We Can't Stand Sitting Down

Whether it’s the band’s unusual name that resulted from an afternoon of go-kart racing or its wide spectrum of influences, Stellar Kart finds inspiration in unlikely places. Case in point? When frontman Adam Agee is quizzed about his musical influences, the rocker namedrops the usual suspects: Green Day, blink- 182, Switchfoot, Jimmy Eat World, All American Rejects and Nichole Nordeman. Wait a minute…Nichole Nordeman?

While many a punk rock guy wouldn’t be man enough to admit that a piano-playing songstress inspires him, Adam wishes he could write songs “as good as hers.” But, even though he readily admits he’s not there yet, he remains optimistic and hopes “that’ll come with time.”

In the meantime, though, his band is also beginning to make a name for itself after its early 2005 debut, All Gas. No Brake. (Word), received favorable reviews and sold a respectable 45,000-plus copies—not bad for a brand new act in a seemingly neverending sea of new artists.

And, even though Adam is encouraged by Stellar Kart’s success, he admits there were “plenty of growing pains” that came with making the sequel. “You have a couple of ideas for songs that you think are great, and then people either aren’t getting it or people don’t understand it,” Adam shares. “Or you don’t even think it’s as good as you thought it was. When that happens, you start questioning yourself as a songwriter and asking, ‘Am I supposed to be doing this?’

“Before long, I realized that I’m not good enough to be doing this. It’s not about me and how great I am as a songwriter but making sure that God’s getting the point across through me—what He’s wanting to say to our fans. Once we realized that as a band, we just let go and realized that it’s a whole lot easier when we let God take control.”

That theme—of not being able to make it through life without God’s divine intervention—is what’s emphasized again and again on the band’s sophomore disc, We Can’t Stand Sitting Down (Word). Aside from a more introspective approach lyrically, Adam says he hopes that listeners will sense a new maturity from the musical side of things as well. “Honestly, what’s different about this record is that it’s going to sound a lot better this time around,” He says with a laugh. “Without sounding too cliché, it’s not only louder; but there are a lot of moments where there’s growth as musicians. It’s the step forward we were hoping for.”

Even before We Can’t Stand Sitting Down hit store shelves on July 25, the band had the affirmation of one of its most prominent peers, both personally and professionally. “After several tours together we have gotten to know the Stellar Kart boys very well,” says Kutless front man Jon Micah Sumrall. “It is always a privilege to share the stage with bands that not only put on a quality show but also are clearly focused in sharing their faith both on and off the stage. They are a great group to work with and have become some of our closest friends within the music industry.”

Article Provided by CCMmagazine.com

The second at-bat for Phoenix’s pop-punkers Stellar Kart offers up more shiny, happy and clever music for the kids of America. Though the inclusion of the word “punk” in this genre is becoming increasingly difficult to swallow, it remains.

Rebellious? Violent? Aggressive? Heavens no! This is super-processed pop music at its sticky sweet best, and fans of Relient K, MXPX or Sum 41 will be bouncing off the walls from the sugar high before the first track has faded completely from the air in their bedrooms.

Musically, We Can’t Stand Sitting Down breaks no new ground. Fist-pumping fast songs, a few mid-tempo tempo changers and, even, a couple of ballads (that may follow on the heels of their Christian radio hit “Love Song” from their debut) come together like components of a finely tuned machine. With major label production prowess, more than apt musicianship for the genre and a healthy dose of Relient K-esque smarm, Stellar Kart draws a bead on the hearts and minds of the youth of the nation. While their music may not be original or terribly interesting to listeners over the age of 20, their passion for their audience and craft is obvious and effectual.

Produced by All Star United’s Ian Eskelin, the disc opens with the blistering “Procrastination,” a rapid-fire gumdrop that invites God’s control over a life that is described as “a day late and at least a buck short.” As the final chord fades, the track immediately jumps to the even catchier “Activate,” a sprawling 3:15 of anthemic pop power. By track three, the energy abates as the encouraging hug “Me and Jesus” sweeps in and sets the gauge at mid-tempo for a while. And, thus, the album continues, toggling between hyper-fast and mid-tempo with the exception of the obvious radio ballad/worship song “Angels in Chorus.”

With lyrics that ring relevant and spiritually challenging to the teen-aged set, music that is right in-step with the tastes of a major chunk of the record-buying public and a very ministry oriented focus from the band, Stellar Kart may find itself in line for the type of music ministry perfected by Audio Adrenaline and, even, Petra before them. When it comes to the term “Christian rock,” few records fit the bill as plainly as We Can’t Stand Sitting Down.

JOHN J. THOMPSON

Review Provided by CCMmagazine.com