Ranking the Best Mary Mary Albums

Hey, did you know that Kanye West, the guy who just shouted out Hitler and the Nazis earlier today, is Billboard’s Top Gospel Artist of 2022?

Hey Jesus, I can’t tell you how to run your business, but if you’d like to come back ANY DAY NOW, we’d greatly appreciate it.

We need to do better.

In the meantime, allow us to get inspiration from Erica and Trecina Atkins-Campbell, two women who raised the profile of gospel (thankfully without stupid TMZ headlines) through the 2000s with a sound that broke conventions and connected with a new audience of believers.

I understand why the church gets squeamish when their messages go into – gasp, secular lanes – but a church can’t grow when it’s confined within four walls on a corner. The message has to be timely, it has to connect, it has to be bold.

Mary Mary does that better than anyone.

And remember, I was the guy who was very against Erica’s “I Luh God” “trap gospel” phase. But even I’ve softened my stance on that in recent years. That song wasn’t for me, but maybe it’ll be the entry point for somebody else. And isn’t that the goal?

Today we’re looking back at Mary Mary’s influential run, with ties that run parallel to both gospel and R&B throughout the 2000s. This time out, we’re just looking at the duo’s five studio albums – excluding the Christmas album (which is pretty good BTW) and their Go Get It compilation. We’ll also be skipping their solo efforts. Maybe I’ll add those to the list next time.

5. Something Big (2011)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: M&M’s last album to date starts off in grand fashion – energetic production, vibrant arrangements, memorable dance and R&B samples and huge sense of grandeur. As the album goes on, though, it settles into the poppy sounds more typical of the era. That early 2010s sound had it fingerprints on EVERYTHING in that time period, and it doesn’t always age well. Something Big is solid, meaningful listen that just doesn’t keep the momentum rolling.

Forgotten favorites: “Slow Walk,” “Blind,” “Something Big”  

4. Incredible (2002)

Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Edd said: This ranking might get me cussed out by some members of the congregation – and no one can cuss with distinction like sanctified folk. Mary Mary’s second release had big shoes to fill after an industry-shaking debut. Incredible is a continuation of all the things that worked, and even though the ladies’ voices were maturing, the content didn’t push any new ground. The first half of the album is just OK but things pick up nicely on the second half, with the Atkins-Campbell sisters really finding their groove. They’d go on to top this one in later years.

Forgotten favorites: “God Has Smiled on Me,” “This Love,” “You Will Know”

3. Mary Mary (2005)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Aight, I’m gonna try to put my biases aside for this one because this one holds a special place in my ice-cold heart. Mary Mary’s self-titled release was the soundtrack for my youth ministry days; I’d incorporate nearly every song in our activities over the next decade-plus. I’d throw on “Speak to Me” during prayer time like y’all throw on Cardi songs during … never mind. Let me keep this post holy. Anyway, singles like “Yesterday” and “Heaven” still go harder than those old peppermints in your grandma’s purse but there’s even more to love outside of those hits. Strong songwriting and production that fits every step of a believer’s journey makes this a very well-rounded release.

Forgotten favorites: “What Is This,” “Love You That Much,” “Save Me”

2. Thankful (2000)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: The children today love to talk about “cultural shifts” when their faves drop another so-so playlist. But in 2000, Mary Mary indeed shook the table. Their debut, thanks to the vision of Warryn Campbell, took gospel in bold new directions. Their seminal hit “Shackles” did for 2000s church kids what Kirk Franklin’s songs did for us in the 90s. If you weren’t outside (or inside the church for Youth Day) with us, it’s tough to explain how inescapable that song was. With airplay on both R&B and pop radio, Mary Mary truly broke ground and this album remains a testament to that. A couple tracks get a little lost in the shuffle but overall Thankful is a beautiful balance between the secular and gospel worlds that reached a new audience of believers.

Forgotten favorites: “What a Friend,” “Be Happy,” “One Minute”

1. The Sound (2008)

Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5

Edd said: Going into this ranking I didn’t expect The Sound to rank this high (and certainly not take the top spot) but, looking back, it’s a masterful showcase of everything that makes the Mary Mary, ahem, sound, work. The ladies have never been afraid to experiment with their production, and that’s the story of Album No. 4. From the retro swing of the title track to a straight-up club banger with David Banner, Mary Mary reaches beyond their usual R&B-flavored gospel bag to incorporate new perspectives, and they work every single time. Not only are they at the top of their games sonically, this showcases some of their best vocal performances as well. If you couldn’t tell from this ranking, nearly every Mary Mary project is a success, but none are as consistently fulfilling as The Sound.

Forgotten favorites: “It Will All Be Worth It,” “I’m Running,” “Forgiven Me”

Which Mary Mary album is your favorite? If you love Jesus don’t cuss me out for the Incredible ranking! But leave yours below.