Devotion

1	Mary Don't You Weep 2:24
2	Jesus Is a Friend of Mine 4:04
3	Banks of the River Jordan 4:48
4	What Would Jesus Do? 4:29
5	Singing You a Prayer / Ivan Neville Duet 4:44
6	There Is Still a Dream / Rachael Lampa Duet 3:58
7	By Heart, By Soul / Avalon 4:14
8	Bridge over Troubled Water 4:58
9	Morning Has Broken 2:56
10	Were You There? 2:47
11	Jesus Loves Me 4:40
12	I Shall Be Released 4:09

Barnes & Noble

Aaron Neville's soaring, soulful vocals have carried him to the top of the pop charts with hits like his '60s soul classic "Tell It Like It Is" and his more recent Linda Ronstadt duet "Don't Know Much." As a member of the Neville Brothers, he plays a key role in one of the cornerstone acts of New Orleans' storied musical heritage. Neville has never shied from stretching his artistic boundaries, even dabbling in country territory. Now Neville turns his attention to inspirational music with Devotion,, a smooth and soothing collection that embraces the artist's gospel roots while touching on Christian pop and traditional hymns. While much of today's Christian music features an almost distracting array of studio bells and whistles, Devotion employs a pared-down production approach to create its mood of peace and renewal. Adding to the album's homey feel are Neville's choice of such familiar songs as Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water" and Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," as well as such traditional hymns as "Morning Has Broken" (which Cat Stevens introduced to pop audiences in the '70s). Meanwhile, Neville embraces the CCM world by including a pair of duets, the powerful "There Is Still a Dream" with Rachael Lampa (from the ONE compilation celebrating World Youth Day), and "By Heart, by Soul" with Avalon. Devotion fully lives up to its title, with smooth vocals and a message of love for God combining to create a truly memorable set. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

Devotion is Aaron Neville's latest full-length disc committed exclusively to spirituals. The singer's voice remains in great shape on reverential covers of traditional spirituals "Banks of River Jordan," "Jesus Loves Me," "Mary Don't You Weep," combined with modern rock classics possessing a sacred nature; "I Shall Be Released," "Morning Has Broken," and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" fit in the context of the album beautifully. Making special appearances on Devotion are Avalon, Ivan Neville, and Rachel Lampa. Les Campbell