Since the day I happened across their debut album, I’ve considered Everyday Sunday the best band discovery I’ve ever made. While with other artists I skipped to my favorite songs after the first few listens, Everyday Sunday created perfect albums I could listen straight through all the time, every time.
In their third album, Everyday Sunday has scaled back on their signature haunting tunes in favor of a heavier lean toward punk rock and power-pop. In places their songs could easily be mistaken for Relient K or early Hawk Nelson. Not surprising, considering this album’s mixer, J.R. McNeely, has mixed for both those artists.
The album begins with the infectious beat of “Let’s Go Back.” Blending encouragement and reminiscing in upbeat, sometimes tongue-twisting lyrics, this song reflects on a friendship that’s gotten lost in the busyness of life.
“Wake Up! Wake Up!,” the title cut and first rock single, is a plea to be jolted from our half-asleep routine. This cut also kicks off a string of songs directed as prayers to God. “Take Me Out” records the fight to allow God to work in us. The melodic “Find Me Tonight”, the album’s debut to AC and CHR radio formats, provides a cry for the times of being lost we all have.
“Apathy for Apologies” turns the album back to human relationships with a song about a friend who keeps messing up. “I’ll Get Over It” is a quirky story song about a breakup, and “What We’re Here For” captures the band’s ponderings about whether their audience catches the reason behind what they do. My favorite song on the album, “Now You’re Gone,” encapsulates the sorrow of a friend walking away, with the bittersweet balance of still caring and wanting healing from the pain.
The focus returns to worship for the final songs of the album. “Tell Me You’ll Be There” asks God for confirmation of His presence as we face an uncertain future. The album concludes with a simple letter to God, “From Me to You.”
Unlike many artists who have a mix of quiet and loud songs, Everyday Sunday keeps the level fairly steady by blending softer vocals with heavy punk rock beats. Their lyrics also reflect this balance: a culturally-keen mindset that doesn’t dip into trendiness and simple words that glint with deeper meaning.
While Wake Up! Wake Up! is not quite as consistently listenable as their previous albums, it’s still a gem of a find for rock and punk rock fans. I’ll miss the old Everyday Sunday, but the new one camps out in my Walkman quite a bit.
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