By Shawn McLaughlin

Talk about surprises! This Canadian band condenses many influences into a unique and vital stew on Oil, sounding a call for action to believers everywhere with lyrics that eloquently, yet simply speak of an authentic adoration and love for Christ. Vocalist/Guitarist Russ Rosen, with wife Sandy on keyboards, and fiddler extraordinaire (and darn fine vocalist to boot) Kathleen Nisbet, seamlessly meld Celtic, English folk and American roots styles into a brew that represents Rosen's worship oriented songs with passion and style. The cuts, "Watchmen˜ and "Warriors˜ are rollicking, ramshackle romps of joy that exhort believers to a renewed level of commitment to their savior and His call to harvest new souls. Both tracks feature stunning drumming, reminiscent of Larry Mullen Jr.©ˆs martial style and the cacophonous beauty of Keith Moon's work with The Who. Both of the aforementioned band's vocalists are reflected in Rosen's alternately gruff (Daltrey) and sensitive (Townshend) delivery. The production, by noted knob twiddler Alan Shacklock is revelatory. Shacklock buttresses the arrangements with emotional and muscular guitar playing and appropriately atmospheric and subtle electronic touches that result in each cut adding a unique tapestry to the projects compelling whole. In short: This is one of the finest discs of original, worshipful rock & roll to be released in the last decade. It is that good.

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