A bit of album programming unevenness doesn't prevent being awestruck by OneVoice's dazzling power on Wait For Your Love.

A rich and enveloping one-minute burst from Air So Sweet sets the table beautifully for these singers and their listeners. To me, it says, "Welcome back to us." So it's pretty jarring to transition to Absolutely (Story of a Girl); it's akin to walking out of snowy Narnia into a roller skating rink. I do appreciate the roomy spotlight given to talented percussionist Parker Mednikow on the track though, who drums for the entire release and solos here, too. Miss Independent takes us even further from the richness OneVoice is capable of with abrasive repetition on the background verses, though another qualifier arrives with soloist Erin Dambrie who completely commands this track, and the detail-abundant mix that's a feast for the ears.

Suddenly, we're back into the sweet spot of OneVoice's capabilities with Enchanted. The vulnerable lead from Charlie Allen takes us to a quiet room, like we've been invited to hear OneVoice's side of the story. This track was a much-needed return to tranquility and sophistication. The group's strength continues to grow in Stargazing, featuring a gorgeous soundscape, elegant presentation from album arranger Rob Dietz, and a flawless lead from Amelia Boer; I wouldn't change a single note.

And then, a surprise reprise of the 1998 global hit Iris, with a lead from Tera Jane Arwood that sounds fresh and novel against the Goo Goo Dolls, and an arrangement from Dietz that adds plenty of new, highly effective content you just wouldn't expect. Iris hits real hard; I did not consent to feeling this much, I thought we left this in the '90s. Dietz's signature creativity continues with Astronomy, where the voices he pens for are performing perfectly to open this song, a tapestry of sound that represents what a cappella should strive for. Soloist Sabella Holt's delivery is so beautiful and mature there's a physical ache listening to her, and as the urgency builds beneath her, so does the pain. I also love the background soprano lines written and delivered, too; what a marvel from the ensemble. I'll Never Love Again also gives a bigger stage to the ensemble, singing a choir-heavy ballad here that showcases how strong OneVoice can be as a collective in addition to the all-star soloists.

we can't be friends is joyful and lush, a universally appealing track from OneVoice that sounds like an ideal single release or mid-album groove, though here it closes out the project and inspires the album title, too. It's a strong bop, but doesn't inspire as hard as other tracks did. A closer just seems to carry sacred expectations.

Wait For Your Love showcases talent, commitment, and heart from everyone involved in this release. What an achievement.

As regular as the holidays themselves, Wait For Your Love is this year's edition of the staple that is OneVoice's incredible discography. The group continues to operate as a cornerstone of high school a cappella, maintaining a standard of excellence. While this particular iteration of the group is a bit treble-heavy and uneven, the album is still impactful, especially the latter half.

Even in the tracks that receive a "3", there are aspects to appreciate: clear execution of complex, chromatic background parts, impressive range in solo voice delivery, or moments of cohesion and intrigue. Unfortunately, they are flashes obscured by other unevenness, such as nasality and soloist-to-background balance issues in Miss Independent and pacing issues underscored by an omission of bass and percussion parts in Enchanted. Because those elements take away from the cohesion and focus of the tracks, those tracks simply do not live up to the group's generally lofty high bar.

The album really gains momentum in its last four tracks. Astronomy and I'll Never Love Again are almost direct complements of each other, with sincerity and vulnerability shared from both upper-voice soloist Sabella Holt and lower-voice soloist Cross Cole, respectively. Normally I might call the relative sameness in tone monotonous, but it seriously works in this instance, similar to how a ballad-heavy second act of a musical works when dramatically well-crafted. Additionally, the library of sounds and tone-setting pacing delivered by vocal percussionist Parker Mednikow are nothing short of masterful, especially in I'll Never Love Again. Directly following is a welcome, upbeat, and homogeneously energetic closer in we can't be friends, and while I don't know many albums whose title is a parenthetical of one of its tracks, it serves as a conclusive thesis statement in this case.

Where I especially give OneVoice its flowers is Iris (pun intended). The group has a long history of taking songs from yesteryear and truly making them their own in a spectacular way, and this Goo Goo Dolls classic is this year's edition of that trademark offering. With subtle changes in melodic content and embellishment, soloist Tera Jane Atwood takes full ownership from the beginning and delivers a savvy performance. The Rob Dietz arrangement features background vocal interjections that make the song feel truly fresh in the a cappella medium all the way to the end.

There is a great deal of excellent material on Wait For Your Love, particularly when balance and the rhythm section are present and featured. I have yet to encounter a complete and total swing-and-a-miss by OneVoice, which is a feat in and of itself. Whether you're already a fan or new to this perennial powerhouse, this album is certainly worth a listen.

Another year, another stellar release from Briarcrest OneVoice. It's become something of an annual tradition from these high school students. This year's release is Wait For Your Love, which tells a tale of love found and lost. It will have you deep in your feelings and wanting to listen again and again.

The success of this album begins and ends with the large swath of exceptional performers in the group. The middle of the album features Parker Mednikow's percussion feature in Absolutely (Story of a Girl), Erin Dambrie's hard-hitting solo in Miss Independent, and Charlie Allen's warmth and vulnerability in Enchanted. If you pick any track on this album, you're bound to hear something special. It's a fusion of well-developed talent and fantastic song choices. Every soloist is placed in a situation where success is almost guaranteed. Their stories are palpable and accessible. You won't just hear their stories, you'll feel them.

If we're talking about how those situations are created, we have to look no further than the arrangements on this album. Rob Dietz is the mastermind behind most tracks, and the stories woven are rich and complex. Iris is the pinnacle of this storytelling. The arrangement gives the perfect supporting framework to let soloist Tera Jane Arwood tell their story. A quintessential power ballad, every moment continues to build the story. The result is a climactic moment with a perfectly executed key change after the bridge. The pure raw emotion makes me want to shout from the rooftops and cheer. It's absolutely stunning.

If there's one real flaw to this album, is its overall pacing. It's very ballad-heavy. As someone who loves ballads, I can get behind this decision. However, the end of the album suffers because of this. With Iris and I'll Never Love Again as power ballads sandwiching the emotional ballad that Astronomy is, it feels like too much emotion for one sitting. This is finally resolved with we can't be friends (wait for your love), but this track never hits the same level of highs or lows of the previous tracks. It's thematically and lyrically correct as an ending, but musically disappointing. The group does little to give a satisfying sendoff to the listener. I found myself waiting for the next track, only to be surprised that the album was finished. This is a misstep by the group, especially considering that I've seen this executed by the group perfectly over the years on other albums.

OneVoice continues to prove that they are masters of the craft. The best music will make you feel something, whether it's a positive or negative feeling. This album will make you feel uplifted at times, melancholic at others, and loving every second of it. Take a listen and enjoy.