Salvation in Lights

After accepting Christ, hard rocker Mike Farris’ career went south — all the way to New Orleans, in fact. The former lead singer of the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies drenched himself in the sanctified sounds of Southern black gospel and Memphis soul and came up with Salvation In Lights (2007), an inspired amalgam of classic hymns and sanctified originals. Pouring sweat and radiating newfound faith, Farris throws himself into these songs like a sinner answering an alter call. It takes nerve to tackle iconic tunes like Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down” and Sam Cooke’s “Change Is Gonna Come” — but Farris more than acquits himself with smoldering, drop-to-your-knees performances. From the slinky, Daniel Lanois-like “Devil Don’t Sleep” to the Dixieland horn-inflected “I’m Gonna Get There,” Farris’ self-penned tunes have a sincerity and musical resonance that can’t be faked. Produced by Ferris with Matt Martone, Salvation In Lights veers into Mardi Gras-style celebration on “Sit Down Servant” and serves up guitar-fueled swamp-rock on “Take Me (I’ll Take You There).” Whether he’s wailing to the rafters or savoring a bluesy phrase, Farris convincingly delivers the fervent message of his music.