Running Back to You

If, like me, you didn't pay much attention to the sixth season of American Idol, then you may not have heard Idol finalist Chris Sligh sing before. As he sings with conviction, passion and emotion on his new Christian rock album, Running Back to You, the power of his voice and his range may surprise you. Already, his single, "Empty Me," the fourth track on Running Back to You, is a hit on Christian radio, having broken the top 30 on the Billboard chart for Hot Christian Songs and the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart. While many of his songs reflect religious belief in their lyrics, which may not appeal to secular listeners as much, Sligh's voice and the album's music can appeal to anyone, religious or not. Sligh is also not afraid to experiment, adding strings to "Loaded Gun," one of the songs that do not sound overtly religious, and also the album's closing track, "Vessel," which has a soothing strings-and-guitar arrangement. Running Back to You debuts May 6.