A man of many hats including pastor, father, husband, and computing professional, David Raybuck didn’t play around when he added songwriter to that list. I am willing to believe that the fourteen songs included on his debut release The Prodigal aren’t the full extent of songs Raybuck has at his disposal for this collection. The fecund creativity evident in the lyrics, the arrangements, the unexpected musical twists and turns along the way far outstrip what many of his contemporaries in the Christian contemporary music community are capable of.
WEBSITE: https://davidraybuck.com/
His musical vision woes as much to pop music as anything else. Songs such as the opener “Hosanna”, “Be Healed”, and later tracks hew to a clear traditional pop structure though Raybuck sometimes travels circuitous routes to get there. “Be Healed”, for instance, succeeds in part thanks to the contrast between its verses and widescreen chorus. The juxtaposition doesn’t seem as if it will work but it’s a seamless union that proves to be the song’s highlight. The elegant piano stride in the center of “Desert Ride” matches up well with one of the album’s better drum tracks. Raybuck’s arrangements achieve an effortless liftoff during performances such as this.
Raybuck’s title song will rank among the album’s best for many listeners. It is gripping listening to hum unravel his own interpretation of the seminal Biblical story unshackled from any prior take on the tale. His respect for its themes and lessons is apparent. It needs to be clear, however, that Raybuck never treats his lyrics as if they are butterflies pinned under glass – overly reverently and disconnected from the flesh and blood underlying the messages. These are songs full of life lived.
“My Sufferings” is one of The Prodigal’s peak moments. It’s a prime example of Raybuck’s sleight of musical hand at its finest as the acoustic sway of its opening transitions into a hard pop stomp. These shifts, however, never seem to come off from different pages – they are part of the same vein and it sounds inexhaustible. It’s one of the album’s best lyrics, as well, no small praise.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-prodigal/1648602137
The late track “Why I Sing” is typical fare for its type, in some respects, but it doesn’t prevent Raybuck from putting his own personal stamp on the experience. It falls into the same category as several other songs on the release, devotionals rather than testimonials, but there’s a level of feeling he achieves with the song’s vocal setting it apart from the rest. Exquisite guitar work puts an emphatic exclamation point on another of those songs, “Abide”, and Raybuck again leans on a gliding tempo for carrying the song through to the end.
Songwriting turns in a darker direction during the cut “Scales”, but Raybuck remains grounded in a familiar point of view. Rarely will you hear a song collection boasting the same overall vision present in these songs – and they come across as remarkably natural, free from artifice, and dredged up from deep within. “Who’s My Neighbor?” relies on Raybuck’s storytelling skills a final time and weds them with a near-archetypal gospel backing. He maintains the balance, however, and it produces a satisfying ending for one of the best releases this year.
Jodi Marxbury