Grammy-winning R&B singer Daniel Caesar has recently been gracing the public with free concert pop-ups in various cities in North America to promote his fourth studio album “Son of Spergy,” released Oct. 24. This album’s lyrics cut deeper than anything he’s released before, exploring themes of faith, family, loss, forgiveness and self-reflection. 

With an astute use of strings and piano, the “Best Part” singer embodies a gospel-like spirit infused into his work, honing in on an ethereal orchestral performance. Songs like “Sins of the Father” featuring Bon Iver, for example, employ the use of keys and a looping guitar to create an atmosphere that begs you to listen with your headphones at full blast to enjoy the layers of production. 

While this works in some songs, in others it feels slightly overdone and redundant. While this adds cohesiveness, it makes the album feel safe and not incredibly distinctive from the works of some of his past projects. Despite this, some songs stand out to me as unique and creative, like “Moon” featuring Bon Iver, which had piano riffs reminiscent of blues tunes and a gentle tambourine that sounds like it could be used in a smooth jazz performance. The layered instrumentals connected me to the song, and the lyrics pulled me in even more, telling a delicate story of yearning and religious faith.

However, one of my favorite songs on this album is the lead single “Call On Me.” Released Aug. 22, it explores themes of trust and reliance. What stuck out to me about this song was how different it sounded compared to some of Caesar’s earlier work, leading me to think the rest of the album would have branched out from his usual sound. This song’s lyrics juxtapose one of the songs from his last album, “Please Do Not Lean,” featuring BADBADNOTGOOD, where he talks about feeling unstable and untrustworthy, so the contrast between the two reflects the personal growth he has accomplished throughout his music. 

Another standout after the first listen that had me going back was track five, “Root of All Evil,” which has subtle layering and a catchy beat. I like this song because of its ability to draw the listener not only into the melody but the explicitly raw lyricism that feels vulnerable. After my first listen, this was the first song I added to my playlist. I really enjoyed this album for a number of reasons, and I know it will be a go-to R&B-jazz fusion album I can put on for any reason.