Dawn Escapes

Sounds like … multi-faceted rock with the pop sensibilities of Simple Plan, the electronic touches of Linkin Park and the guitar muscle of P.O.D. all rolled into one.At a glance … this well-produced sophomore album sticks to a modern rock formula that works well, but a few more risks would've made it great.Track ListingSearchlightsExhibitionFlightsExit CalypsanContactMoonliteCascadesMeridiansLights of ReedsportMarathonsFearlessIntro the Gravity

Proving to be one of Christian rock's most promising new acts on the BEC roster, Falling Up scored three No. 1 singles off its 2004 debut, Crashings, toured relentlessly and posted sales of more than 100,000 units in the process. Not too shabby of a start.

With Dawn Escapes, Falling Up aspires for more than flash-in-the-pan status. The album stretches far beyond the grace-themed focus of Crashings to address more meaty spiritual matters. This isn't the stuff you'll hear on the new Simple Plan album, that's for sure, and the depth on songs like "Flights" and "Meridians" make the band a cut above the rest, lyrically speaking. It's too bad that lyrical maturity didn't extend to the musical side of things, however.

While everything's louder and more pristinely produced than its predecessor, there's little that distinguishes one song from the rest, save for the occasional pretty piano intro here and there. On first listen, you hear the band liberally borrow from Linkin Park. Later on, it's a smattering of P.O.D., a dose of Thousand Foot Krutch and other bands of the nü-metal persuasion, something that feels a little dated given the climate of modern rock toward bands like The Bravery and The Killers these days. When it's all said and done, there's nothing really new that would serve as Falling Up's own calling card—and that's too bad, considering that the band really seems to have something to say.

But there are rewards found on Dawn Escapes. "Moonlite" is the kind of catchy track tailor-made for mainstream modern rock radio, while "Lights of Reedsport" explores some interesting sonic territory. If there were only a few more moments like these, we'd have something truly great instead of merely passing muster.