As with other Mary Mary recordings, Warryn Campbell assumed production over the album. The Sound saw Mary Mary explore more genres, with fewer songs containing their signature contemporary R&B sound. The songs "Forgiven Me" and "Dirt" feature elements of pop rock. The duo also covers a traditional gospel song, "It Will All Be Worth It". The Sound covers their famous R&B/hip hop sound with songs such as "Superfriend" and "God In Me" and experiments with 1960s pop on the title track. Finally, the duo also incorporated dance-pop music in their lead single "Get Up". The latter tracks on the album are primarily worshipballads. Another difference between The Sound and the duo's previous efforts is the vocal structure. On previous recordings, each group member would sing a verse and take turns on the bridge. However, on songs such as "Get Up", the duo harmonizes both of the verses and bridge together, only ad-libing on the final chorus. On Superfriend, each member alternated lines and shared one verse while harmonizing on the bridge. On other songs, one member sings both verses and the other repeats the pre-chorus. The entire album is recorded to give the listener the illusion of listening to a radio station. The Sound employs inter-track drops and frequent station IDs.
Critical reception
Andy Kellman from AllMusic gave The Sound a four out of five stars rating. He found that "once again, it's the instantly memorable, upbeat, radio-ready material that places Mary Mary at the forefront of contemporary gospel There's more walloping vigor than what can be found in nearly any given modern, platinum-seeking R&B album. The disc's latter half is relatively indistinct, but it could never be said that the duo is going through the motions." Cross Rhythms editor Dave Brassington wrote that "far more focussed than previous projects, and with occasionally breathtaking production this shows Tina and Erica at their finest Clearly the sisters taking it up to the next level has been recognised by the public as this is their most successful album of the five they've recorded and wherever you look." Chris Rizik from SoulTracks wrote that "what's surprising about their newest disc, The Sound, is how Mary Mary can sound so new – and maybe even better – five records into their career."
Accolades
In December 2008, The Sound was Grammy Award-nominated for the 51st Grammy Awards of 2009 in the category "Best Gospel Album". The album's first single "Get Up" also received two Grammy nominations for "Best Gospel Song" and "Best Gospel Performance," of which it won "Best Gospel Performance." At the 52nd Grammy Awards in 2010 the duo won another Grammy for Best Gospel Song for God In Me. The album was also nominated for a Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. The song "Get Up" was also nominated for Country Recorded Song of the Year.
Chart performance
The Sound debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 37,800 copies it first week. This marked Mary Mary's highest charting album to date. In addition, it peaked at number two on the BillboardTop R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, as well as number 1 on both the Top Gospel Albums and Top Christian Albums. The Sound has remained on the Billboard 200 for 55 weeks.
Singles
Leading single, "Get Up", was released digitally on July 15, 2008. The song peaked at number 30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number two on the Hot Gospel Songs and topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. A music video for Mary Mary's next single "I Worship You" was released through several online channels in August 2008. An additional single, "God In Me", featuring singer Kierra Sheard gained airplay on both hip-hop and R&B formats. According to a bulletin post on Sheard's official MySpace page, an internet contest to appear in the music video for "God In Me" was announced in December 2008. It peaked at number 68 on the US BillboardHot 100, number five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and again, topped the Top Gospel Songs chart. It became the first song since their debut single "Shackles " to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. "God In Me" reached the top ten of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in its 42nd week, the longest climb to the top tier in the survey's 67-year history. It spent 76 weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
