Well would you look at that! Kanye West’s highly anticipated, and repeatedly delayed new album is here. Mr. West has certainly been a hot topic in recent years. On top of being seemingly ever-present in the headlines for his usual controversial statements and actions, West has also been releasing music very consistently. Just last year, he released a new solo album, Ye, as well as Kids See Ghosts, a collaborative effort with Kid Cudi. And on top of that, Jesus Is King was slated to come out that same year, before being delayed. More often than not, I’m against artists putting out so much music in such little time, as the quality is almost always compromised, but all of these recent releases from West have been under a half hour long, and fairly simple, by comparison to albums such as My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and The Life of Pablo. Honestly, Ye and Kids See Ghosts are both pretty solid releases. So how does Jesus Is King compare?
Listening to a new Kanye album is always an adventure. With West being a notoriously erratic and bipolar individual, who has been open about his struggle with mental health issues, his music can go in any number of drastically different directions from album to album. With Jesus Is King, West, who has recently declared himself a born-again Christian, takes his signature style in a more gospel-tinged direction, both musically and lyrically. Gospel choirs and church organs can be found all over this album, adding to Kanye’s usual sonic palette, but not quite replacing it all together. These elements are just a few ingredients in the Jesus Is King soup, along with pianos, guitars, electronic beats, samples, sound effects, and even a saxophone solo from Kenny G. Often, many of these are layered on top of each other, creating intense, chaotic sounds, in typical Kanye fashion. While the finished product is not as loud, overwhelming, or just plain weird as the overall sonic character of an album such as Yeezus, it is still clear that Kanye’s passion and creativity in the area of production have not faded.
This album is just as intriguing lyrically as it is musically. Any speculation that Kanye’s newfound faith is simply a phase or a publicity stunt is immediately put to rest upon first listen. These songs display a surprisingly competent understanding of the Bible that puts most of the insincere crap that comes out of the contemporary Christian music scene to shame. I usually make an intentional effort to keep my religious and political views out of these reviews, but being a person of faith, I can especially appreciate any music containing Christian themes, that doesn’t fall into the dull, cookie cutter pop tropes that plague CCM today. In “Selah,” Kanye cites several different biblical passages and connects them to positive changes in his own life and outlook. “God Is” is a powerful and moving declaration of how Kanye views God’s impact in his own life, standing as easily one of the highest points on this album. A slower, but every bit as earnest cut, “Use This Gospel” reveals Kanye’s reverence for Biblical teachings, and the importance that they carry in his view (I know we’re talking about lyrics right now, but again, that Kenny G sax solo is pretty sweet). A notable contrast from the rest of the album, “Hands On” laments the judgment and skepticism Kanye has received from Christians. Not an unusual take on the subject, but certainly interesting in the context of an album that is enthusiastically pro-Christianity, and something the majority of CCM is more than happy to sweep under the rug.
You’ve probably figured out at this point that I really like this album. That being said, it definitely isn’t perfect. The most glaring blemish is a song called “Water,” which sounds more like a church camp spoken word poem than a Kanye West rap song. Lyrically, it comes across as rather empty compared to the rest of the album, and musically, it’s fine, but forgettable. “Hands On” is a great song overall, but overly filtered and compressed vocals from Fred Hammond are somewhat grating to my ears. “Closed On Sunday” is a sweetly produced, dreamy yet dark-sounding pop tune that offers intriguing commentary on Christianity and modern culture. However, “Closed on Sunday, you my Chik-fil-A” is probably one of the worst lines in Kanye’s entire discography. The album begins and ends rather abruptly, which is forgivable on such a short album, but the opening choir track, “Every Hour” jumps in so awkwardly that you think you accidentally started in the middle of the song. I certainly wouldn’t have minded a bit more of an intro.
When Kanye announced he was working on a Christian album, it raised some eyebrows, needless to say. I was certainly open to the possibility that Kanye could pull off something really good, but on the other hand, this is Christian rap we’re talking about (anybody remember KJ-52? If not, I envy you). But with Jesus Is King, Kanye gives listeners a genuine look into his philosophical transformation, set to music that lives up to West’s standard of writing and production quality. Kanye diehards are sure to enjoy it, and hey, if you’re a parent looking for some clean, positive, Christian music that your kids actually want to listen to, Jesus Is King just might do the trick.
Score: 8/10
Favorite Song(s): God Is, Selah, Hands On, Use This Gospel
Least Favorite Song(s): Water, Closed On Sunday
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