Arguably as passionate and spirit-filled as any of the lyrics are, the vocal harmony we find in the new single “Strength (Song of Solomon Chapter 9)” by Standard of Praise is undoubtedly one of the song’s most alluring features. Right from the jump in “Strength (Song of Solomon Chapter 9),” Standard of Praise make a point of flexing as much melodic muscle as is possible from within the four walls of a recording studio, and while they’re careful to avoid sonic excess, they don’t hold anything back in their execution. Gospel is having a really incredible year in 2020, but if you’re looking for something that has a little added dose of soul, I think this is as good a single as you’re going to get your hands on.
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“Strength (Song of Solomon Chapter 9)” has a very minimalistic arrangement, but when you’ve got the kind of organic tonality this group has, you don’t need anything indulgent in the pot. There’s already so much moxie in the performance here, and to be perfectly frank, I don’t see where there’s any room in the track for any bombast or over the top theatrics (not that anyone would want that anyway). Standard of Praise aren’t interested in packing a lot of commerciality into their sound; I think it’s clear in this single that their main objective centers on getting the Word to the masses through as harmonious and melodic a channel as they can employ.
The sublime stylization of this master mix makes it really easy to appreciate all of the intricacies in the music here, and that’s definitely not something I’ve been able to say about many other singles this summer. Although the gospel genre is enjoying a big resurgence on the mainstream end of the spectrum, I haven’t heard many bands that resonate with elements of indie R&B as well as this group does. While Standard of Praise aren’t watering-down the components of secular pop for their own purposes in this track, they’re certainly making a strong bid for crossover acceptance (which is definitely a smart move I think). They’ve got the chops to attract a lot of new listeners to the gospel genre in 2020, and in this song, I think they raise the bar for both themselves and the scene that spawned them.
I-HEART RADIO: https://www.iheart.com/artist/standard-of-praise-32277575/albums/strength-song-of-solomon-chapter-9-90978728/
In times of pain, strife and suffering, we need music to get us through to the light at the end of the tunnel, and that’s exactly why I think “Strength (Song of Solomon Chapter 9)” is such a fantastic listen. There aren’t any negative themes in its lyrics, nor does it evoke the anti-cathartic narratives that have become all too popular among mainstream R&B in recent years. This is soul for the sake of the soul, and whether you’re familiar with the gospel genre or not, that’s an incredibly tempting offer any way you look at it. Standard of Praise are on the right track to making a difference, and this latest offering proves as much.
Jodi Marxbury
The music of STANDARD OF PRAISE has been heard all over the world in partnership with the radio plugging services offered by Musik and Film Radio Promotions Division. Learn more https://musikandfilm.com