Contemporary Christian

13 MP3 Songs
GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel, POP: Power Pop



Details:
Released at the end of 2006, Your Path comes almost 5 years after his last studio recording. And boy, is it worth the wait! Devin teams up with a who's who list of musicians including Tommy Sims, Akil Thompson, Javier Solis, Drew Douthit, & Brandon Fraley. With such writers as Michael Neale, Bryan Johnson, & Brandon Fraley contributing, this record is sure to have something for everyone - which always seems to be the goal in a Devin Webb project. Longtime friend & keyboardist, Brandon Fraley, co-produced the record with Webb.

Reflecting on this record, you can tell that making this latest project has been a thrilling and humbling experience for Devin. With conviction in his voice, Devin relates, âThe thing that I love about this project is the spirit of the songs. They really are the truest reflection of my heart and passions to date. Working on this record was a real process. I took the longest amount of time that I have ever taken [almost a year] to make a record, but the end result is something that I am very proud of. The premise of this entire record was based upon the idea that we all have a path; a journey in life that we take. And although our paths look really different, weâre all longing for the same contentment at the core of who we are as people.â

More than ever before, it seems very apparent that the emphasis was on the strength of the songs & the production. The sound of Your Path is the most current-sounding, fresh record that Webb has ever released. Part of this is attributed to Fraley, who always has his finger on the pulse of the pop music culture. However, itâs not so extreme towards the âhip factorâ that it forsakes Webbâs innate abilities. In fact, he has never sounded more comfortable. From R&B, laid-back grooves (âLord of All of Meâ) to funk songs laden with guitar riffs (âLive to Giveâ), his musical influences seem to be growing (& flourishing) with each record. The intro on the first track (âI Belong to Youâ) immediately conveys that youâre getting ready to go on a ride & the piano rock feel on the chorus of âI Hear Youâ literally moves you. Speaking of movingâ¦The vulnerability of the vocals on âLove Said Noâ & âMore Than Anythingâ are sung with such passion & sincerity that they stir you to the very core of your soul. And the story-songs âSilent No Moreâ & âI Believeâ speak of a world that longs for more & the challenge to us all to do something about it. The swing on âYour Gloryâ is infectious & the guitar-driven âCloserâ begins with Webbâs airy vocals making you feel as if youâre floating & then building momentum quickly to the chorus that displays his ability to sing with power & gusto too. Your Path is certainly not without the huge power pop tunes that Webb is known for creating & that we have grown accustomed to expecting. In fact, itâs almost as if he & Fraley decided that bigger is better on a few songs. A wall of vocals greets you on the chorus of âEasy Lovinâ Youâ & the bigness of the song is accentuated by a modulation will bring you out of your seat. A couple of the larger songs are supported by a gospel choir, including the title track where Webb solidifies himself as a bona fide singer. And âSaved the Dayâ has vibey verses accented by swelling string parts, which lead to a magnificent chorus of celebration. As the song builds, you can sense a spirit of freedom & victory. The song concludes with an incredible merger of dissonance in the choir & rumbling, growling guitars. The screaming B3 organ doesnât hurt either.

Your Path is by far the most market-ready, commercial project Webb has ever produced. And he proves that he is not content to rest on the laurels off his God-given talent; he continues to grow & evolve as an artist.