Most emerging artists in the Praise and Worship genre seem unable to explore new territory in a musical style in which fresh sounds seem to be going the way of the buffalo. However, piano-driven Indiana independents 1000 Generations, fronted by husband-and-wife team Steven and Amanda Potaczek, are not afraid to color outside of the lines.

2003’s Prayers won the group a great deal of recognition. The follow-up, To Those Who Cry, continues to showcase their knack for embellishing straightforward worship songs by combining unlikely sounds in innovative ways.

Album highlights include “Only in Weakness,” a radio-friendly praise song that glistens with vinyl-lifted drum loops, plush string samples, and twinkling piano. The cheerful “Help Me Let Me Let Myself Be Loved” rollicks with B-3 Organ and a Belafonte-esque spirited chorus of “Day-o, Me say Day-o.” Bagpipes drone over slick drum loops and flowing, ambient string pads in “Even Then” as Potaczek sings, “Even if my whole world falls apart / even if this dark night never ends / even if I am stranded on this road / Even then, I will love you.”

To Those Who Cry is an excellent album for anyone in search of fresh, new, innovative worship music.