We'll get the "Breakfast" jokes out of the way first, so we can deal with Jody Davis on his own terms. As lead guitarist of the multi-platinum youth group favorite Newsboys (for those who need help, he's not the bald one or the one with Rapunzel-esque locks, but has gone through some hairstyle identity crises of his own), Davis has been the band's mainstay since its inception, providing skillful riffs, but mostly blending neatly into the background. His self-titled solo project, therefore, reveals a surprising amount of musical sophistication and happily defies any comparison with his other employer.
Jody Davis isn't as hook-happy as one would expect from a Newsboy, but is also not an ambitious guitar-god record as might be expected from a lead ax-slinger. Though "Believe" opens with a crunchy riff and pounding drums, Davis resists the temptation to let it all hang out and underscores his talented guitar work with a snappy horn section and gritty vocal work. What results is a pleasant album with a real 80's blue-collar power rock feel, ala Huey Lewis and Chicago. It's as fun to listen to as it sounds like it was to make, a picture of a lifetime of influences coming to the surface without regard for what's hot or what will sell.
The backbone of the album, of course, is Davis' guitar work, which runs the gamut from the funky wah of "I Can't Get Enough," which is sure to evoke the great Firehouse records of the 80's with its perfectly placed power chords, to the driving beat of "Satellite" and Motown groove of "Close to You." Tempering the all-out guitar frenzy to a more contextual placement allows the album to clip along at a pleasant pace, never getting bogged down with either sentimentality or ambition. Davis' talents as a songwriter are also nicely displayed, as he frames his songs in personal terms, making for moments of sincere expression as on "Drive:" "Here in the silence, drive to the fields where the love is, reckless and crazed to escape the chasing past."
When the players in a band decide to go solo, it usually means either the end is near for the band, or their own ego has grown to a place where they can no longer stand being in the shadows. Jody Davis' debut effort is neither of these; instead, it is a collection of songs written out of a lifetime of music which is pleasantly more about the songs than the one singing them.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Andy ArgyrakisThe Newsboys desperately needed a break after a decade on the road, ending in their exhaustive dome tour from last summer. The group is not disbanding, just spending a bit of their down time engulfed in other projects. First was the modestly successful InPop Records release from Phil Joel. Now, guitarist Jody Davis had stepped out on his own with an 11 song self-titled project. The disc sports an…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Jessica HeikoopBeginning with ear-catching riffs and gritty vocals, Jody Davis catches the listener's attention immediately. Davis, guitarist for the Newsboys, has released his self-titled album and proven that he is just as successful as a solo artist as he is with The Newsboys. The songs, which were composed over a span of ten years, all flow well, and capture many sounds and feelings, something that is hard…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsFirst things first: as Andy Argyrakis noted in the April issue of The Phantom Tollbooth, The Newsboys are not disbanding. With the release of Shine...The Hits, it's the perfect time for bassist Phil Joel and guitarist Jody Davis to shine a bit on their own. With Jody Davis, we have a bit of a spit-polish instead of a true shine. Second things second, don't expect a Newsboys' sound from Jody…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Chelsea LewisYet another Newsboy puts the spotlight on a solo project outside the band. Jody Davis' self-titled debut exhibits his wide range of abilities, including songwriting, playing guitar, and singing. His choice of music is rather different than the typical Newsboys sound, displaying Davis' will to make his own sound heard. The modern rock/pop tracks are heavily laced with guitar, drums, and bass, with…
