On Friday, Oct. 24, Daniel Caesar released his fourth studio album Son of Spergy. Honest and moving, Son of Spergy explores Caesar grappling with his faith and family. The album signals a return to his gospel roots and, with a combination of soul and R&B, feels expansive instead of repetitive.
Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds, better known by his stage name Daniel Caesar, grew up listening to soul and gospel music; this influence is more apparent on the Son of Spergy than on his previous albums. His debut album, Freudian, gained Caesar mass recognition, specifically the song “Best Part (feat. H.E.R.),” and solidified Caesar as a rising star in the R&B genre. He then released two subsequent albums, the experimental beat-heavy CASE STUDY 01 and a cinematic and reflective album, NEVER ENOUGH.
Caesar’s father, whose nickname was “Spergy,” inspired the title of his newest album, as well as some of its themes, including examining their complex relationship. Additionally, Caesar attempted to reconcile with the public following his controversial comments on an Instagram Live broadcast back in 2019.
Stripped down and intimate, Son of Spergy feels less polished than previous albums; however, it might be exactly what Caesar needed to approach this album with humility.
Track five, “Root of All Evil,” marks a shift towards deeper religious themes, where Caesar grapples with being drawn to evil. “Am I a man or a beast? Somebody please discipline me, for I’m a sinner, a sinner,” he sings. The song’s sunny and bright beat contrast its darker themes, highlighting the complexity of his experience with religion.
Featuring R&B and indie pop artists Yebba and Blood Orange, “Touching God” further expands the album’s theme of faith. Haunting plucked guitar, running rain sounds, and layered background harmonies give the track a poignant, pleading atmosphere. “I know there’s a God that’s withholding his help, I know you made me, but I hate myself,” Caesar sings.
Track nine, “Sign of The Times,” includes a reverbed guitar combined with layered strings for a cinematic feel as Caesar describes desperation for a religious sign. However, midway through the track, it switches to a more R&B feel, trying to interpret the signals he has received. “Signs are all around me, I’m just trying to interpret,” Caesar sings in this moving track.
Closing off the album with a haunting, emotional tone, “Sins of the Father,” featuring Bon Iver, explores Caesar’s relationship with his father and how it shaped his spirituality. Throughout the nearly eight-minute song, Caesar takes listeners on a journey, where the first half is slow and gospel-infused, and then, after a long pause in the song, the second half has a melancholy piano with ghostly harmonies and vocal layering from Bon Iver.
Son of Spergy is less about asking for forgiveness and more about what it means to be human and flawed. Heavily gospel-influenced, Caesar returns to his roots, mixing it with his classic R&B sound. Reflective, honest, and imperfect, Son of Spergy earns four out of five feathers.
