"Unstoppable" is the third CD by Earl, James, Layne and Geoff, and they've made some serious changes since we loved their set at the 2001 Harmony Sweeps Finals. Once a solid doo-woppish cover quintet with a sound reminiscent of Rockapella and the Coats who did all their own arrangements, they have become an (almost) all-original (written and arranged by group members) quartet with an infectious, techno sound. 11 songs, the supersmooth "Baby I'm Waiting," the precise, soaring "The Rules," the top-40ish Title tune, the edgy "Just Listen," the love song "Your Moon," the vocal percussion gems "Any Note Will Do" and "Just Listen," the harmonic anthem "Slowly Slowly Stop," the philosophical "Life," a cover (one of two) of the BeeGee's "Stayin' Alive" that's the best we've heard, and a funky, incongruous "Winter Wonderland" that gives the Blenders a run for their harmony. All a cappella, but with some added echo and vocal distortion. Ordinarily we might have some reservations about such effects, but here they fit seamlessly into one of the richest, most full sounds we have heard an a cappella group produce on a recording, all the more amazing when we consider that they are basically just 4 guys with mikes. "Unstoppable" pushes the a cappella envelope in a confident, surprising direction, that needs to be listened to again and again to be savored and appreciated. The fact that all the original material is brilliant is only to be expected. Enough superlatives‹we love this CD, one of the best of the year!

Listen to Stayin' Alive in RealAudio.