GUESTS

Love at the Core
David Josiah Curtis – vocals, guitar
Neil Endicott – guitar, vocals
Matt Jackson – drums
Paul Stewart – bass


If imitation is the highest form of flattery, Run Kid Run guitarist Neil Endicott's fashion designer friend must be downright honored by the southern Illinois band's decision to name its second album after a phrase she first printed on one of her popular handbags.

Meant then and now as more than a fashion statement, Love at the Core weaves throughout its ten exuberant pop/rock songs the message that a relationship with God is central to the essence of life.

"The world often gives love a different meaning than what was originally intended," says Endicott. "On this record we set out to find what love really entails. 'Love at the core' just nails the point that, in all situations, the heart of love always has to do with God."

Produced by James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Paramore) over a two-month stretch in Florida, the new release expands on what Run Kid Run started with its 2006 debut, This Is Who We Are. That set charted the radio hits "We've Only Just Begun" and "Sing to Me," gained exposure in American Eagle stores and on daytime television, and has already led fans to sample the band's songs nearly one million times at MySpace.

Early on, AbsolutePunk.net hailed Run Kid Run as a "next big thing" and described its first disc as "insanely catchy" and a "refreshing mixture of melody, cheer, and energy."

Love at the Core is all those things as well, only made better by the maturing creative chemistry that comes from two more years of living together as a band on and off the road. The project opens with "Rescue Me," a cracking good slice of Jimmy Eat Worldstyled pop driven by the distinct voice of singer David Josiah Curtis whose enunciation and timbre also bring to mind The Police in its heyday.

Endicott says "Rescue Me" is about "how God creates us and sets us free into the world. Then life goes full circle, and we long to run back to him again."

That concept of lost ones returning to faith gets even stronger on the instantly memorable first single "Captives Come Home" where the urgent lyrics perfectly match the ignited musical performance as Curtis sings Leave behind false sense of hope . . . Let's look inside that box you've closed. It only opens when your life explodes.

Showing the unique range of Love at the Core's theme, "One in a Million" effectively repeats the lyric about how life explodes, this time in relation to romantic love that honors God. And what might at first seem like boy-girl love songs are actually powerful praises to God alone on "My Sweet Escape" and the should-be smash "Fall into the Light."

The latter jumps up into action with Endicott's jangling guitar and whooping proclamations from Curtis about how his life belongs to God above all else. The cut also best exercises the quartet's rock muscle as Paul Stewart's jiggering bass line moves around Matt Jackson's taut sixteenth note drumming.

But without a doubt, Run Kid Run grows up most impressively on two particular tracks.

The title piece combines garage band greatness and worshipful emotions all at once while banging together the album's main themes of love and light: We want love at the core. We've seen the dark of the night. Won't you come shine some light on our lives? As modern spiritual anthems go, it's as rousing as signature Sanctus Real or Switchfoot hits.

Love at the Core closes with "Freedom," another potential radio single that is more than on-message; the quiet ballad-turned-amplified rocker absolutely pierces the bull's-eye of what Run Kid Run ultimately says on its sophomore effort: In the end there's only love.

"It's about the freedom that comes from knowing God through Jesus Christ," says Endicott. "We just write from our heart, and since we're Christians, that's what comes out. More than anything, we hope our music speaks volumes."

Indeed, Run Kid Run was born out of a culture where music does most of the talking. Each member came up drawing inspiration from the rich well of young alternative bands signed to Tooth & Nail Records. Endicott, Curtis, and Jackson first signed to that label as Side Walk Slam. Stewart joined later having played with acclaimed independent act Slingshot57. Their current moniker comes from a song title by yet another group.

Still the message is clear and on target. In a collective statement, Run Kid Run summarizes: "God is Love, and our goal is to let everyone know this beautiful truth.

Although love can be expressed in a myriad of ways, one thing remains the same. A love that is deeply rooted in a firm foundation will not let you down."