Mary Mary in Top 10

ChristianMusicDaily.com loves us some Mary Mary-- they make our top 10, no doubt. When it comes to innovative, powerhouse vocals, the sisterly duo known as Mary Mary just keep getting better and better. They've had 3 successful Gospel CDs (remember their smash hit "Shackles?"), and on Oct. 21st, their latest, "The Sound," dropped, selling 37,000 copies out the box, for the #7 spot on Billboard's Hot 200 albums for the week! "The Sound," featuring the hit single, "Get Up," proves Mary Mary get better with age and are at the top of their game. Because the new CD has already exceeded expectations, expect a Deluxe Edition with additional tracks in a little while. Now wow in the world do these married moms manage to sound and stay so darn hip? Since coming on strong with “Shackles (Praise You)” in the year 2000, the duo Mary Mary has become one of Gospel music's top recording acts, known for their dynamic voices and innovative music that manages to combine all sorts of different elements. Their latest radio smash, “Get Up,” an empowering electronica-pop confection, is already a hit on multiple charts. It's off their new album, “The Sound,” which continues to push the boundaries of what can be considered typical Gospel music.

“The Sound” employs a wide variety of styles and rhythms to appeal to a very diverse audience, from clubgoers to churchgoers and everyone in between. The danceable title track will remind listeners of 1960s surf rock, “I'm Running” evokes 1970s soul, and “I Worship You” could easily be adopted into church services worldwide, sung in the same set as Chris Tomlin's “How Great Is Our God” and Darlene Zschech's “Shout To The Lord.”

The coolest song on the disc is track #4, "Superfriend," which will stick in your head for life once you play it through about three times. This is a ridiculously hip blend of trip-hop, drum-n-bass, southern crunk, gospel, lounge, and electronica that'll get thugs bobbin' their heads and surely everyone who listens to it singing along. When one of the ladies says, "Super," you'll say "Friend!" The theme of the song is as much as you think you know your friend, he or she can totally dog you out or abandon you (not so super, huh?), but Christ is the ultimate Superfriend. David Banner guests on the track with his thugged out for Christ rap, giving this song total street cred, ensuring that it'll get heard by more than just the church crowd. The beat is slammin'; kudos to producer Warryn Campbell for "going there," making the tastiest "gospel" confection of 2008/2009 with "Superfriend." If this song and/or album doesn't win a Grammy, then they should just cancel the Grammy Awards.

Mary Mary is made up of two sisters, Tina and Erica, who have the ability to vocally adapt to all sorts of musical styles. At times, they'll remind you of Patti LaBelle and Tina Turner, really tearing it up, while other times they're more subdued, like Anita Baker and Stephanie Mills. No matter what they're singing, Mary Mary is worth listening to; if you like R&B that encourages your mind, body, and spirit, and has a great groove, then “The Sound” will be a welcome addition to your music collection. The CD is one of the best Gospel/R&B releases of the entire decade