InPop Record's latest signee is Sky Harbor (Formerly known as Anthem), a pop/punk band that tries their best to put as much energy into their music as possible. They rock. They even rap. They do just about anything to keep things interesting, with varying degrees of success. But what they do get right on Who Would Have Guessed? is the quality of the lyrical content, where they are high and above all others in their genre.

Sky Harbor's message to the world is simple: God made us different. We're going to be different, no matter what anybody says. It all boils down to that little statement of promise. They won't let the materialism or pressure of this world slow them down, and it's quite apparent in the lyrics. Songs like "In Stereo" (Where they state, "Pop culture always falls with the right amount of decibels."), "Identity," and "Welcome" make it clear that Sky Harbor will settle for no less than uniqueness in a fallen world.

They also talk on other subjects, most still dealing with God. On "Day at the Beach" they speak of how frail and futile life is, and how we need to keep our eyes fixed on God, "Well, life is precious, I've often agreed. But I thought I only lived because someone died for me." "Who Needs a Girl?" talks of the emotional strife bands go through without their girls while on the road. And on "What If I Doubt?," the band questions just that, as all Christians do at some point in their walk.

Musically, Sky Harbor has a very Paul Colman Trio feel. However, it's much more energetic than anything PC3 has done. They're basically your average pop/punk vocals singing to average punk melodies with some pop flavor thrown into the mix. They don't win any points for originality, but they aren't entirely mediocre. They're just about average on the scale.

Where they really stumble is in the ridiculous raps they throw in occasionally. It sounds a lot like that not-so-good attempt at rap Kutless made last year on "Pride Away." Everywhere else, the lyrics are great. It's just during the raps where things border on becoming silly. On the otherwise decent track "Not Gonna Change," Garth Bostic raps "You try to tell me, yo, how to live my life. Acting like I'm wrong, and you're always right. Trying to steal the joy to which God brings. Well today, boy, man you get nothing." Yeah…

Nothing revolutionary, by any means. Sky Harbor has a knack for great lyrics, but the presentation is where they falter. I'd like to catch them live sometime, because they are definitely a band that can rock out. But as is, Who Would Have Guessed? is something only serious pop/punk fans seriously need to hear. Others may enjoy the lyrics, but not enough to keep Sky Harbor firmly set in their disc trays.

- Review date: 9/18/03, written by Josh Taylor