With an ambient array of styles in today's music industry, and a progressively larger amount of emerging artists at that, it is no surprise to find artists experimenting as much as they can with genre combinations, new production methods, and of course, obviously different instrumental techniques. Within our expansive rambling about artists lacking creativity and originality, there are some bands out there that seem to have brought a certain lull in the Christian music industry. They try to sound different, but in the end all sound the same.

Foolish Things, signed with Inpop Records (Matt Kearney, Paul Colman, Superchick, Tree63, Newsboys) is somewhere in the myriad of Christian music, but make a puzzle piece fit into the alternative Christian rock genre. Hailing from Aurora, Colorado, Foolish Things consists of Mark Labriola II (Vocals/Guitar), Isaac Jorgensen (Vocals/Guitar), James Rightmer (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard), Nate Phillips (Bass), and Shaul Hagen (Drums). After opening for bands such as Shane & Shane, Newsboys, Salvador and Skillet, and surmounting over 10,000 independent record sales, Foolish Things has hooked up with Nashville producer Jason Houser (Matthew West) to create Let's Not Forget the Story, an album worthy of a listen to.

Foolish Things seems to reverberate the sounds of Switchfoot, DC Talk, U2, and Coldplay in their debut album with Inpop. With a wide Christian and secular audience, the sound may or may not be what people are looking for. With an album full of rock-worship and meaningful lyrics, Foolish Things seems to have done pretty well for themselves in the eyes of those who enjoy the likes of Tree63, Newsboys, or Sanctus Real.

One highlight on the album includes "Spirit Come," their first radio single, which brings Tait's earlier work to mind. There's a definite pop sound that resonates through the album, a 'nod your head' kind of pop, especially in aforementioned track. The album starts off with "Who Can Compare," a song filled with lyrical power that is likely to make for a great worship service song with lyrics like, "Needer of nothing and giver of all/ Every living thing survives/ By the strength Your boundless love supplies/ Lord of power beyond compare/ The universe sits in Your hands/ And eternity is where you stand."

The album is quite repetitive in sound and strictly holds to the alternative rock pattern, except for the last song. "Forgive Me" is probably the only song on the entire album that really caught my attention. As a slow piano ballad, it seems a little out of place on the record, but it has an amazing message of the importance of prayer and being real with God. "Forgive Me" starts off soft, as we all do when we first ask God for forgiveness, but gets very powerful near the end. The song begins and ends with, "Forgive me when my prayers have come to you closer than the things confessed and reaching with emptiness."

If you enjoy the bands mentioned earlier, you may find that you'll enjoy Foolish Things' debut album, Let's Not Forget the Story. The sound isn't much different from the sound that's been spreading about Christian rock today, so you may not find anything especially creative or different. Regardless, Foolish Things freshman effort is worth the shot if you're willing to go for it.

- Review date: 7/9/06, written by Jessica Vander Loop