Be Exalted

Marvin Sapp's BE EXALTED opens with a burst of thunderous crowd noise that leads directly into the glorious "Be It Unto Me," a song that combines the sanctified fury of prime Staple Singers with the wild R&B power and hooky chorus of a classic Prince single. The rest of BE EXALTED continues in a similar vein, setting lyrics of devotion and praise to music based on old-school '70s and '80s soul. When Sapp testifies in the middle of a powerful ballad like "Trust In You," he sounds as much like Bill Withers as he does a minister, and his vocals are as strong as his belief. Al Green's spiritual albums are the most obvious touchstone, but on songs like the ultra-catchy electro-pop of "Changed," Sapp makes fine use of post-disco musical trends. As a result, BE EXALTED is that rarity, a contemporary gospel album that even non-believers are likely to enjoy.