I'll admit I had to give this CD time to grow on me. My first impressions weren't that great, and I set it aside for a month or two. But I pulled it out again and have really started enjoying it.

Brandon Heath is the latest in the pop/soft rock singer/songwriter genre. As such, he can tend to get lost in the crowd. And that was my problem originally. But there are some real gems here. There's the funky beat to "I'm Not Who I Was" and the quiet minor key of "Red Sky." And the quiet, melodious "The Light" just adds to the power of the song. While radio hit "Our God Reigns" has a full band sound, many of these songs are simply arranged. I'm not quite sure I'd call them acoustic, but it's very close.

There are some great lyrics here, too. "Steady Now" is about bridging gaps between people while "Simple Man" reminds us that God can use us despite our flaws. For pure worship, there's "Our God Reigns." I must admit I had to really listen to "Red Sky" to get it, but I love it now. It's a reminder that there is a better day coming. "I'm Not Who I Was" is a song about the lessons learned even from a bad relationship. The title track is a challenge to go out and live life outside our comfort zones. And "The Light" is a comforting reminder from God that He will heal us.

The only song on here I don't like is "Let's Make it Last." Written as a love song, it's just too slow. And I don't care for the second verse where they consider playing hooky. But that's probably just me.

While this debut could be stronger, it shows plenty of promise. I'm looking forward to seeing where Brandon goes from here.