Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Almost as soon as I heard this band, I could tell there was a Southern influence in there somewhere. So I was not surprised to hear that Saving Abel – the name comes from the Bible story of Cain and Abel – formed in Corinth, Mississippi in 2004. The group was formed by lead singer Jared Weeks and lead guitarist Jason Null and tries to focus on “the [entire] song, not just one cool part to make a kid bop his head.” And that’s why this band will go further – and has more potential – than a lot of recent straight-ahead rock bands... like Hinder for example.

Weeks has an inviting, almost country-esque voice -- one of the best and most versatile I’ve heard in awhile. I also like Null's guitar work, but I have to say that the rest of the band is... questionable. They have a solid base there in Weeks and Null, but I have to say that I think they could really benefit from a better all-around band to back them up in the future.

Saving Abel is a rarity – a young band signed early in their career to a big-name label... and they have all of the potential it takes to be truly great. Some of the songs on this self-titled debut are solid and have hit potential, but others are questionable. First off, we have Addicted, which is the first single you’ve probably already heard on a rock radio station near you, even though the CD isn't due out for another couple weeks yet. Addicted is a catchy tune and is actually the reason I wanted to review Saving Abel. Next you have some stuff from their EP, including 18 Days – a keeper that could be their next single – and Drowning (Face Down) – a decent album track. The best song on the record is the balladesque Sailed Away. It throws in some impressive acoustic – presumably by Null – and presents lyrics you can relate to when you just want to give up.

Overall, this is a decent buy. Some of the stuff is hit-or-miss, but that is a very common trait in a debut album. I’d say that you need to watch out for Saving Abel in the future – or at least Weeks and Null.