Artist:  Hello Kelly
Title:  Hello Kelly
Label:  7 Spin Music

Packed with punk-tinged pop and some of the best songwriting talent in recent memory …

From the very first chords, Hello Kelly is clearly something different in Christian music. Not in terms of sound—which falls squarely within the traditional bounds of radio-friendly pop/rock—but in overall confidence and melodic prowess without trying too hard to be smart or accessible.

Lead singer Francois Goudreault cleverly references his stuttering problem in the first track, yet at the same time, it’s just a fun vocalization for the uninitiated. From there, the band jumps into a catchy, well-constructed chorus that’s theologically tight without being preachy.

This interplay of writing intelligent lyrics about God’s love to catchy, distinct melodies—all the while keeping it so tautly composed that only the songs themselves remain memorable—is a tall order, and thus the album is quite an accomplishment. With touches like the synth squiggles on “10 Good Reasons” and the acoustic guitar on “Simple Love Song,” all accompanied by Goudreault’s refreshingly unassuming voice, these songs are sure to pack a punch on Christian radio.

Hello Kelly’s sound is fully formed and its chosen field of pop-punk influenced rock has clearly been conquered; hopefully this means very impressive things from them in the future.



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**This review first published on May 23, 2008.