This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
They’re from Steinbach. They’re punks. And they’re Christian. If any band proves you don’t have to play by music-biz rules to get somewhere, it’s The Undecided.
This third album — their second for Seattle indie label Tooth & Nail — unites the foursome with producer Neill King, who has been behind the board for Green Day, Gob and Buck-O-Nine. Not surprisingly, this 11-song effort sounds just as polished as any major-label popcore disc this year — John-Paul Peters’ guitars churn, chug and crunch invigoratingly; Steven Dueck’s polka-punk drums and Dan Thomas’s bouncing basslines never lag; and Matthew Fast’s vocals have just the right mix of snot and sweetness to go with the layered harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. The only difference is that these guys are singing about God’s love as often as a girl’s love. If there’s a downside, it’s that these songs may be too similar to every other popcore outfit. If The Undecided really want to change people’s minds, they’ll have to stand out from the pack more.
