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Album Of The Day: City On A Hill by Various Artists

Album Art of the City On A Hill album - In the center, an illustration of three people with egg-shaped heads and somewhat triangle-shaped bodies wearing colorful clothing standing and singing and playing instruments in the foreground off to the right. Behind them and to the left, a large hill is there and on it is three buildings, one a church. There's an angel flying near the city looking down on it. To the right of the angel it says 'City On A Hill' with the subtitle 'Songs Of Worship And Praise' printed in black. Around the edge, on a dark border, there's a list of all the artists involved in the project printed in white.

Released 25 years ago yesterday, this was an album full of new recordings of praise and worship-style songs from some of the biggest names in Christian music. Producer Steve Hindalong had done something similar in the '90s with the At The Foot Of The Cross albums, writing new hymns and similar style music for prayer and worship, and getting some of his friends in the music industry to sing them. Here a very similar formula is used, and with names like Jars of Clay, Third Day, Caedmon's Call, Sixpence None The Richer, The Choir and more lending their talents and in some cases songwriting, it gained a lot more popularity than Hindalong's previous albums of a similar style. "God Of Wonders" is still in the top 100 songs sung at churches and is one of the best songs here. Jars of Clay song "This Road" is a great closer, and they also cover "The Stone" by Jonathan Noel, giving that song a lot more recognition. It's fun to hear some beautiful duets like Leigh Nash of Sixpence with Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay and Mac Powell of Third Day singing with Caedmon's Call. Also included are some of the final recordings of Gene Eugene, who passed away shortly before this was released. Some might argue the success of this album accelerated the turning of Christian music into only worship music, and maybe that's true, but it's fun to hear these pop/rock artists come together for a slightly more subdued, more contemplative collection of original songs.

Release Year: 2000
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Album Of The Day: I'll Lead You Home by Michael W. Smith

Album Art of Michael W. Smith's I'll Lead You Home album - A photograph of a young, white main with stubble and tousled brown hair looking over his shoulder into the camera, and leaning up against a fence or something. It's a very close-up photo of his face, so not much can be seen of the background or the black shirt he's wearing. Towards the top, in white in a hardwriting-style font is the artist's name, and below it in smaller yellow font is the album title, slightly off to the right.

Released 30 years ago today, this is the 8th studio album from Michael W. Smith, who at this time was the king of Christian pop music. I remember this as one of the first albums our family owned on tape that was not Amy Grant, and it got played a lot in the car for those first few years. Smith was working hard at making '90s pop fun with songs like "Cry For Love" and "A Little Stronger Everyday". He goes very country with "Someday" which features the background vocals of Susan Ashton. And Smitty does a great cover of "Crown Him With Many Crowns" which is a stand-out on the album. The title track is a mid-tempo song, but it's one of my favorite Michael W. Smith songs ever. And the trilogy of songs right after that song ("The Other Side Of Me", "Breathe In Me" and "Angels Unaware") are one 13-minute composition of beautiful soul searching by Smith and co-writer Wayne Kirkpatrick. A few things on this album like end times rhetoric and co-opting of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s words on a patriotic, pro-America song are things I do not appreciate anymore, for sure, but overall, this album is one of his better releases. I'm also encouraged that this experienced songwriter tries to keep making Christian pop, despite there not really being any sort of market for it anymore.

Release Year: 1995
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Album Of The Day: Restoration by Lecrae

Album Art of Lecrae's Restoration album - Photographed from below, it's a photo of a black man with a green jacket and a bare chest standing in the sunlight and looking up towards the blue sky. His head is slightly back and it looks like he's savoring the moment. He's got a bit of facial hair and stubble and short, dark hair, plus a gold chain around his neck.

Released 5 years ago today, this is the ninth and latest album (until tomorrow) from Lecrae. He's been making rap for 20 years and not happy with the label of "Christian rapper" for probably just as long. Though he tried to share the Gospel via rap on his early albums, he spends a lot more time just talking about life. Sure, there's a bit of Gospel if Kirk Franklin is speaking a word, but it's mostly rap with a very accessible pop sound. Lecrae even got John Legend to sing vocals on "Drown" too. I also love "Set Me Free" with its bed of the Mary Mary track "Shackles" too. This album is a great collection of songs and it's maybe not his best album, but it's sold. Looking forward to check out his latest music with a new album releasing tomorrow!

Release Year: 2020
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Album Of The Day: Swallow The Sea by Matthew Perryman Jones

Album Art of Matthew Perryman Jones's Swallow The Sea album - Some sort of mixed-media artwork. The top is a rough texture with a brown color, and represents the sky. Below it, there's blue color and it's waves, so it is the sea. In the sea is a red colored head with a black edge around it, and the head seems to have some photos layered in it. Some orange-colored paper highlights the person's mouth and breathing tube. In the top left, it has the artist's name printed in black and the album title below it in white.

Released 17 years ago yesterday, this is the third album from this folk/rock singer-songwriter. Matthew Perryman Jones's songs are well-crafted and I love the rock vibe, but when I've seen him play live, it's with just an acoustic guitar and the songs sound just as good in that form too. Lyrically, his songs are about the trials and troubles of life, but some spiritual language occasionally points to hope, though in no way is this steeped in religious references. I don't listen to Matthew Perryman Jones too often, but every time I do listen, I always like it more than I remember and think I should listen to him more often. He's one of those indie singer-songwriters that is not well-known but should not be overlooked.

Release Year: 2008
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Album Of The Day: Armistice by Mutemath

Album Art of Mutemath's Armistice album - A photo of four people on a dark night standing in front of a gate, shot from fairly far back. They are standing 2-3 feet away from each other in a line in front of the gate, and the gate has a large circular arch with a geometric design in mostly white and green on it. The arch also seems to have lights on it and the arch and the ground in front of it is well-lit. On the arch is the album title in white lights, it looks like, and the band's name is in the shadows at the foreground of the bottom of the picture. Around the edges is a border that looks like yellowed, worn paper.

Released 16 years ago yesterday, this is the second album from alternative rock/pop band Mutemath. They are one of my favorite bands because they had such a great sound and a killer live show full of energy and musicianship. The band Mutemath mixes influences effortlessly, melding pop, rock, electronic elements, and much more, tying it together with great melodies and intense drums. I think "Electrify" should have been a Top 40 hit, honestly. "Armistice" has a bit of a New Orleans jazz flavor with an appearance by Rebirth Brass Band. Songs like "Spotlight" and "Backfire" are the energetic side, while "Odds" and "No Response" bring a bit slower vibe. And I love an epic closing track like "Burden". Lyrically, the band is struggling with relationships and their place in life; and years later it may be less about relationships at home than the relationships between the members of the band and struggling to come up with a worthy successor to their debut album. Though the lyrics are a bit dark in spots, it's lots of fun experimentation musically that keeps me listening to Mutemath, one of my all-time favorite bands.

Release Year: 2009
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Album Of The Day: Before The Sun Goes Down by The New Respects

Album Art of The New Respects's Before The Sun Goes Down album - Four young black persons, one male and three female, are shown in this photo looking at the camera from the side, with two of them facing to the left and right side of the frame and their backs to each other. Behind them is a beige background with an orange circle in the middle behind them. At the top, it has in small white, heavy print the album title in the left side and the band name in the right side.

"What make the world keep spinning? Love makes the world go round." Released 7 years ago yesterday, this is the first and only full-length album from The New Respects, at least so far. This is one of my favorite albums of the last 10 years, because it's just such feel-good music. They mix rock, pop, and soul and definitely have a throwback sound that I love. They are great live, playing all the instruments and with tight harmonies. I especially like when the music gets a bit slower on "Come As You Are" and "What Makes The World", some of the best songs on the album. This album captures their excellent sound and doesn't overdo it with over-production, and it's one of my favorite albums to listen to when I need a pick-me-up.

Release Year: 2018
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Album Of The Day: Watch The Rising Day by Matthew Smith

Album Art of Matthew Smith's Watch The Rising Day album - In a field of brown grasses, a photo of a man laying down in the grass and looking up into the green, cloudy sky is shown. In the background looks to be some trees and some farm buildings. and the top half is all cloudy sky. The person, a white man with fairly short hair, is wearing dark pants and a brown shirt and has right hand over his stomach. Printed over the sky is his name in a dark green color, and in white below it is the album title.

Released on this day 15 years ago, this is an album of old hymn texts given new melodies by Matthew Smith. The hymns have never sounded more contemporary, as Matthew Smith gives them a pop/rock/folk sound in his performances and the instrumentation of his band. There's lots of beauty in these old texts and I love these new melodies and arrangements. They really bring these hymns to life in a new way. Unfortunately, this seems to be not currently available on streaming, but you can find it on his Bandcamp page digitally or on CD and vinyl. Also, check out the interview with Matthew about this album on Caleb's Album Anniversary Podcast via Apple or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Release Year: 2010
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Album Of The Day: Hold The Light by Andrew Osenga

Album Art of Andrew Osenga's Hold The Light album - a grainy color photo of a middle-aged man in a baseball cap playing an acoustic guitar in a small room filled with furniture, lamps and video and audio recording equipment. Above the center of the photo in a bright yellow block text is the words 'Hold The' in small print, and 'Light' below it in much bigger print. At the bottom in a much thinner, lighter yellow print it says ‘An acoustic recording by Andrew Osenga'.

Released today digitally and released last December on vinyl, this is a beautiful session of acoustic versions of songs written by Andrew Osenga (The Normals, Caedmon's Call). This was recorded on his 45th birthday as a present to himself. I'm glad we get to hear this recording as much as it was a treat for him to make it. Andrew's music has always been so honest, so heartfelt, and to explore both the highs and lows of life. One of my favorite songs ever is "After The Last Tear Falls", which was co-written with Andrew Peterson, and it’s fun to hear Mr. Osenga play it here. Other songs featured in this session are from his solo albums released 20+ years ago to even one track from The Normals's final album. Many songs are from his excellent The Painted Desert album and more recent songs are here too. This album acts as a great retrospective of Andrew's career and hopefully a whole new group of fans will check his music out.

Release Year: 2024
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A photo of a smiling man from the shoulders up on the right side holding a vsigned vinyl record to the left. Behind him can be seen CDs and vinyl on shelves. He’s wearing a light blue shirt, has a full beard and mustache and has short, brown hair.

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Album Of The Day: The Art of Translation by GRITS

Album Art of GRITS's The Art of Translation album - With a thick white border, a photo of two black men sitting in blue padded benches of what looks like a very standard American diner. The wall behind them is dark red tile, and the table is white. There is a Nickelodeon, a machine to request songs from the jukebox, on the wall next to the table, and a few condiments as well on the table. The two people are sitting on opposite sides of the table and are not looking towards the camera. On the beige wall era above the tile, the group name is printed in red in a blocky text. And below it in a script font is the album name.

"My life be like, ooh-aah, ooh." Released 23 years ago today, this is the fourth album from this hip-hop duo and it's my favorite album of theirs. They bring the energetic raps right from the start with "Here We Go", and keep it going with "Ooh Ahh", "Tennessee Bwoys", "Believe", and "Make Room". Labelmate Jennifer Knapp provides vocals on one song, and label owner and artist TobyMac makes an appearance as well, among others. It's solid beats with good raps from Bonfide and Coffee, two rappers who perform as GRITS. The lyrical content is at least somewhat spiritual, but also pokes fun at hip-hop culture, how much they love their city of Nashville, Tennessee and that "Gospel rap" is not their preferred way of being labeled as a duo.

Release Year: 2002
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Album Of The Day: Chrysaline by Josh Garrels

Album Art of Josh Garrels's Chrysaline album - With a thin white border around the edge, the black background has an illustration of plants, butterflies, and a pair of hands reaching up towards the flora and fauna. The image is nearly symmetrical, with a purple flower right in the center that has large pollen receptors coming out of the middle of the open flower. There are red flowers open on both sides of the purple one, with green, leafy branches along the edges of the illustration. Above the flowers on both the right and left are two butterflies, for a total of four. In the leaves and branches can be seen a caterpillar and chrysalis as well. In the middle towards the top is the artist's name in large, blue letters, and the album title in much smaller light gray.

Released six years ago this past Saturday, this is the ninth studio album from Josh Garrels, an independent folk-rock singer-songwriter. When it came out, I wasn't a huge fan. It's more mellow than his previous albums, I think, and I'm a bit of a rock fan. As usual, the lyrics have very spiritual content, and the instrumentation is beautiful. Much of Josh's vocals are a bit into his upper range, which works well. Over the years, the album has definitely grown on me, and despite the fact that he doesn't rock as much or break out into a spoken word verse like previous albums, it's still a solid listen.

Release Year: 2019
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