The Swift is one of those bands that I did not fully appreciate until I saw them live. Their self-titled debut didn't really appeal to me at all, but, as fate would have it, I was given the opportunity to see these talented guys perform onstage. I immediately bought their debut and have since become somewhat of a fan. Though not really among my favorites, their unique "pop/rock infused with piano" was more than enough to keep me interested.

So you can understand my excitement as their sophomore effort, Today, neared release. Would they capitalize on a formula that worked for them? Perhaps mature their sound and make their music even better? After listening to Today, the answer is "no."

Rather, The Swift moves in a completely different direction. Losing the "pop/rock" edge and leaning towards a more contemporary sound. It's disappointing, to say the least. The upbeat tunes that made their debut so infectious make way for slower ballads. Not to say that those ballads lack any amount of quality, some are, in fact, quite good. But all and all, Today is a "been there, done that" experience. Glimpses of The Swift's previous sound can be found, and those are the high points of this disc.

Today's intro sums up the project's message, "Lord, You burn eternal flame. Consuming Fire, Blessed Name, You set our souls and hearts ablaze. Oh, Lord, we live to bring You praise." The disc is eleven tracks of powerful worship to the Savior. Perhaps not as musically excitable as their previous release, but done with the same amount of passion. If The Swift gets one thing right (And they do), it's the unchanging amount of power and emotion they put into their music.

Today has its highs and lows, but ultimately, it's a letdown. And, unfortunately, totally disregarding their debut's existence doesn't help. What you are left with is a good, yet somewhat bland disc. The Swift needs to maintain the passion and bring back that signature "Swift" sound to ensure that the best days are not in the past.

- Review date: 08/17/04, written by Josh Taylor