Daniel Caesar’s latest album feels like a sermon for the broken-hearted, a spiritual odyssey through love, guilt and grace, where gospel choirs meet modern soul and every lyric aches with repentance.

Caesar, a Canadian singer and songwriter, dropped his latest album, “Son of Spergy,” on Oct. 24. The 12 song album is a true journey, with each song feeling like a different step into this spiritual awakening Caesar has embarked on. 

What makes this album so unique are the spiritual themes layered throughout the album. Caesar calls on the Bible numerous times, referencing verses throughout each song. Along with artists like Yebba, Sampha, and Bon Iver being featured in the album, his own dad, Norwill Simmonds, lends his voice in the song “Baby Blue.”

“I have a lot of respect for my dad, and I hold him in high regard,” Caesar said in an interview with Rated R&B. “The album is about me realizing that I am exactly like him. In that sense, it’s about having patience, respect, and admiration for myself.”

“Son of Spergy” is Caesar’s fourth studio album. Leading up to the album’s release, Caesar dropped a single a month, starting in July with “Have A Baby (With Me),” “Call On Me” in August, and “Moon” in September. 

“Rain Down (Feat. Sampha)” 10/10 Giv Certified

This song really sets the foundation for what is to come in this album. It has a very big prelude feel, set with heavy, flowing instrumentals that present a gospel theme that is the main feature of this album. It’s a beautiful introduction that allows for contemplation.

What makes this song stand out to me is the warm piano backed by the soulful, fluttering chorus that rains in the background. United Kingdom artist Sampha is featured in this song, and his bright vocals truly bring home the church vibes. We are truly in the Lord’s House.

“Have A Baby (With Me)” 9/10

I was torn between giving this one an eight and a nine. I went with a nine because while I felt it did an excellent job of complementing “Rain Down,” the warm vocals and the introduction of a steady beat that was absent in the opener put it over the edge. Instead of being a repeat of “Rain Down,” I feel it adds on, continuing what that song started.

It’s a beautiful, slow-building piece that talks about emotional detachment. Caesar doesn’t want to let go and hopes having a baby will fix the spiraling relationship. 

“What if we married? What if you believed in God, this world, in Hell, and all the things that this could be,” are lines that indicate that his clashing beliefs with his lover are leading to their separation. 

It’s a vulnerable song that truly hits close to home as someone who’s had to end a romantic endeavour due to differing beliefs.

“Call on Me” 8/10

This song takes “Have A Baby (With Me)” to a completely new level. While singing about the same weariness as the previous track, more in a finding purpose way over being love songs, Caesar proclaims that “whenever you feel your pockets empty, can call on me,” a line signaling him as a provider. 

Later lines seem to indicate that it may be a desperation move, with Ceaser singing “take advantage of my better nature (Better nature) I burn through money, yeah, I’m burning paper.”

The alt-rock feel strays away from the soulful feel of the first two, and I like it. It’s a step that works, that sounds good. It sounds rugged and rough, which fits the message.

“Baby Blue (Feat. Norwill Simmonds)” 10/10 Giv Certified

Initially, I gave this song a seven, but once I truly sat down and let it resonate with me, it allowed me to see the song and all its mastery. 

Its tenderness mixed with the somber lyrics truly bumped it up for me. It’s a heavenly song that makes you float about halfway in, all while Caesar’s vocals tie it all together. The chords hit right, the steady drum beat drives, it feels like a combination of the first two songs in the album put into an over five-minute-long track.

“Jesus paid for all our sins. On Calvary’s cross, he bled and died. Is there greater love than this?”

“Root of all Evil” 9/10

In Baby Blue, Caesar asked, “what good have I done to deserve his love?” 

This question carries into this song, where he chastises himself, like self-discipline. “Am I a man or a beast?… Somebody please, discipline me”.

Caesar makes this song shine with his vocals. He gets upstairs in the ranges and really lets go, another vulnerable song where he sings about being “too drawn to the evil,” giving this song a sort of all hope is lost feeling.

“Who Knows” 9/10

The angelic vocals are doing something to me, and they really help set the deep tone of how Caesar is feeling. He once again criticizes himself, calling himself a “coward” and “incompetent.” He’s humble, but this self-flagellation is seen throughout these sorrowful songs. 

This song duos with “Root of all Evil” very well and continues to keep this album’s hot streak going.

“Moon (Feat. Bon Iver)” 8/10

Initially, I thought this song was going to roll into an R&B piano ballad, but once the acoustic guitar strums came in, I wasn’t prepared for the mental voyage this song would put me on. It’s another one of those floating tracks, one that’ll put you to sleep and ground you in endless comfort and security.

This song feels like a drive without a destination. This song is broken up into two acts, and Bon Iver comes in during the song’s second act, “Violence,” and delivers a powerful harmony. This song features a lot of biblical references, paraphrasing Bible verses as well as spiritual lyrics, like “man is but a pile of dust,” a reference to the creation of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis.

“Touching God (Feat. Yebba & Blood Orange)” 9/10

This song really hit close to home. Caesar exposes how he feels with his music, that if his fans aren’t listening, he feels worthless. 

He goes on to continue his self-hatred in the lines “I know there’s a God that’s withholding his help. I know you made me, but I hate myself.” Feeling so trapped within yourself with these self-doubts makes you question God’s purpose for you.

This vulnerability is further capitalized on when Devonté Hynes, known as Blood Orange, steps in to deliver a feature that sits behind more powerful instrumentals. 

Yebba comes in, and the three combine to end this track with the Lord’s Prayer, another biblical reference in this album. The three come together to form this desperate choir sound, as if they are truly reaching for something beyond this plane.

“Sign Of The Times” 8/10

Every song before this was devastating, vulnerable, but beautiful. “Sign Of The Times,” however, is a consistent and powerful rebirth. Caesar truly digs deep in this piece, rising from his self-loathing and the limbo state the previous tracks saw him in and goes into this juxtaposition between romance, tragedy, and realization.

Caesar’s vocals sound renewed and stronger than the heaviness he sang with in the first half of the track. The journey of this song is accompanied by complementary violin instrumentals, and they really put the song together with a solo at the end.

“Emily’s Song” 7/10

I wish I could better appreciate this song. It’s another one I can relate to, with Caesar singing about his ex Emily. He described the relationship as an addiction, and while he learned from it and is appreciative of what he learned, he knew ending it was the best option.

“Just want to thank you,” he sings. “For being my mirror.” 

It’s a tough listen for me, hard to truly enjoy without bringing back bad memories. Caesar sings behind a steady, slow beat, similar to “Sign Of The Times.” It’s not a bad song by any means, but it stands alone amongst the others in its vulnerable nature.

“No More Loving (On Women I Don’t Love)” 9/10 

Caesar takes some shots in this song. 

He contradicts himself from “Who Knows,” going from singing “I know that I’ll love you always” in that song to “No more loving on women I don’t love” in this one. 

He’s done with worthless relationships.

In the song’s third verse, he references Psalm 23:4, where he sings “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

This line, along with many of the others in this song, is delivered like a declaration. It’s a strong, tense release that contrasts the steady instrumentation.

“Sins Of The Father (Feat. Bon Iver)” 11/10 Double Giv Certified

This song was initially an 11, as part one was the perfect epitome of an album closer. It was a beautiful, gospel sounding song full of piano, powerful, soulful vocals, and one of my favorite instrumental bridges ever.

Before part two, you can hear what seems to be just water droplets for over a minute. Just a solid, blank ambience separates the two parts of this song. 

I don’t like this at all. I feel there could have been a more creative transition here.

The second part, however, amplifies part one into another gospel sounding explosion. The second part feels like the entirety of the album released into one musical release. It sounds like an altar call in the Baptist Church, where the minister preaches over powerful, lively instrumentals. It’s a glorious conclusion to this song and album, with Bon Iver once again returning to mix in angelic voices with Caesar. This song wouldn’t work anywhere else, and it ties this album together perfectly.

Overall Grade: 8.8/10

Daniel Caesar delivered a powerful album about his journey to Christ that leaves a resonating album in its place. He’s returned after two years away from the spotlight and has brought a personal project that heals each listener in different ways. The album seems a bit dreary, pensive even, but the R&B makes each song sound unique and enjoyable in their own way.

This album really shines a light on human emotion. It’s the vulnerability in it all that really makes this one stand out. It feels like this piece was meant for him, something for him to look back on. He captures his relationships with God, as well as his relationships with others in a way that’s relatable to me, which gives this album such a personal feel.

If an African-American baptist church were to release an R&B gospel album, this is what it would sound like, especially instrumentally. “Rain Down,” “Baby Blue” and “Sins of the Father” are perfect examples of this, hence why they received 10s. Caesar’s self-growth story is told masterfully through excellent lyrics and soul-crushing instrumentals.