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Pop music is an interesting thing. It can be extremely popular (hence the name), but most of it sounds very similar, very uncreative and sometimes a little bit lame. While I do love pop music, lately I have not been too impressed with it.

That being said, the sophomore album from one of my favorite bands, brother/sister duo LaRue, is one of the best pop CDs I have ever heard.  Transparent is like a breathe of fresh air! The vocals of Phillip and Natalie LaRue are smoother and broader than on their debut project, yet they remain passionate and energetic. The music is infinitely more diverse than their first album, and the lyrics of each individual song paint unique pictures in one's mind. Plus, this record is incredibly diverse, from the mid-tempo "Theory of Flight" to the power pop of "Wake Up" to the almost country feel of "No Goodbyes."

One highlight is "Jaded." This song is a haunting, epic pop ballad that is driven by acoustic guitars. The LaRue's blend their voices together very well on "Near to Me," a simple love song to God. And "Brianna's Song" is a piano-based song to their little sister, who suffers from a mental illness. The sad violins and Natalie's deep vocals make this song seem very sad, but at the same time, not too depressing.

The album's absolute peak is the get-up-and-dance "I Can't Sing," written as a love song to their native land of California.  The vocals are very nice and the guitars and bass make this song sound a lot like something you might hear from Switchfoot, particularly their song "Poparazzi."

From beginning to end, Transparent is a thought provoking pop album that is sure to make you tap your foot or hum along. The diversity of the album is amazing, and there is never a dull moment. You can't go wrong with this wonderful new release.

Josh Hurst (4/8/2001)