In 2007, the small Alabama-based band Rush of Fools made an impact with their No. 1 song “Undo” from their self-titled debut album. A year later they followed it up with their sophomore effort, Wonder Of the World. Now, after three years of silence and a switch to a new label, Rush Of Fools is back with their third release, titled We Once Were. 

 

In many ways the album's lead single, the soft, simple “Grace Found Me,” paves the way for the rest of the album. The band takes on issues of grace and our need for grace, writing with a style that fuses worship and adult contemporary Christian rock.

 

Most of the tracks are upbeat, simultaneously joyful and aware of a deep need for grace. The track “Come Find Me” is one of these tracks, as Wes Willis vocalizes a longing for God to come and bring faith, using Biblical imagery: “I pray you'll leave the 99.” 

 

“Won't Say Goodbye” is another track that begs for grace, creating an interesting blend of softer verses and a harder chorus, which seems to mirror the ebb and flow of a Christian's understanding of their need for God to provide the strength to believe.

 

Throughout the album, one of the strong points is the way the instrumentation and tempo of the songs seems to mirror the lyrical theme. In the track “A Civil War,” which speaks about the internal struggle to reach a point of surrender, the percussion is strongly reminiscent of war drums. “No Other Love” is a joyful track that focuses on God in unselfconscious worship, and the general mood of celebration is echoed by the creative use of kazoos. The track “Help Our Unbelief” has a bit of an edge to it, both musically and lyrically.

 

The album definitely has a strong worship theme running throughout, most evident in songs like “Grace Found Me”, “No Other Love” and “Beginning to End.” The track “Beginning to End” is in a similar vein to much of Hillsong's work, and I could easily picture it being sung in a congregational setting. Some of the tracks take a slightly unusual angle while still moving in the vertical direction of worship, such as “You're The Medicine,” a track carried by a strong beat and the cry “You're a medicine, not a sedative.”

 

We Once Were is an encouraging collection of songs about our deep need of grace, and the struggle to surrender to that grace. The record is upbeat and encouraging, and it is definitely a step forward for the band in the area of lyrics. I would like to see them stretching themselves more musically, as it still feels like they are trying to find their own unique voice, but overall it is a solid addition to the contemporary Christian genre.