Yes, you read that right.

Back in 2007, Jason Mraz, at a career crossroads, decided to record a collection of Gospel songs that were his grandmother’s favorites. Nineteen years later, with his mainstream career essentially over, he dug up these privately released tracks and unleashed them on the public.

Judging by the response and the numbers, it’s clear only his ride or die fans are interested in this thing. What is interesting that since this was recorded before his career was revitalized by “I’m Yours,” it was made with his original band, people that were with him from the very beginning.

Opening track “Turn Your Radio On” is earnest and actually feels right in his wheelhouse. The less said about “Daddy Sang Bass” and “Peach Pie”—the latter an original—the better. He would’ve been better off covering the ’90s alternative classic “Peaches.”

Hearing the guy that sang “Love Someone” and “Have It All” trying to croon “Old Rugged Cross” was not on my 2026 bingo card. It’s not like it’s explicitly terrible, but dear God, this feels like a hail Mary trying to do something different to shake up the fanbase. With over 20 million monthly listeners, they sure are not biting on this. His earnestness from before he became a mega star is still on display but his originals don’t work in this different context. He’s not a Christian artist, he’s never been on that level and he can’t write a song like you would want to hear in a worship service.

I can’t really grasp why this was released in the first place but if you’ve always been a massive Mraz fan, then you would probably enjoy this. I have tried with his last couple of albums to find some way to enjoy them, but he’s made it really difficult with the lousy songwriting, poor attempts to recreate the past and more. But hey, I’m sure there’s an audience for this somewhere.

Rating: C

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