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It probably goes without saying that side projects from any member of PFR are destined to incite a fair amount of both attention and curiosity.  While not a solo project in the strictest sense of the word, the indie debut from Summit 242, the worship team from the Summit Church in Phoenix, Arizona, does feature PFR bassist Patrick Andrew handling production chores and pitching in on guitars and vocals.  Working alongside praise leader and co-writer Heath Bottomly, the ten-song set from Andrew and company lands somewhere in the general vicinity of acoustically-based modern worship efforts from artists such as Tim Hughes and Matt Redman.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the tracks written or co-written by Andrew bear the most obvious similarities to his earlier, band-related output.  Entries like "Nothing In Between" and "Worship You" show hints of the endearing quirkiness and fondness for Beatlesque melodic progressions that have informed PFR's particular brand of power pop from the group's beginning.  The equally infectious "Yours," by comparison, references its source more directly, lifting note-for-note sections from Eager's "Unspoken" and grafting them into its own chorus with fine results.

The remainder of the record, though, is saddled with a generally plodding song set and excessively sparse production aesthetic that combine to prevent it from gaining any sort of momentum or locking into a consistently engaging groove.  Lincoln Brewster's piquant fretwork does inject a certain amount of verve into the grungy "You Are." And "Unchanged" is likewise benefited by its sweeping orchestral flourishes and sparkling background vocals.  But, even with such additions, the songs still come across as mostly nondescript.  In their defense, the members of the Summit team seem earnest and sincere enough, and the debut might have made for a reasonably enjoyable EP with two or three of its weakest tracks deleted.  As it stands, though, the work falls just short of catching fire, containing only modest amounts of material that calls for a second listen.

Bert Gangl  7/8/2002