The Utah foursome dug further into the CCM songwriting pool on its third full-length album, with mixed results. The "more" in the title could refer to a heavier reliance on Nashville talent to keep the group's sound fresher than its LDS contemporaries. It might also be a response to the naysayers who questioned the quartet's longevity. Either way, it's undeniable that the group strove for a lighter sound on this project, and the result comes across flat in some places. Fans who preferred
Jericho Road's more danceable tracks like "Finding My Way Back to You" and "About My Father's Business" have less to satisfy them this time around. The album opens with a cover of
Avalon's mega-hit "Testify to Love" that disappointingly lacks the energy and vocal conviction of the original. "See the Light" and the title track also lack emotive vocals to match the lyrics. Still there are plenty of bright spots on the album thanks to songwriting credits from CCM stalwarts
Mark Schultz and
Scott Krippayne.
Schultz' "Think of Me" is a poignant goodbye song with a sensational guest vocal by Jessie Clark Funk.
Krippayne co-wrote "Deeper Still," one of the album's gems with a catchy rock beat.
There Is More satisfies the group's core following of teen and pre-teen girls, giving them another helping of righteous harmonies that would make their mothers proud. ~ Jared Johnson