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The title of this disc, Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus Becomes … The Listening, about sums it up. But in case it's unclear, The Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus began turning heads in the late '90s with their distinctive hybrid of modern worship and '60s psychedelic rock inspired by The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Like Delirious before them, this is a band that earned a reputation for transcendent worship-concert experiences, quickly developing a following beyond their home state of Washington. They had only just started to receive national attention as of 2002, but as it turns out, 2003's critically acclaimed A Beautiful Glow marked the last proper album from the Worship Circus.

Which is not to say the band has quit entirely. Their independently released The Listening EP in 2004 showcased a radically changed sound from a new lineup of band members from various stages of Worship Circus history. Turns out the new musical direction connected even more strongly with audiences, but because the style is so different, the band felt uncomfortable continuing with the Worship Circus moniker. So unfortunately, we lose one of the coolest (though more garish) band names in the history of Christian music, not to mention their unique '60s meets '90s approach. But we also gain The Listening, a stronger band that still favors classic rock, old analog gear, and "low end" effects in place of bass guitar.

Why the new name? According to frontman and guitarist Gabriel Wilson, the songs shifted from the traditional man-to-God worship focus to more of a God-to-man approach. This "reverse worship" style is more prophetic, inviting people to take time to listen to the Lord. Other artists have tried it before, often only to yield rehashed Scripture, and there's always the theological danger of putting words in God's mouth. But The Listening successfully avoids both, offering poetic expressions that ring true with what we know about the Lord from the Bible. Though the lyrics are clearly inspired by Christian faith, they're also abstract enough to register with the hearts of nonbelievers. One concertgoer reportedly told the band, "When you played, it felt like I had a huge hole in my chest that had finally been filled by something." Mission accomplished.

Combine that approach with dark and dreamy alternative rock ambience most reminiscent of Pink Floyd, Doves, and The Violet Burning. Whereas the Worship Circus was more '60s in flavor, The Listening is more '80s and '90s, as if Cool Hand Luke or OK Computer era Radiohead tried to pay tribute to The Choir or Love and Rockets. It results in a band even more comfortable with rocking out while also creating an introspective mood, with songs flowing into each other to create a sonic experience.

Things start strong with two of the few tracks directed to the Lord—"Glory of the Feared," offering worshipful admiration of God's beauty and grace, and "Triple Fascination," a nondescript ode to love and the Holy Trinity. It's clear from the title where "Hosea in C Minor" draws its inspiration, and "Be in Your Eyes" gives a similar portrait of brokenness and loving reconciliation that additionally recalls Song of Solomon. Carried over from The Listening EP, "(Untitled)," is epic in sound, Psalm-like in lyric, directed to a wayward soul burdened by the world's trials and temptations. The dramatic "When the Idol Dies" is particularly expressive, like a lamentation from Christ himself—"Sip the cup of wine to toast/Hold the break before it's broke/Some cast lots to get the cloak/And some deny the things they know/But they'll remember what was said when it's lifted from the dead."

The album falters slightly toward the end only because the songs become more confusing and out of place. Hard to guess what people will make of the darker and more enigmatic "The Factory" with its metaphorical arson of desperation, and "Lovely Red Lights" only briefly alludes to the light of Jesus shining in the darkest of places. "Everything Is Nothing" makes a somewhat odd closer, depicting the sanctity of marriage by way of 1 Corinthians 13. Most copies of the album also include a bonus disc with three more worthwhile tracks, but why they weren't all packaged on one CD is unclear.

Even if The Rock 'n' Roll Worship Circus is truly finished, wouldn't it be cool if The Listening revisited their classic rock roots and incorporated it into their new alt-rock style for future albums? But make no mistake, this is a successful facelift for the band that builds on their past work, takes chances with their artistry, and yields an intricate sonic tapestry that instills the desire to listen in more ways than one.

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