After hearing Mainstay’s "Become Who You Are" as iTunes free single of the week last month, I knew the band’s second album, of the same title, would be one to get! Front man Justin Anderson’s vocals were top notch, there was solid musicianship, and it was overall very well executed. Encouraged by this, I grabbed the free single and eagerly awaited the release of the full album. Become Who You Are maintains a consistent sound and message, allowing it to flow easily from song to song, though the sound may be a bit too consistent for some listeners.

Another standout track is "Island," which holds one of my favorite lyrics on the album. "Lay down your robe, leper or rogue, keep yourself open here" speaks of how we need to be transparent in order to find serious growth. For lasting growth to occur, we must get rid of all of the things we’ve used to cover up our insecurities, flaws, and mistakes. "Island" does a great job of echoing what the Bible says about spiritual companionship and allowing another believer to hold you accountable. Anderson sings of the constant struggle to balance comfort and growth, and the hardening of the heart that can come from keeping up the walls that keep us comfortable, "Passing like a shadow, never letting anyone see. Maybe I'm biased, but I don't think you know the first thing about me."

My biggest complaint would have to be that many of the songs sound alike - almost blending into one another as you go through the album. At first listen, I was somewhat disappointed due to the similar sound, but in time the songs all came into their own and began to stand apart from one another. For a new listener this could be too steep a hurdle to try to overcome. It’s a difficult album to listen to from start to finish until the songs come into their own for you, so I definitely recommend listening to the tracks shuffled in with other music.

If you’re looking for a wide variety in sound, or were not a fan of Well Meaning Fiction, I wouldn’t recommend you get this, but overall it’s a good album. If you find yourself in a spiritual slump, you should definitely give Become Who You Are a listen, as it’s full of relatable lyrics and sincere encouragement stemming from the band’s own experience. While it might not be the most well rounded album out this season, if you approach the album as an intimate conversation between band and listener, I’m sure you’ll find it to be well worth the listen!

For more information on Mainstay visit www.myspace.com/mainstay and www.becrecordings.com .