Being recorded in 1990, the backing and sound of "Pray for Me" is of course a little tainted by late-'80s/early-'90s slickness. But compared to most soul and gospel from that time, this sounds more genuine and has aged less. As the concert goes on, or at least as it is presented on the record, that polish also wears off and the basic sweaty qualities of
the Mighty Clouds of Joy take over. Most sweaty is probably the lead singer, and the interplay between his raw, almost vulgar voice and the slick choruses gives the songs an irresistible drive. On the B-side the concert turns partly into a sermon. The preaching gets a little boring the tenth time you listen to the album, like spoken parts of an album often do, but it does add to the gospel atmosphere. And while the talk about the vices of rock & roll feels a little conservative, you probably wouldn't be listening to gospel music if you can't stand that. At the same time it is slightly amusing, regarded how much
the Mighty Clouds of Joy borrowed from secular music and how close to rock they come themselves when they are at their best. ~ Lars Lovén