One Life

iTunes Review

On their sophomore album One Life, 33 Miles splits the difference between Christian pop and modern commercial country without giving offense to either camp. The trio’s music (positive, harmony-laden, and guitar-driven) and collective persona (fresh-faced and fun-loving) makes comparisons with groups like Rascal Flatts unavoidable. Lead singer Jason Barton and band mates Chris Lockwood and Collin Stoddard wrap optimistic messages in sunny melodies and expansive choruses. If their sound is seamless, they do shift their emphasis somewhat from song to song. “Gone” and “Jesus Calling” capture the heady rush of surrendering to Christ, while “My Offering” is a praise song with power ballad overtones. If these tunes fit perfectly with current Christian radio, tracks like “Just One of Those Days” and “Little Bit of Love” are pleasantly life-affirming in typical Nashville fashion. Barton’s most emotive moment comes with “Apologize,” a confessional ballad that shows off his vocals nicely. One Life should satisfy anyone with a hankering for luminous harmonies and well-deployed song hooks.