A New Abolition

At first you may not believe what you're hearing on A New Abolition. After all, the Wrecking's introduction to the world — first track and single "Inside" — hooks you so quickly with its contagious guitar riff that you almost wonder what hit you. With each track, it becomes more apparent that lead vocalist and guitarist Doug Elder has created a truly unique modern worship sound. The good vibes are sustained throughout the record, a tribute to the ingenuity of approaching modern worship from an entirely new direction. The East Coast Christian band conveys well-contemplated worship themes through a sound that is at once groovy, powerful, introspective, and futuristic. One of the best examples is the seductive beat of "The New Jerusalem"; the best analogy would be old-school Switchfoot attempting a bossa nova. Another gem is their take on Peter Gabriel's classic "In Your Eyes," which casts it in an appropriate post-punk modern rock feel that quickly calls to mind the Ataris' cover of "The Boys of Summer." With just enough indie creativity to keep things interesting, A New Abolition was one of the most challenging and satisfying albums of 2008.