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Album Of The Day: Lifegiver by Hyper Static Union
Released 20 years ago this past Saturday, this is the third album by rock band Hyper Static Union and their only album released through a major record label. I like their crunchy guitars and that bluesy vibe. They wear their religion on their sleeve, but the songs are catchy and it's clear they are good musicians. The lyrics point to a God above and proclaim his love, while the band rocks out. I haven't listened to this band in many years and I'm liking it a lot more than I remember; I'm not sure why I stopped listening to them back in the day. I needed to give them another chance, I guess.
Release Year: 2006
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Album Of The Day: Crescendo by Jackie Hill Perry
Released 8 years ago today, this is the second album by rapper Jackie Hill Perry. She delivers fast-moving verses and, on this album, there are musical interludes between songs that are classic hymns or Gospel music, slowing down the album and adding moments of contemplation for the listener. Songs like "Hymn" feature a bunch of guest rappers and definitely is all about preaching the Gospel. But other songs use Jackie Hill Perry's personal experiences to talk about where she can improve while also pointing to God as her Lord and Savior. I love the production style here from a slew of Producers including the guys running the Humble Beast label which released this album. The album mixes a variety of styles and brings a lot of musicality to that is not there when it's all Jackie rapping. It's fitting to have an album with such a musical title to have such dynamic swings in musical elements. I haven't liked her production on her new Reach Records releases as much, but I hope she continues to create hip-hop because the raps are excellent.
Release Year: 2018
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Album Of The Day: The Me That Remains by Amy Grant
Released today, this is the twentieth album by singer-songwriter and pop superstar Amy Grant. Mrs. Grant has been making music for almost 50 years now, and is most well-known for '80s and '90s pop like "Baby Baby", "Every Heartbeat" and "Takes A Little Time". Her first album of new, original songs in 13 years, The Me That Remains finds a bit slower, a bit more country-tinged and more reflective on life and society than in-our-face Christian messages and pop hooks. After a few listens today, I'm really liking this album a lot. Looking at the album writing credits, I love the collaboration here: "Please Don't Make Me Beg" co-written with Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, "How Do We Get There From Here" written and sung with Ruby Amanfu, and "The Saint" co-written by long-time friend and pop songwriter Michael W. Smith. Some fans of the Christian artist may find less spiritual, religious language than they might expect here, but there's still some if you're looking for it. And Amy Grant definitely speaks up for those less fortunate and dwells on her struggles in life a bit, as one who has been somewhat of a celebrity for nearly 50 years might do—I think it fits her well as her current role as the queen of Christian music and elder stateswoman of American music.
Release Year: 2026
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Album Of The Day: Mercy by Natalie Bergman
Released 5 years ago today, this is the first album by singer-songwriter Natalie Bergman. She performs a very unique combination of folk pop with soul and Gospel elements. Her falsetto vocals with very Gospel-centric lyrics and pop sensibilities is very unexpected but definitely worth a listen. It's not exactly what I would expect from Jack White's Third Man Records, though then again I would not expect the norm from that label either. Lyrically, you'd expect the music to be sung by a Gospel quartet or maybe some older white lady, but instead this is an attractive woman in her 30s. And musically, you expect it to be music about making love to a partner and the frivolities of life, but instead it's songs about a relationship with Jesus. It's just not what I would expect all around, but I think I like it. Check this out and you might like it too.
Release Year: 2021
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Album Of The Day: Carry Us Through by Sarah Masen
Released 28 years ago today, this is the third album by pop/rock singer-songwriter Sarah Masen. Produced by Charlie Peacock for his short-lived re:think label imprint, Sarah Masen's vocals soar over some simple, jazz-tinged indie pop. Her music wasn't something I listened to when this was released, but in the last few years I've been listening to her '90s albums more and I'm really liking them. The songs are well-done and catchy and her sound is fairly unique. I should check out her more recent, independent music too.
Release Year: 1998
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Album Of The Day: Point #1 by Chevelle
Released 27 years ago today, this is the first album by Chevelle, a hard rock/metal band by two brothers for almost 30 years now, though actually at this moment a third brother was playing bass too. This album really hits hard, and by that I mean that this three-piece creates a lot of noise and lets out a lot of anger on this album. Guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter Pete Loeffler passionately sings and sometimes screams poetic lyrics trying to understand the complexities of life and questioning the things he's been taught. The highlight for me is still the title track which opens the album with six minutes of excellent metal, including a two-minute intro. But it doesn't stop from there; throughout it's 42 minutes of grunge-y guitars with thundering bass and drums as well as Pete's dynamic vocals. Producer Steve Albini and Chevelle kept the instrumentation and the production sparse and it keeps the energy up and probably sounds more like their live show, which I think was a very good choice for this band's debut. The band has continued to make music, but I haven't listened to much of their music except for this album in the last 20 years, honestly, as I found their few albums after this less and less compelling to me personally.
Release Year: 1999
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Album Of The Day: Pro Pain by Mars ILL
"Twenty years from right now my words are still grabbing your nature" Released 20 years ago tomorrow, this is the third major studio album by Atlanta hip-hop duo Mars ILL. DJ Dust puts together intricate hip-hop beds from classic records and other sources, and I love how each time I hear something new I missed on previous listens. Emcee ManChild does fast-moving rap about life, love and the rap game. Mars ILL is my favorite rap/hip-hop artist of all time, and their three albums are so, so fun to listen to. Yes, it's a bit of an underground/indie rap sound, but it's so well-made and the words and music have so much meaning to them. These two spent about 10 years in the underground hip-hop scene and this album was their final major release, as they moved on to other creative and professional pursuits, and only a few new songs have been released by them since. Seriously, if you like rap at all, check this duo out and I hope you like it.
Release Year: 2006
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Album Of The Day: Films For Radio by Over The Rhine
"Everybody's story is more / Interesting than mine / It took me twenty-some-odd-years / To see I'd been born blind" Released 25 years ago last month, this is the sixth studio album by Over The Rhine. This folk duo is at their most rock 'n' roll on this album with a full backing band and top-notch production. Most of these songs are songs of love, from "The World Can Wait" to "The Body Is A Stairway Of Skin". There's also talk of the divine as well on songs like "I Radio Heaven", "Give Me Strength", and the epic 8-minute mid-album track "Little Blue River/In The Garden". Films For Radio is beautiful poetry set to excellent folk/rock music by seasoned musicians, one of the band's best releases, and it's well worth a listen.
Release Year: 2001
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Album Of The Day: Clouds Echo In Blue by Clouds Echo In Blue
Released 15 years ago earlier this month, this is an ambient, instrumental music album by Derri Daugherty, lead singer of The Choir and member of The Lost Dogs and other bands. It's about 40 minutes of instrumental rock with a mostly quiet, reflective tone. It's the kind of stuff I like to have on in the background while reading a book, though it's also engaging enough to listen to as the focus too. It's definitely different than most of Derri's other work, but I really like it.
Release Year: 2011
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Album Of The Day: The Hunger by Seven Day Jesus
Released 30 years ago yesterday, this is the debut album from Christian rock band Seven Day Jesus. Less than two years later they would release a much more poppy album on a bigger record label, but on this album, the band was squarely in the world of mid-'90s grunge rock. The guitars are loud and distorted and it's a well-made record from a band that shows lots of promise. Lead singer Brian McSweeney's lyrics are those of a young Christian struggling to follow God and find his role in the world. I was first introduced to the band during their second album which I still like better, but there are many who liked this one more and saw that second album as too much of departure in style. Both albums do have the same grunge rock sound throughout, but their second, self-titled album definitely had catchy hooks and more of a pop-rock sensibility. No matter which you like better, if you like '90s Christian rock, check out this short-lived band.
Release Year: 1996
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