From Hurt to Healing Posted May 04, 2023 By GraceChaves_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What You Need To Know David Dunn has been bringing his unique style and sound to Christian music since his first album, For the Life of Me, in 2012. With songs like "Today Is Beautiful," "I Wanna Go Back," and "The Long Way Home," David Dunn's blend of pop and EDM has gotten the attention of fans and music critics alike. Now, he's back with his fifth full-length album, Boys.
The 11-track album follows David's 2020 album, Perspectives. Featuring songs like "Spend a Life" and "Church," Perspectives further established David as a talented songwriter and musician. On Boys, David continues to tap into his musical expertise in each of the 11 tracks. Once again, he has proven himself to be among the best of the best in the Christian music industry.
What it Sounds Like
The first thing that stood out to me on Boys is David's knack to pen such vulnerable and relatable songs. From start to finish, Boys is a journey from hurt to healing and the messy yet beautiful process in between. Common themes on the album are doubt, trust, faith, pain, and the unending love and kindness of God.
There's been a slow demise of artists writing honest songs. Although I love reminders that everything will be okay, I find albums like Boys much more relatable. As much as I need songs about God's greatness, I also need songs that remind me that God isn't afraid of my doubt; He isn't afraid of my pain. That's precisely what David Dunn's album is all about.
The album journeys through the highs and lows of life while maintaining a balance of pop and EDM that David Dunn is known for. Every track was intentional, resulting in an album that is one of my favorites of the year.
Spiritual Highlights
David Dunn indirectly references scripture in some songs while he makes bold declarations of faith in others. "Poison" is the perfect example of how David is able to incorporate the truth of scripture in a subtle way.
The song finds the artist torn between right and wrong. In the bridge, David sings, "I keep hating what I do, but I love it/I keep loving what I do, but I hate it." It echoes Paul's words in Romans 7:19 (NIV), "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing."
But beyond merely referencing scripture, David does an incredible job pointing his audience back to the heart of God. In "Hymn of an Addict," David sings about finding Jesus in his lowest place. The song reflects on the freedom found in Him, while "The Greatest" focuses on our call to love like Jesus. Song after song, David finds clever ways to include Biblical truths.
Best Song on the Record
My favorite song on Boys would have to be "Did You Come for Me." Every lyric is incredibly vulnerable yet carefully crafted. The song feels like a love letter to Jesus, the One who lived and died to give us victory. David sings, "I don't wanna live in fear all by myself/God, I need some company, what if it was you and me?"
Some believe we must clean up our act before we can come to Jesus. But this song reflects the opposite message--it invites Jesus into our mess. "I'm the weak, I'm the broken/I'm the widow and the orphan/Did you come for me?/I'm the poor, I'm the leper/I'm the blind, just another beggar/Did you come for me?"
Jesus came for all of us: not just for the religious elite or those living a perfect life. He came for the broken, the weak, the widow, and the orphan: you and me, at our best and worst. And the best news of all is that He didn't come just to leave us; Jesus is living inside us, breathing His life into ours. His ever-present company will always be with us, for now, and all eternity.
Final Word
I believe it's safe to say that Boys is one of the best albums of 2023. David's songwriting prowess is evident throughout the entire record, and I love how he gets the gospel across in a way that isn't cliche. Boys breaths new life into old truths, and the vulnerability it displays will impact its listeners. This album has already been encouraging me, and I can't wait to see the reach it will continue to have.
