Devotion

great music

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