Prime Cuts: "It Is So Sweet," "Hands Up," "Everything With Breath"
Overall Grade: 3/5
Alexander Pappas' Sunday EP is driven by a focused aim: to write songs for the gathered church. That clarity gives the project purpose, but it also reveals a tension between functionality and originality.
"Hands Up" is arguably one of the most needed uptempo congregational worship songs in today's church context. It is biblically grounded, energetic, and designed for worship leaders who want to actively stir joy in the room. The simplicity works in its favor-this is a song built to translate immediately in a live setting, and it succeeds on those terms.
"It Is So Sweet," featuring Chelsea Plank of SEU Worship, is the most melodious entry on the EP. Its tone is gentle and reassuring, centering on the peace found in walking with Jesus. Yet its main hook borrows directly from the hymn "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus," which, while effective devotionally, slightly limits the song's originality.
"Everything With Breath" leans most clearly into the Hillsong Young & Free sound that Pappas helped popularize. Its anthemic build, expansive chorus, and escalating intensity unmistakably echo the language of Psalm 150-calling all creation into praise. It's a strong corporate worship piece, though stylistically familiar.
"Always Been Jesus" attempts something more theologically ambitious. The track is marked by unusual key changes that may feel disorienting on first listen, but its strength lies in how Pappas draws typological connections from the Old Testament to Christ. That instinct adds depth, even if the musical execution doesn't fully settle. "Won't He Do It" introduces a lighter, bopping feel that adds variety, but it ultimately proves the least memorable track. It carries energy without enough distinctiveness to sustain it beyond the moment.
Across the EP, Pappas' association with Elevation Worship-adjacent songwriting culture remains evident. The songs are structurally sound and theologically clear, but they largely operate within a well-established modern worship template. The shift from "Monday" to "Sunday" music sharpens the project's purpose, yet also narrows its creative edge. That balance lands the EP at a 3/5. Sunday works well in the room-it equips churches with usable, engaging songs-but it rarely moves beyond what listeners already expect from the genre.
