Mind Like a Man, Soul Like a Child

The fresh-faced lads from Lakeland, FL, hit all the right notes on their second full release. If Dashboard Confessional rocked out more and employed a muscular, angular wall of guitars, the result would probably sound a lot like Mind Like a Man, Soul Like a Child. Yes, the opening recalls OK Computer-era Radiohead, but Terra Terra Terra are much less abstract and much more upbeat than the increasingly glum Thom Yorke and pals. Singer/guitarist Loren Taylor's voice is the kind that makes teenage girls swoon, as he emotes dreamily about love, longing, and staying strong in a world full of obstacles. "Taking Her Home" is a perfect example of what the guys are all about. Taylor and Matthew Hagelberger attack their guitars with strident conviction, John Dye's keyboards add some moody poignancy, and Isaac Eisenhauer cleans up what's left with dynamic drums. Though their music would seem to skew toward a young crowd, their all-out determination to rock with precision while keeping things bright and melodic is consistently compelling. Terra Terra Terra seem like a band that could go far.