Sugarfist

Eleventyseven's fourth album, Sugarfist—a mix of newly recorded tracks and cuts from the Quota EP—takes an eclectic approach that shimmers with techno touches and rocks with a punky edge. Like fellow Christian pop/rockers Hawk Nelson and FM Static, Eleventyseven loves to poke fun and commiserate with the twentysomething crowd. This time out, lead singer Matt Langston displays his usual angst-ridden zest as he laments the daily grind (“Quota”), satirizes entertainment overload (“Milk the Lightning”), and offers sympathy for heartsick students (“College Girls”). Particularly pointed in its satire is “Wasted,” which likens the corporate church experience to the numbing effects of substance abuse. “Suburban Love” (a yearning number about romantic fantasy) and “Lonely” (a playful look at a believer’s fitful connection with God) are more subdued tunes awash in old-school synth textures. Vigorous power-pop workouts like “Don’t Want to Fall,” “Book of Secrets,” and “Divers in a Hurricane” deliver a sweet uplifting kick with a clean finish, sure to please Eleventyseven’s faithful fans.