Re:Zound returns to the scene with their third release, Abandoned to You. Back in 2001, MTV named them the "number one undiscovered band," and it's fairly easy to see why they earned that title. Re:Zound delivers a rather unique sound that has a little bit of something for everyone. Their uniqueness makes them hard to classify, but can probably best be described as a soft rock/worship band with a bit of a U2 vibe with a hint of country thrown in.

The message on Abandoned to You is not hard to classify, however. The theme of the lyrics are quite clear, emphasizing that life is all about redemption in Christ. The band's sound delivering this message is "beautiful," as one of the tracks says. Very rarely these days do you find such a Christ-centered focus (and not counting worship albums here) on literally every single song. The title track talks about letting God have control of everything in our lives. The song "Beautiful" is about how God is more than anything that we can even hope for and it's impossible to find the words to express all that He is. Another great track is "Day That Never Ends," where lead singer Jason Anderson sings about not knowing how fast life is going by until those precious days are in the past and wishing to get those days back. Anderson sings "Lord, can't I go back for a day?" There's also a track that leads the listener to Christ in prayer, which is another unique addition.

While I do think that it's hard to enter the CCM music industry and gain major acceptance these days, Re:Zound's fresh style will likely get them noticed when they do come on the radio. What remains to be seen is whether or not this unique sound will be embraced by those who enjoy bands like Mercy Me or Casting Crowns. Whether or not they gain wide acceptance, Abandoned To You is an enjoyable effort because they're using their talent to bring something new to the industry while testing the limits of worshipful music.

- Review date: 2/23/08, written by Kevin Hoskins