“The Prodigal” by David Raybuck

The Prodigal rates as one of the most idiosyncratic songwriting collections released in recent memory as well as one of the finest gospel-themed albums in the last quarter century. Texas based pastor, father of seven, and husband David Raybuck doesn’t achieve those ends via an ambitious and over the top sound. The Prodigal’s fourteen songs, instead, rely on melody, poetry, and understatement to accomplish their goals. It isn’t only a glimpse into Raybuck’s soul that we receive through these tracks, however, it’s a glimpse of our own place in the world read in the context of Biblical teachings.

“Hosanna” begins the collection on an appropriately upbeat note. There’s a definite celebratory nature surrounding some of the album’s best songs without ever plunging headlong into mindless revelry. The folk rock approach he takes for this performance remains close throughout the album but Raybuck never allows himself to become wedded to it. “Be Healed”, The Prodigal’s second song, proves that in spades.

It contrasts an ominous acoustic half-drone in the verses with crashing electric guitars during the chorus. Raybuck doesn’t indulge in this often, mixing heavy distorted guitars with his customary approach, and the lack of overkill makes instances of its use mean all the more. The album’s best moment comes perhaps with the title song. It’s fully fleshed out folk music with a religious slant as Raybuck re-tells listeners the story of the prodigal son, but even those intimately familiar with the Biblical parable won’t find much rehashing.

Raybuck’s lyrical inventiveness spins the tale in a fresh and personal way. It is his delivery, however, fully in tune with the moment and burrowed deep inside the text that stands out. Another of the album’s exceptional moments arrives with the later “My Sufferings” as Raybuck brilliantly mingles pop and retro conceits in with a smattering of terse alt rock guitar. The lyrics are as strong as ever for this song, as well, and gain again from his spotless delivery.

“In the Shadow of Your Wings” is one of the album’s songs gaining a lot from the interplay between acoustic guitar and piano. It sets the table for this track and there’s an undercurrent of melancholy pervading the song, as others, and it complicates the multitude of other emotions rife throughout the piece. The shift higher that comes with the song’s chorus strikes a slightly dissonant, off-kilter note that deepens the song.

The track “Abide” has a dream-like waft that carries listeners off from the beginning. Raybuck puts a musical exclamation point on the song’s eloquence with an especially tasty guitar solo, a rare concession during this release. A swell of guitar feedback opens the cut “Scales” and its recurring touch helps darken an already uncompromising lyric, though you can seldom accuse Raybuck of sugar-coating any of the album’s fourteen messages. The Prodigal isn’t for the faint of heart and presents an uncompromising view of the world as seen through the gospel, but it is ultimately one of the year’s most rewarding musical works. 

Timothy Ball