Marvin Sapp “You Shall Live” Album Review

Prime Cuts:  Praise Your Way Through, Old Rugged Cross, Yes You Can

Former front man of the Gospel group Commissioned, Marvin Sapp calls himself a preacher who sings. First and foremost, Sapp is a pastor who preaches twice a week for the last 25 years as the senior pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church.  As secondary calling, Sapp also sings for the Lord.  Yet, when one listens through Sapp's new RCA Inspiration album "You Shall Live," one can't helped but appreciate how his two callings are intricately intertwined.  Save for the old hymn "Old Rugged Cross," all the 10 songs here are co-written by Sapp.  One listen through these newly crafted paeans make one appreciate the theological depth these songs mine.  And just like any sublime preacher would do, Sapp never leaves his songs liming in the abstract.  Rather, in each song, Sapp is carefully to take his Biblical-based message and make it palatable to the average lay person making sure that they sing and sting in our hearts with an ingrained passion for the Lord.

"You Shall Live" is Sapp's 10^th solo album.  It's also his first album in four years.  Based on the incendiary response of fans and radio towards the album's lead single "Yes You Can," it doesn't take a prophet to figure out that "You Shall Live" is destined for Billboard Gospel Album chart's penthouse.  Following his former #1 albums such as "Thirsty," "Here I Am" and "I Win," "You Shall Live" never lets loose of the lofty standard we have come to expect of Sapp.  The album starts off on a propulsive worshipful high as Sapp leads us on the clappy "Greater."  Never one to be stymied in the enclaves of yore, "Greater" even finds Sapp dabbling with some Auto-voicing and some metallic crushing electronic beats.

Returning to a more traditional Gospel sound is the choir-backed "Honor and Majesty."  Here Sapp takes us back to church as he interacts seamlessly with his choir eliciting  the beauty of Jesus in a way that will make us want to jump up and dance along.  Then with "Count on You" he takes us on a time warp back to the smoky R&B cum jazz days of Smokey Robinson and B.B. King as he delivers a soulful and sultry worship piece that reminds us about the trustworthiness of Jesus.  Easily the buzz track here is "Yes You Can." With Sapp's passionate expressive tenor and with lyrics that adds voltage to one's faith, this song is the perfect kick starter for anyone who have been hampered down by the discouragements.  Also, in the same lyrical ballpark is "Praise Your Way Through."  If faith ever has a soundtrack, this is it.

Noteworthy also is the album's sole cover -- Sapp's jazzy take of the old hymn "Old Rugged Cross."  Starting off with a languid lounge-esque piano Sapp effortlessly works his way into the hymn's explosive climax getting us fixated to every syllable that comes out of his lips. In sum, what makes "You Shall Live" such a winsome record is Sapp's inert ability of not only understanding the depths of his songs but also his ability to communicate it.  Such an uncanny ability must have come from his years as a preacher.  Thus, when the preacher sings, we can't help but listen.

 

 

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