Sunday Service Choir, Jesus is Born | Album Review 💿

Kanye West delivers the gospel album he promised, via Jesus is Born, which arrives courtesy of the spirit-filled Sunday Service Choir.

Kanye West received ample buzz prior to the release of his Christian rap album, JESUS IS KING.  After a fair share of folks partook of the brief LP, the buzz waned to a degree.  Like other partakers, I found JESUS IS KING to be an underwhelming album, though it had its moments.  Those stronger moments included “Selah,” “Follow God,” and “Use This Gospel.” Even with the noteworthy happenings, the likes of a “Closed on Sunday” was quite the abomination, not actually adding much depth or substance to a more spiritual conversation.  Still, one of the pros of JESUS IS KING were the instances where Sunday Service Choir assist Mr. West.

Thankfully, Kanye West announced there would be a second gospel album released after JESUS IS KING.  That particular album, Jesus is Born, comes at the hands of Sunday Service Choir, which is a win.  Why is it a win? Well, it makes complete since for a choir to release a gospel album.  Furthermore, Jesus is Born is a win because it accurately fits the bill of being a gospel album.  Sure, most of us expected that JESUS IS KING would end up being a Christian rap album, but West sold it as a ‘gospel album,’ which it is not.  Jesus is Born, is, undoubtedly, a gospel album.

“Count Your Blessings”

For all the ado that Kanye West was going to save souls with his Christian album, he has more potential to do so via Sunday Service Choir and Jesus is Born.  This nearly one-hour-and-a-half minute effort, released on Christmas Day, 2019, features a number of notable black gospel songs, some of which are reworked to some extent.  The album kicks off with a Rev. Timothy Wright gem, ✓ “Count Your Blessings”, from his 1983 album, Testify.  Compared to the original, the tempo is faster and of course the recording quality much more advanced.  Vocally, one sits and listens in awe at how gorgeous, spiritual, and anointed this particular rendition is.

From there, Sunday Service Choir deliver the shorter, but equally powerful ✓ “Excellent,” written by Brenda Joyce Moore.  Worth noting, often, the song is titled “Perfect Praise” or “Oh Lord, How Excellent, How Excellent,” etc.  Among the best moments arrives with ✓ “Revelation 19:1,” Which was sampled in one of JESUS IS KING’s best songs, “Selah”, specifically the “hallelujah” section.  Here, as its own entity, “Revelation 19:1” is a sight to behold (hear), with its robust, uplifting vocals and dedication to praising God. Even if religion isn’t your cup of tea, one can’t help but be impressed by the musicianship and the spirit exhibited by the collective.

Further down the track list, Sunday Service Choir tackle the likes of Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise (✓ “More Than Anything”), The Clark Sisters (“Sunshine”), Shirley Caesar (“Satan We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down”) and a personal favorite courtesy of Richard Smallwood (✓ “Total Praise”).  The vocals, specifically the powerful harmonies on “Total Praise,” the album’s closer, definitely give you chills.

“Rain”

It’s not only outright black gospel records that grace Jesus is Born. “Rain” and “Weak,” both inspirational R&B songs are reworked versions of SWV classics.  It’s certainly no coincidence that “Souls Anchored” sounds quite similar to the Ginuwine classic, “So Anxious.”

✓ “Paradise,” the 17^th track, is quite the dramatic reinterpretation of the Jeremih song that appears at the end of his 2015 album, Late Nights: The Album. ✓ “Father Stretch,” “Follow Me – Faith,” and “Ultralight Beam” all arrive courtesy (at least to some extent) of none other than Kanye West.  The most thrilling of the bunch is “Father Stretch,” though any opportunity to hear even a portion of “Ultralight Beam,” one of my favorite songs from 2016, is a surefire win.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Jesus is Born is a well-rounded, contemporary gospel album.  Sunday Service Choir delivers a project that should appeal not only to a younger audience of contemporary black gospel lovers, but also and older, more traditional base.  Is the wheel reinvented here? By no means, but there is definitely a little something for everybody… who’s a gospel music enthusiast, of course.

✓ Gems: “Count Your Blessings,” “Excellent,” “Revelations 19:1,” “Father Stretch,” “More Than Anything,” “Paradise” & “Total Praise”

Sunday Service Choir • Jesus is Born • 2019 INC • Release: 12.25.19

Photo Credit: 2019 INC