Kim is up for Best Gospel Album at this year's Grammys. This is her first nomination as far as I can tell, but this lady has been around and active in the gospel community for quite some time now. She's released 5 albums since 1995, and is described as "this generation's Ella Fitzgerald."
"Let's Make It To Love" is a great opening number for such an album. It sort of takes us out of the world and into this world of love that Kim wants us to be in for the remainder of the album. Yeah, it's a come-to-Jesus song, but I get where she's going with it overall.
The second song is also the primary single released from the album, called "Sweeter." This song gets under my skin for some reason, especially after seeing the video:
"Love So Pure" is more along the lines of what I expected from Kim. She's definitely not a classic gospel artist, and brings some jazz to the table that makes it all the more interesting. This is a song where she spins that in a way that completely works for her nature and voice.
Kim is also a preacher at her own church, and I think the beginning of "Love's Holiday" is a good portrayal of how she might bring about the message. Here's the thing though - have you ever seen the episode of South Park where Cartman strikes it rich with his Christian band by just replacing pop song lyrics with Jesus' name? Okay, so a lot of these songs strike me in a similar way to that. Too many romantic notions.
"Open Up The Door" tones it down a little more. It's very gentle, and almost takes on an R&B feel overall. It's a great praise song that doesn't overpower us with a message, just a good relationship with God and acceptance of that. There's meaning in the voices as they sing.
Intriguing piano opening for "Is That The Way Love Goes?" and Kim takes on this beautiful blues tone to her voice and musicality here. I can tell where people get the Ella reference from. There's something so cool when you can tell a singer is just going for it and singing so naturally.
"A Lil' More Time" most definitely gets this groovy little beat and moves so well. It's really just a great life song I think. When aren't we all looking for more time to get things done, going, etc.? There are never enough hours in the day. I can see this as a great sone for the morning or even a wind-down at the end of the day.
Off the bat, "Jesus Is A Love Song" has me a little confused as to where we're going here. It's a lovely song in some way, though it's a little overly flow-y with the singers overlapping. It's just maybe got too much of the sound from "Sweeter" that wasn't entirely appealing.
"Love Me In A Special Way" brings back some of Kim's preaching abilities. It reminds me of what a gospel album normally is - something live and a call to action or praise. This is the first time I think i've felt that same kind of musical approach as someone like Kirk Franklin, where there is a choir backing up a primary singer to bring in the power or passion behind it.
The final song of the album is "Pray For Love." We get a prayer of "Our Father" first, and a good close out, bringing is all back to love. We're re-entering the real world, but should take this with us.
Added to My Playlist:
FULL ALBUM SPOTIFY LISTEN LINK
Overall, a really nicely done album. It's not one of my favorites, but I like that there is a theme to it, as well as an attempt to approach that from different angles. I think what she tried to do here was accomplished for sure.