Prime Cuts: Holiness (feat. Chris Tomlin), Dear Jesus, Easy
Overall Grade: 3/5
Dear Jesus finds We The Kingdom stepping back from the roar and choosing something quieter, more personal. The album is intentionally scaled back, aiming less for sonic spectacle and more for sincerity. In many ways, it succeeds. In others, it feels cautious and uneven, resulting in a project that is meaningful without being fully memorable.
Recorded in the band's own Nashville studio, Dear Jesus reflects a desire for freedom and authenticity. There is no overarching concept, no radio-driven urgency, and no attempt to chase current worship trends. That restraint is admirable. At the same time, the lack of constraint occasionally works against the record. Several tracks blur together thematically and sonically, giving the album a gentle but indistinct flow.
The album opens with "Don't Let The Darkness," a jangly, 70s-leaning rock track that pairs hopeful guitar textures with a message of perseverance. It is one of the album's most confident moments and sets a tone the record only intermittently maintains. "Let It Be Jesus" follows with a straightforward worship posture that, while sincere, feels largely interchangeable with similar confessional songs in the genre.
"Rescue Me" brings a brief stylistic shift. Drawing on the David and Goliath story, the track weaves through an off-center melodic path with a subtle pop-funk pulse. It hints at creative risk but never fully commits, leaving the song feeling intriguing rather than impactful.
At the emotional core is "Dear Jesus," the title track. Framed as a letter written from a place of brokenness, it is one of the album's most affecting moments. Its restraint works in its favor, allowing vulnerability to surface without excess. The closing track, "Easy," continues that posture of gentleness, offering rest and reassurance rather than resolution or climax. The album's clearest standout is "Holiness," co-written and recorded with Chris Tomlin.
The song reconnects We The Kingdom to their worship roots with focus and reverence, standing out for its clarity and purpose amid a softer, more diffuse tracklist. Dear Jesus is driven by sincerity, humility, and lived faith. Its emotional honesty is undeniable, but its creative restraint often slips into predictability. While individual moments resonate, the album as a whole rarely surprises or stretches beyond its comfort zone.
