Just about every artist who’s been in the music biz awhile ends up releasing a “best-of” project at one time or another. Not surprisingly, Third Day has completely re-defined “best-of.” But before you jump to the conclusion that Come Together is a “best of” collection, be advised that it features all new, all original material that only reflects the “best of” the various musical styles Third Day has embraced over its seven-year history.

Many fans have chosen one of the band’s previous albums as a “stylistic favorite,” meaning Come Together‘s multi-style format has something for everyone. There are the go-for-broke Southern rock tracks (“Get On”, “Still Listening”) the modern rock tunes (“I Got You”, “Come Together”, “40 Days”) and several stunning new expressions of worship (“Show Me Your Glory”, “Sing Praises”, “Nothing Compares”). And while all of the aforementioned are exceptionally enjoyable, my favorites are the new modern pop/rock ballads (“My Heart”, “It’s Alright”, “I Don’t Know”, “When the Rain Comes”).

When Third Day came up with the concept and title for this album more than 18 months ago, they obviously had no idea it would release right about the time our country was “coming together” over a national crisis. The message of these songs is more than timely. The more remarkable thing, however, is that this band continues to raise the artistic standard. When it comes to culturally relevant, artistic, intelligent expressions of faith, it just doesn’t get much better than this.

Laura Harris