We Once Were - Rush of Fools

Rush of Fools rocks solid after two years of turmoil.

We Once Were

Artist: Rush of Fools (www.rushoffools.com)

Label: eOneChristian Music

Length: 12 tracks/44.2 minutes

“We Once Were” by Rush of Fools is a defining song. This is decidedly rock on the pop/rock spectrum, covering the same ground as artists like Switchfoot. Driving rhythms mix with snatches of acoustic bliss. The band moves seamlessly from one to the other in a matter of seconds.

“Come Find Me” calls to mind the words of the ancient hymn, “The Ninety and Nine”:  

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold;
But one was out on the hills away,
Far off from the gates of gold.
Away on the mountains wild and bare;
Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

It’s a plea that “if you ever leave the ninety-nine / Come find me.” Fortunately, we don’t have to wonder if Christ is willing to come after a lost one, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 ESV). This second song also rocks, but is more melodic than the opening title track.

Though their sound has a hard edge, the band is quite versatile, encompassing a number of styles. “Grace Found Me” is a pop ballad that showcases a mellower side of the band. “No Other Love” stands out as a whimsical, joyful celebration of God’s unconditional love. The sound is acoustic with hand-claps and mandolin. Noted songwriter Jason Ingram shares a co-write on this and “Beginning to End,” which extols God’s attributes and is a solid entry into modern worship. “Help Our Unbelief” is hard rock with a touch of goth.

The CD ends fittingly with “Inside and Outside,” which chronicles struggle in the Christian life. It yearns to know that God is still working. It calls to mind the apostle Paul’s certainty in relation to a group of Christians, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6 ESV). The last words heard are, “I’ll be alright, I’ll be alright.”

This expresses the confidence that comes with experience. After making a big splash with their first two recordings, Rush of Fools encountered label problems, which sent them into hiatus for the last couple of years. Their future was in doubt. What they became through that difficult time informs the songs on this third release.