Devotion

Description

Aaron Neville- DevotionAmazon.com Aaron Neville is one of the only singers alive with a voice soulful, strong, and emotionally pure enough to warrant comparisons to Sam Cooke--easy to understand upon hearing his new gospel-oriented collection, "Devotion." With an intensity you just don't hear enough of, he tackles some of the great songs of the genre, such as "Mary Don't You Weep" and "Banks of the River Jordan." Those songs share space with a few originals, as well as ingeniously sung covers of pop standards such as "I Shall Be Released," "Bridge over Troubled Water," and "Morning Has Broken"--all done in the stirring, tuneful way that only Aaron Neville can achieve. As is the case these days on almost any solo recording by a performer over the age of 20, there are guest stars: able-voiced brother Ivan is on here, while adult contemporary act Avalon and diva wannabe Rachel Lampa attempt, admirably, to hold their own with the great singer. Okay, it's gonna sound clichéd, but this record really is as rock solid as its message of faith. --Mike McGonigal Review If the Neville Brothers' music is like a big Thanksgiving meal-flavorful, plate-filling and home-cooked-then Aaron Neville is the gravy, the smooth and tasty finishing touch. On Devotion, he steps forward to sing about the faith that has privately carried him.Neville goes old school with mellow four-part quartet renditions of gospel classics like "Mary Don't You Weep," "Banks of the River Jordan" and "Were You There." Other covers include surprisingly straightforward takes on the retro classics "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Cat Stevens' "Morning Has Broken."Neville imparts a few originals like the soaring ballad "There Is Still a Dream," a duet featuring his rather curious pairing with the vocal wünderkind Rachel Lampa, as well as his own very adult contemporary perspective on "What Would Jesus Do?" Other than the rather forced sounding spoken word testimonial, "Jesus Is a Friend of Mine," Neville's disarming approach and cuddly vocals somehow make bearable even the songs that are destined for the Billboard adult contemporary charts ("By Heart, By Soul"). It's tempting to lump this project in with the rest of the big-time-mainstream-artist-stops-in-to-reassure-their-childhood-church-family-that-they-haven't-forgotten montages that come out occasionally. One of the moments that makes Devotion nearly critic-proof is Neville's absolutely perfect, remarkably special version of "Jesus Loves Me." No pandering to be found here, only a reminder of the greatness of Aaron Neville's iconic voice and the depth of his feelings for God. -- Anthony Barr-Jeffrey (c) 2000 CCM Communications, Inc. -- From CCM Magazine -- Subscribe Now!

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UPC Number: 72438202872

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