Paul Thorn’s excellent gospel album, “Don’t Let the Devil Ride,” is invigorated by his youthful years making the rounds in Mississippi churches with his Pentecostal preacher father. The lyrics are pious, but the fervor is very human.
Thorn’s colorful past includes achievements as a professional boxer — he lost a bout to Roberto Duran in 1988 — and if his right cross needed more work, his musical crossover has been more successful.
His songwriting often combines wry or humorous observations with blues, country and rock. With onstage banter that bears an uncanny resemblance to the late Mitch Hedberg, Thorn’s live shows are must-see and his albums, over a dozen since 1997, are full of gems.
The songs here are mostly from deep in the hymn books but Thorn’s interpretations with his longtime band and top-notch guests add up to a fine collection of Southern sounds.