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    The Phantom Tollbooth 2004/Addison Road
    Addison Road — Breaking Beautifully cover

    Addison Road

    Breaking Beautifully

    (2003)

    Reviewed by Andrew West Griffin

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    Label independentThe Phantom Tollbooth2004
    alternative rockccmpop rock

    Addison Road, a Texas-based Christian pop-rock band has a good musical future ahead given the right opportunity. But we all know how fickle the Christian music industry can be and CCM in general has taken a bit of dive in terms of quality. But Addison Road is an exception. Just listen to Breaking Beautifully, their latest album, produced by Audio Adrenaline's Barry Blair. Lead singer Jenny Simmons and her husband, rhythm guitarist Ryan Simmons, who met while students at Baylor University, lead this band.

    "All I Need Is You," the album's first song and first single is an up-tempo rocker that demonstrates praise and worship music can have a solid beat. The strongest track lyrically, vocally and instrumentally is "Good-Bye," which sounds like one of those early-to-mid-'90s women-led bands like Veruca Salt or Letters to Cleo. This is the one that should be all over radio.

    Jenny Simmons' vocals are a bit pedestrian, but Ryan Gregg's lead guitar playing stands out throughout the album, as does Gregg Herrington's drumming. "Seek" is about two friends taking separate spiritual paths, while the strangely alluring alt-rock of "Peace" has Jenny Simmons telling us to "breathe deep, tomorrow's almost here." After the pleasant praise song "Before," there is a nice acoustic guitar instrumental, which ultimately closes the album.

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    Other coverage for this album

    The Phantom Tollbooth 2004Reviewed by Marcus HathcockIt might surprise you to know that there are more girl-fronted Christian bands than just Superchic[k]. One promising band is the indie-powerhouse Addison Road. Formed as a hobby among college buddies, Addison Road has emerged from the local scene to the national stage with a discography of two eclectic albums, led by the edgy vocals of Jenny Simmons. Though it's seven months old, Addison Road's…

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