With an "alright, this time it's for real" promise, Toby Mac turns the keys of the ignition and hits the gas on Portable Sounds, his third and most impressive solo effort to date. The musician-producer sounds more confident and comfortable than ever before, deftly mixing elements of rap, rock, pop, R&B, funk, and even a little reggae into a deliciously creative entrée. Some of the "joints on this record" - as Toby Mac's boy TruDog calls them - fall more into one style or another. Yet the world party sound that Toby Mac introduced on his previous Diverse City is built upon here with the opening "One World" as well as "No Ordinary Love." Pop flavors more tracks than before with guitar-driven numbers like "Made to Love," "I'm For You," and the infectious "Suddenly." Fans will also be pleased as TruDog is indeed back on the ridiculously cute "Hype Man." Urgent rockers like "Ignition" and the silky smooth "Lose My Soul" give even more spice and variety to liven up an already electric mix. The latter track is finely tuned with guest vocals from Kirk Franklin and Toby Mac pal Mandisa. Much like Sting, Toby Mac has transcended a former identity (as part of the D.C. Talk super group) and grown into an artist worthy of merit on his own. Portable Sounds stands up to repeated listens with a fresh and energetic sound and a buoyant and unapologetic joy seldom heard. --Michael Lyttle
