Over the past few years, we have come to fully appreciate the gloriously extravagant musical visions of singer, songwriter and musician Ray Curenton. A man who, via his songs, unashamedly proclaims both his supernatural and earthly faith, Curenton wraps his multi-octave voice on one melodic song after another, always giving unexpected treats.
All that being said, it was no easy task for Curenton to complete his new 15 song album, Believer, a.k.a. The Last Shall Be First. The ambitious disc consumed much time and energy, but ended, appropriately, as a disc that chronicled the “intense test of my faith that ironically brought me back to my faith.”
Believer recalls another time in music that has a special place for both Curenton and many of our readers. He tells us, “This album is a collection of songs that pay homage to the music of my youth: ’90s and ’00s R&B and contemporary gospel. Each track chronicles my journey back to music, and back to life, after a long time away from creativity. Some songs are more political, others more spiritual, and many are a mixture of the two. Working on this project was abundantly healing for me, both for my own sense of nostalgia and as a source of encouragement and hope for the future. I’m thrilled to pass that healing on to the world in the form of this album.”
When an album sounds good, it is a treat. But when it sounds uniquely good, then that’s something to cherish. Check out Believer below. It is our Album of the Month for June.
Album of the Month
Ray Curenton – Believer, a.k.a. The Last Shall Be First
