True, they aren’t breaking open any new territory musically; you’re not going to pick up Luminate’s Come Home for the way it expands the horizons of rock ‘n’ roll. However, if you want something comfortable, something akin to Britrock anthemics without the attitude, something worshipful without being pasted over in syrup, then try checking out Luminate. Dustin DeLong’s keyboards make these songs roll even as the guitars chime in piano-imitation. The synthesized strings that open up “Healing in Your Arms” raises up the anthem even while percussion beats propel the song forward. It’s those beats that also help give shape to “Innocent” and “Come Home,” a shape much needed in this pop rock genre. One wonders what would happen, though, if Luminate really let those beats lead them to break loose, because “Innocent” sounds as if the great awakening of rock ‘n’ roll is pulled back tight, not quite breaking open to what could be something less like Leeland and more like Remedy Drive. Spiritually speaking, the acoustic prayer “Hope is Rising” speaks a better word than many similar songs sung to the Holy Spirit.
Come Home is released on January 25.
