It is a rarity for me to give anything a "perfect 10," but this is one occasion when the aforementioned title is deserved.

While Splender may not be the most famous of all the late-90’s rock bands, it is arguably the best. Led by the talented Waymon Boone on vocals, Splender mixes an edgy punk sound with classic guitar riffs and amazing lyrics to make a truly unforgettable debut album.

Their one "hit" single, so to say, "I Think God Can Explain" shows the true depth of Boone’s writing. It also gained the band numerous gigs, including their best – an opening slot on Third Eye Blind’s American tour of the time. That and the slight radio play on local stations was how I first became familiar with what would later become my favorite band of all time.

There is a maturity on "Halfway Down the Sky" that is not present on most debuts, no matter what the genre. Combine this with the overall need for a great rock band; a need that was HUGE at the end of the century and you get something that no one will ever be able to top, not even themselves, I’m sad to say. Instead of sticking with what was known, the "I hate my parents – why won’t you shut up – this girl is a b!t@h" styles of the punk bands that came before (and after) them, they stick to rock’s roots, with head-banging on "Wallflower" all the way to lighters-in-the-air tracks like "London."

It would not be surprising to hear that most people have not heard of Splender, but that fact alone is one of the great "shames" in music. All of the attention from radio and the press does not a great album make (look at Ashley Simpson, for example). The flip of the coin, then, can also be true – that some of the greatest music out there, like Splender’s, is left unheard by the public majority just because it didn’t fit the mold of the times.

So, overall, if you are looking for a truly great rock album that you will enjoy for years to come, you will not be disappointed in "Halfway Down the Sky."