What happens when hip-hop meets pop/rock meets folk? The answer is Paul Wright. Gotee Records has a reputation for finding some of the freshest Christian acts out there, and they have once again succeeded. Paul Wright is, indeed, diverse in every aspect of the word. He takes so many elements from so many varying genres that it's very hard to put a label on him.

He already has an EP on Gotee under his belt, but here lies his full-length national debut. Fly Away opens with the hit single "Your Love Never Changes." The opening riff is simply Paul on acoustic guitar until the bass guitar and drums kick in, as well as the rest of the band before too long. The song sets the tone for the rest of the disc. And upon first listen, the songs may seem to run together. But after further inspection, each song has its own distinct sound and feel. But an overall sound is very present. It is as if the mood of the entire project is set by an ambiance created through the echoing vocals of Wright.

All of the songs possess this trait. But some of the tracks on Fly Away add heavier elements into the mix that make for an experience just as enticing as the rest of the disc. Songs like "Rock the Show" and "South Beach" are notable different than the others, but, musically, that's exactly what Wright's debut is about: Diversity.

From the lyrical standpoint, Paul Wright keeps it simple, but, thankfully avoids cheesy or redundant lyrics. He does hit on heavier topics on such tracks as "You're Beautiful" (The search for meaning in life) and "Where's Daddy" (About the pain of parent's separation on the children). But for the most part, things remain on the lighter side.

Even if you don't care for the style, you have to at least give Paul Wright props for trying something new. And he makes hip-hop accessible to those who would otherwise disregard the genre. Fly Away is easy to recommend to just about anyone. And anytime you can get rap and contemporary fans to agree on anything, you know you're doing something right.

- Review date: 12/1/03, written by Josh Taylor