Beneath Chris August’s easygoing exterior is a core of solid Christian faith, shown in lyrics rooted in the real-life struggles of modern-day believers. On the follow-up to his Dove-winning debut, No Far Away, the Texas singer/songwriter applies his folksy croon to a batch of pop/rock tunes framing sometimes playful, sometimes bittersweet lyrics. August is a keen student of ‘70s R&B, as evidenced by the mellow swing of “Let the Music Play” and the gospel simmer of “Amen.” There’s also a very contemporary acoustic-pop influence in tracks like the title number and “A Little More Jesus." The sound leans toward soft, but the message it conveys is firm in its convictions. The electronica-accented “Center of It” and the country-slanted “This Side of Heaven” find God amid the clutter and confusion of ordinary existence. August looks closely at a troubled marriage in “Restore” and offers a soulful praise number in “Truth Is Still True.” “1989” offers a youthful self-portrait set to a propulsive track. All told, The Upside of Down downplays melodrama in favor of heartfelt testimony delivered with polished craft and unshakable commitment.