Fans of Everyday Sunday will be pleasantly surprised by the band's sophomore effort Anthems For The Imperfect. Their second national outting offers a well-balanced blend of catchy and accessible pop/rock with an emphasis on melodies and honest lyrics inspired by the Christian walk. A more raw approach to production and matured songwriting help reassure listeners that there will be no 'sophomore slump' for Everyday Sunday.

Anthems For The Imperfect couldn't be more appropriately titled. The opener "I Wish I Could Say" is an energetic romp of an anthem thematically about looking past the temporary trials in our lives. "Bring It On" is a hooky and downright catchy rock n' roll track that serves as a reminder that the band doesn't intend to be quitting their service to God anytime soon. "Gypsy Girl" introduces the first truly sensitive and vulnerable moment on the record. Trey Pearson's lead vocals are gritty and tender, making for an encouraging and soothing rock ballad. The themes and songwriting are more personal this time around. The more live and raw approach to the production breathes a different brand of life into each song. Arguably the best song on Anthems is the delicate ballad "I Won't Give Up," which addresses many feelings Christians have but seldom share with each other. The openness of the track is inviting and easy to relate to as Pearson admits, "I wanna tell You that I'm guilty, I messed up / But Your still the One I love / Please forgive me Jesus / I promise I won't give up." The song remains an anthem of encouragement for the broken and heavy-hearted.

"Something" is the most aggressive rocker on the record, following in the footsteps of hits like "Wait" and "Live For You Tonight" from their debut Stand Up. The popcore effort succeeds despite somewhat disrupting the flow of the record. But picking back up with the garage rock sounds that laid the foundation for the album, "Herself" is an almost Weezer, All Star United-esque pop/rock tune about the attraction for a girl with a heart after God. Another highlight is the schizophrenic and quite catchy "Freshman Year," followed by the fun and frantic "Comfort Zone." "To The Skies" and "Star Of The Show" are also memorable anthems with tasty guitar riffs and excellent sing-a-long potential. The album winds down brilliantly with the delicate rock ballad "Untitled" and closing with the tender and worshipful piano-driven ballad "The One."

It's always exciting to witness the growth of a band bursting with musical promise and Everyday Sunday is no exception. Anthems For The Imperfect exceeds expectations, taking their signature pop/rock sound a brave step forward. Teens will still find relevant themes on Anthems while the more mature songwriting will indeed still hit home with the college ages. I eagerly await this band's next musical venture as they continue to evolve with songwriting that's anything but imperfect.