His Name is Alive do some things very well. There are also things they try to pull off to no avail. But their eclecticism has always been admirable, and if there's a theme running through Ft. Lake, it's that the record is all over the place.

On their upbeat catchy tunes, His Name Is Alive sounds like your average indie-pop band. "The Waitress" and "Can't Always Be Loved" are perfect examples of the band's sugarspun pop sound. But sadly, their rockin' garage band tracks are harsh and ultimately less contiguous to the rest of the record. The band's borderline rockabilly guitar riffs stand well enough on their own in songs like "Wish I Had A Wishing Ring," but don't add to the cohesiveness of the record as a whole.

The best tracks on Ft. Lake are the ambient/ low tone songs. "Always Turn Me On" has breathy Portishead atmospherics, and the layering of organs creates an ethereal sound that seems to suit the band's vocalists and musicians best. "Spirit Needs A Spirit Tool" is another song which showcases His Name Is Alive's creative and sonic abilities.

At times, Ft. Lake is excellent, and quite solid; but there are also weak spots that really detract from the record's impact. I'll keep hanging on to Livonia.

-Aparna Mohan