Review: Jared Anderson - "Where To Begin"

Jared Anderson - "Where To Begin"
(Integrity / Columbia, 2006)

Contemporary Christian music's proving again and again that it is the genre of choice for those of us who pride ourselves on hearing adventurous pop music. And Jared Anderson's "Running Away" opens Where To Begin, his impressive Columbia debut, with a bang that doesn't let up through the album's length. The album, which also should have at least some crossover potential in the country market, avoids being overtly preachy in favor of crafting pop gems that take a listener over through tunesmith rather than religious treacle. "Lost In Heaven" features a stunningly off-kilter piano arrangement that defies typical radio rules, blending strings and vocals into the mix while dragging listeners in with a truly original sound. Though he draws comparisons to the likes of Planetsharers and Paul Baloche, known more for their praise and worship sound than anything "pop" in nature, he's more Derek Webb (Caedmon's Call) than Mac Powell (of Third Day) in how he sets up his messages within the pop construct. "I'm Coming Your Way" is a particularly strong example, featuring what may be the best shot at a top ten single he's got in the CCR market. This is exactly what radio stations in the genre salivate over, and if the album is marketed well, Where To Begin should be the breakout hit of 2006 in its market. What's refreshing is that the quality of Anderson's songs more than deserves the success. Music fans should be pleased with the results of this debut album, regardless of genre-barriers, and that's a testament to the depth of the songwriting talent involved.