By Bianca Montes

The soothing and vibrant vocals of Houston-based singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham are set to infect your ears and your spirits May 18 with the release of his third studio project, Nightlights.

I was instantly captured as a listener by the funky guitars and smoking key section in the album opener, “Moving to Zion.” Needham’s music is quick to exhilarate his listeners with a light and airy tone and deeply moving lyrics.

“The goal of this record is to break down walls and help me achieve my mission in the same sense those old spiritual songs did in the past,” Needham said. “If people can take something positive away from this album, that’s all I can ask for.”

Filled with a modern and carefree spirit reminiscent of a sunny day, stand-out selections “Being Small” and the pop-classic remake of “How Sweet it is (to be Loved by You)” are just a few classics on this album rich in glory.

When Needham slows down for his semi-autobiographical song, “The Reason I Sing,” the raw talent of the artist is beautifully complemented by an emotional texture of a jazz guitar and well-placed trumpet. If you were to listen to this song, and all you were able to hear was the music, you could easily be wrapped up in an amazing guitar section and lost in a serene state of mind. But as you take in the lyrics and the motive of what drives Needham to sing, you are left reflecting a bit more than just the words.

Comparable to a mix between Michael Bublé and Jason Marz, Needham still manages to establish his own sound and individuality in this honest collection of work. Ending on a raw note, “Nightlights” strips away the instruments and singing and takes a moment to just speak to its listeners. Delivering another solid project to his collection, Needham has left us with a soulful collection of poetry.