes, 25 seconds
Street Date: February 26, 2002
Buy It:Amazon.com
Artist Info: 
