Devin McGlamery

Love Is a Verb
Stowtown Records

If you know Devin McGlamery, then you’d expect nothing but a high-energy recording. From the age of just 17 he’s been burning up the main stage with The Dixie Melody Boys, Karen Peck & New River and, lately, with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. Now his “Love Is a Verb” shows an equally intense yet sometimes surprisingly mellow side of McGlamery.

Produced and arranged by Wayne Haun, this album offers some great vocal collaborations as well. The group Beyond The Ashes joins in on the title song. Super-hot bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent appears on “From My Rags to His Riches.” It’s a reunion of Karen Peck & New River for “While I Still Can.” Russ Taff is spotlighted on the Statesmen classic “Up Above My Head.” Then there’s Signature Sound to round out the recording with “That’s Why.”

These 12 songs are a good blend of both classics and fresh material. The word “bluesy” kept coming to mind as I listened through the recording several times — but no, it’s not a blues CD. Instead it’s just McGlamery’s way of feeling the messages and then translating them with his own personal style. By the time you hear Ronny Hinson and Mike Payne’s “When He Was on the Cross (I Was on His Mind)” or Phil Cross’ “In the Depths of the Sea” or the very touching Cindi Ballard/Wayne Haun song “Waiting at Home,” you’ll understand the passion with which he has portrayed each selection. All in all this is a good, eclectic combination with depth of messages for us all song after song.