The Mission Bell is one of the most affirmative works of arena rock ever to punctuate the CCM landscape. The unabashed declarations of belief on fist-pumping anthems like "Here I Am Send Me" and "Paint the Town Red" are set to pulsing rhythms. Comparisons to
U2 are inevitable, not just for
Martin Smith's
Bono-esque vocals but for the band's sonic leanings. "All This Time" sounds like an outtake from
The Unforgettable Fire, while "Take Off My Shoes" fits comfortably alongside any track from
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Stu Garrard's ethereal guitar work blends harmoniously with keyboard overtones one minute, then rocks full-throttle the next. The quintet's star power drew a host of guest musicians, including
Tobymac,
Matt Redman, Steve Mason,
Faye Simpson, and
Moya Brennan. Christianity Today named it one of the Top Ten CCM albums of 2005. ~ Jared Johnson