Saturate
Jeff Deyo
Gotee Records

Anticipation doesn't really describe the feeling I had for this project; wonder, curiosity, excitement, all of which total up to eager. I was very eager to hear Jeff's follow-up to the Sonicflood tidle wave of success. Not knowing all that transgressed between Sonicflood and his solo debut, I can't even guess at what thoughts or emotions must have been influencing Jeff while he made this journey.

Jeff Deyo clearly had much to do with the earlier success of Sonicflood, but "Saturate" is not a Steve Perry (Journey) solo type album. Jeff has taken his own direction towards more of a worship leading role, and at the same time has escalated his own talents and abilities.

The CD opens with a stirring prayer, leading into a fresh rendition of "More Love, More Power." dc Talk's tobyMac adds a spicy background which helps to build on the passion of the song. Passionate would best describe the contents of "Saturate", and I know that word is used a lot to describe worship music, but the feeling here is authentic. "Let Me Burn" is a primo example of the intense feeling Jeff can convey through his musical gifts, with a crescendo that will make you raise your hands to the heavens.

Rebecca St. James joins Jeff on "Sing To You", which sounds interestingly more like a peppy-electronic pop tune right out of Rebecca's repertoire more than a Deyo creation. Additionally, Nicol Smith is featured on the ballad "All I Want," expressing a heartfelt cry to be closer to the love of Jesus.

All of what I've heard on "Saturate," the passion and the poems of praise, affirm my belief in the mission of Jeff Deyo, and that his music is spiritually compiled, leading to more eagerness for a live encounter.

-Ken Wiegman