Doing it Their Own Way

Released in 1996, 'Doing it Their Own Way' stands as one of the most unique and overlooked entries in Aaron Neville's extensive discography. Departing from the contemporary R&B and soul-pop that defined his 1990s commercial peak, this album is a formal conceptual work based on the 14 Stations of the Cross, concluding with a 15th track for the Resurrection. Produced with a focus on orchestral textures and sacred atmospheres, the record highlights Neville's lifelong connection to his Catholic faith. The track listing follows the traditional Catholic devotion chronologically, with each song serving as a sonic vignette of a specific moment in the Passion of Christ. Critically, it is viewed as a passion project that showcases the versatility of his falsetto in a classical, non-secular context. It remains a distinct departure from his work with The Neville Brothers or his solo pop hits, leaning into a 'chamber soul' aesthetic that is rare in the genre.