Finding Our Way

A pilgrim’s spirit pervades Hyland’s sophomore album for the Tooth & Nail label. This time out, Hyland turns up the electronica quotient in its grooves and textures, courtesy of newly recruited keyboardist Ben Early. Jon Lewis and Mitch Hansen maintain the band’s power pop guitar edge, underscoring Lewis’ vulnerable, emo-tinged vocals. The album’s real focus is on its songwriting—these tunes are smart and emotionally true, rooted in real experience while keeping a Spirit-centered outlook. “There’s a masterpiece within the mess,” Lewis sings in “Work in Progress,” one of a number of tunes that find hope amid human imperfection. Tracks like “Lucky in Love” (an ode to hard-pressed young marrieds everywhere) and “Brothers” (a message of solidarity sent out to a fellow seeker) are wistful yet optimistic. Worshipful numbers like the luminous “Power & Love” and the piano-driven “More Than Famous” are catchy without being simplistic. Finding Our Way suggests that Hyland has found a creative path worth sticking to.