Kutless
To Know That You’re Alive
BEC Recordings
Grade – B

The culmination of everything I have read about the latest from Kutless, is that change is expected. There have been changes in the band line up, changes in the band personally, and more directly related, changes in producers. Kutless’ fifth studio album, To Know That You’re Alive, was produced by Pete Kipley (Mercy Me and Phil Wickham).

The changes work fine and the album is solid. I think songs like the title track, and “The Disease and The Cure,” are true to Kutless’ origins and the newness that can be heard in some of the other tracks is okay as well. There is nothing too new, or out there, for current fans to get overly disturbed about (of course everyone has their opinion and usually someone complains). I think one of the primary tracks that show the changes is “Complete,”which in some ways reminds me (production wise) of a Mercy Me song. Another interesting observation that I have made several times, is that on the opening track, “The Feeling,” it sounds a lot like a Petra song in the opening moments. It comes to my mind every time I hear it.

I am satisfied enough to say that To Know That You’re Alive is solid and shows that the band is willing to stretch their boundaries and try new things.

- Ken W.