One of contemporary Christian music's finest songwriting talents has finally given us his own release. Thank goodness, because Wayne Kirkpatrick's The Maple Room is a piece of songwriting brilliance, clearly showing why so many artists clamor for his songs. Like Matthew Sweet and Michael Penn, Kirkpatrick knows how to write a sweet, swift, intelligent, and complete pop song. Many of the tracks here have wonderful choruses and hooks that will stay with you for a long while. Whether it's the toe-tapping numbers such as "That's Not New Age" and "In Another Light" or the poignant and moving ballads "Hanging by a Thread" and "I Won't Forget You," Kirkpatrick covers the gamut of emotion, insight, and sentiment. His expressive songwriting style, not to mention his technical expertise as a guitarist, provides listeners with the total package. Any pop music fan can appreciate The Maple Room, and they owe it to themselves to grab a copy today. --Michael Lyttle