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It’s been nearly 8 years since Black Lab released their Geffen Records debut, “Your Body Above Me”, a lot can happen in 8 years, and for Black Lab, a lot has. They went from signed, to unsigned, to signed, to unsigned all the while only giving us a taste here and there of what they had been saving up. Now, in 2005, they give us everything, a full twelve track album of music that lead singer Paul Durham has been writing and recording for nearly a decade. Often, things that you spend this long waiting for don’t live up to the expectations, but in this case they exceed them. This album, from start to finish is simply brilliant. In eight years, Durham has grown lyrically, as so many of these tracks are so relatable and self inspiring unlike the darker, more hidden lyrics of the bands debut album. From the hook filled “See The Sun” to the back beat processing in “Remember” Black Lab proves right from the start they still know how to write a song that you can’t get out of your head. The synthesized beats and layered guitars on “Tell Me Why” perfectly compliment Durham’s vocals, and seamlessly combine to create a sound that would gain instant attention on radio today. Durham truly showcases his song writing maturation on some of the slower tracks like “Lonely Boy” and “Dream In Color”, both displaying some of the best lyrics Durham has written to date. The only disappointment with this record is the fact that its independent release won’t allow it to be heard by more people, because it truly is one of the best records of the year.