Fans of CCM and alternative/acoustic rock music will be pleased to hear the sounds of newcomer, Jerimae Yoder. Ironically, both the music and Jerimae's vocals sound quite similar to top, well-known artist Jeremy Camp. This intriguing fact may very well be the ticket to the forthcoming publicity and success that Jerimae and his future albums may receive.

U2, Derek Webb, and Radiohead are only three of the many influences of Jerimae Yoder and his debut release Vertical. This debut really packs a punch, combining acoustic riffs with an edgy twist mixed up with some turntables, and hopeful lyrics that sing of finding the true Source of peace and comfort in this lost and forsaken world. From the rising, ambient "Intro" and reassuring truth of "Evidence," to the desperate cry of "I Need You" and prayerful "Jonah Road," Jerimae's words cut deep and may leave a mark in your heart that may never go away. Other notable tracks include "Soul Son," "Revive," "Core," and "Not In Vain," with the latter bearing a strong resemblance to Camp's popular sound while offering a unique spoken, almost rapped, interlude for interesting results.

While Vertical is a strong collection of songs, I think Yoder's vocals may seem too familiar to allow him to stand out from the rest of the artists in the shared CCM genre. Jerimae's lyrics and music may be simple and straight forward, but they work to Yoder's benefit to help make his songs easy to relate to.

Vertical may very well be one of the next big hits in the Christian pop scene. With just a little more experience under his belt, his voice and music may come together even better on future projects. Yoder's songwriting is top notch, giving Jerimae what he needs to leave an impression with his debut, Vertical.

- Review date: 9/10/06, written by Laura Sproull