One of the most versatile and varied hip-hop acts -- in Christian hip-hop or otherwise -- Social Club continue to offer a kaleidoscope of sounds on their sophomore release, but this album opens just as their debut did, with some testifying from Pastor Chris Durso of New York City's Christ Tabernacle Church. After that touchstone, anything goes. "Sky Lanterns" does the big,
B.o.B-esque rap ballad with purpose while the aptly titled "Heavy Hand" rattles the room with its deep bass and solid presentation of the street music style. "Listen to This When You Feel Tough" creeps like an indie
Murs or
Tech N9ne track, then "Carpe Diem" comes on as proud as a "lookin' back" number should, even when the Social Club's picture of success is much more reality-based than the stately music suggests ("My mom said 'Is it too much to ask you to graduate?'/'It's not like I'm askin' you to become president'").
Skrip, Rey King, and Marissa Jerome join the group as guests on this second satisfying effort. ~ David Jeffries