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Album Of The Day: The Father's Song by Matt Redman
Released 25 years ago later this week (in the US, if I have my info correct), this is Matt Redman's fifth studio album and the first released nearly simultaneously in the US and UK, I believe. By this time, Matt Redman was already a well-known name in the modern church music movement with the success of "Better Is One Day" and "The Heart of Worship" along with many other songs. On this album, Matt Redman delivers 14 new tracks of studio worship songs, including the track "Holy Moment" which had rock/worship band Sonicflood as guest performers with Matt. But I think the songs that have the most staying power from this album are "Let My Words Be Few", "Light Of The World" and "King Of This Heart". The production sounds a bit dated, maybe, but it's a fairly good pop/rock album from the worship leader. Matt Redman has now written and performed quality modern worship for 30 years now, and this album is a good example of his early career, where some songs (many of which are very good) were not sung that widely in churches but a few were adopted by many churches as songs for the congregation to sing together during services.
Release Year: 2000
Listen on Apple Music (The first 14 tracks; only available on Apple Music with another album, for some reason.)
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Album Of The Day: You Are There by Ashley Cleveland
This was the first Ashley Cleveland album I got about 20-some years ago, and I think it's still my favorite of hers. Half of this album is recorded live on the road, and half is recorded live to tape in studio. This lack of heavy studio production makes it a bit more stripped-down and raw and shows the passion and talent of Ashley and her band. The album starts out with a great live cover of The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter", and includes live recordings of some of her songs from her first few albums like "Big Town" and "He Is". The in-studio recordings of new songs like the title track and "Your Saving Grace" are also great songs by Cleveland and her husband and guitarist/producer Kenny Greenberg. It's great music with a classic rock style, dynamite vocals from Ashley, and a bit of a Gospel flair throughout as well. I love rockin' out to this album.
Release Year: 1998
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Album Of The Day: Fractioned Heart by Gable Price & Friends
I've been hearing people I respect talking about Gable Price & Friends as one of those new bands to watch. And as usual (unfortunately), I've been sleeping on it and just listening to my same old music. But today, I checked out this album and wow, it is good. Released on this day 5 years ago, this is the debut album from this rock band. It's quality rock, and with lyrics that both edify and challenge Christians in their faith, it's definitely a band I need to listen to more. They have driving rock with a bit of a poppy feel, and I really like it. I've only heard a few songs from their later albums, but they get even better, I think, on those later albums. If you're like me and haven't found this band, try giving it a listen and you might like it.
Release Year: 2020
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Album Of The Day: Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
On the event of Brian Wilson's passing, it seems only fitting to listen to the one Beach Boys album I own, Pet Sounds. It's not an album I listen to often, but it is certainly an album full of great songs and great musical talent that pushed the boundaries of modern music at the time. There's plenty of surf rock anthems and love songs, but there's lots of experimentation and introspection by Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys on this release as well. Even if you haven't listened to this album, you may have heard of songs like these: "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Sloop John B", "God Only Knows", "I Know There's An Answer" and "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times". I always enjoy listening through an album because there's a few songs you may have not heard before or don't remember liking before, and along with those hits, there are some fun other moments here, like the fun instrumental tracks. Rest in peace, Brian Wilson.
Release Year: 1966
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Album Of The Day: Summer by Jon Foreman
Released on this day 17 years ago, this is the fourth of Jon Foreman's solo EPs named after the four seasons that we have in Minnesota, though I'm not sure they have them in San Diego where he lives. Songs like "A Mirror Is Harder To Hold" and "Deep In Your Eyes" are songs wrestling with love and relationships. I love the song "Resurrect Me", probably the most upbeat and rock 'n' roll song on any of his solo releases. "Instead Of A Show" uses Biblical prophet Amos's words to challenge those who use religion for their own purposes. And Sarah Masen joins Jon for "The House Of God, Forever", a version of Psalm 23. On this EP, Jon Foreman mixes ancient texts and his own thoughts and it all sounds like very fresh, acoustic pop that is relevant to our lives today. It's quick and beautiful, so give it a listen.
Release Year: 2008
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Album Of The Day: Dry Bones Dance by Mark Heard
Until a few years ago, honestly, I'd only heard of Mark Heard as one of those old-time artists of Christian music, since I only really started listening to music in earnest in 1998 and Heard passed away in 1992. And I'd heard a few covers of his songs by other artists such as Rich Mullins and a recent cover by Chagall Guevara. But a few years ago, I was able to get a copy of the remastered vinyl of this album and give it a listen. From a few listens, it's clear that Mark Heard was a classic folk-rocker. Though his sound is not exactly my favorite; it's a bit too country with lots of fiddle and maybe a bit too zydeco with a lot of accordion as well. But obviously he was a very talented musician and songwriter, mixing his thoughts on life with his beliefs and doing it all with a lot of energy. No wonder CCM Magazine listed this album number 29 in their Top 100 albums of all time list. It's not exactly my favorite album, but it's full of talent and passion and I should listen to more of Mark Heard's albums.
Release Year: 1990
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Buy the remastered digital version with bonus tracks
Album Of The Day: Living With A Fire by Jesus Culture
I'm definitely a bit conflicted about the state of modern worship today. Ideally, the music made by churches would be easy to be sung by congregations. However, much of today's modern worship music is made by mega-churches with huge music teams making arena pop/rock anthems that maybe could be performed by ambitious church music teams, but are not simple hymns or melodies that can be easily be picked up by a congregation or a lone worship leader. Still, I do somewhat find them fun and engaging to listen to, I guess. As an example, this recording of live worship from Jesus Culture church in Sacramento, California, is maybe the group's magnum opus; a sprawling 100-minute session of anthems of prayer and praise to God. And as the album title suggests, many of these songs are aspiring to living with the guidance of God's Holy Spirit. The music is meticulously crafted and rehearsed, but there's also a level of spontaneity as the worship leader and band riff on a song for sometimes upwards of 10 minutes. And having a large bench of worship leaders throughout keeps the sound fresh but still pretty consistent. This album is maybe a bit too long for even my tastes, or maybe it's just right for a long play for a Sunday afternoon or evening of reflection. It's definitely not a collection or hymns, though you may find that a good or bad thing depending on your point of view.
Release Year: 2018
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Album Of The Day: X&Y by Coldplay
Released 20 years ago today in the United States, this is the third album from rock/pop band Coldplay and may be still one of their best albums. Lyrically, the band asks some of the deep questions of life here and it seems like the band was grappling with their new-found success and status as an arena rock band. Musically, it's a great mix of keyboard-based and guitar-based sounds with top-notch bass and drums as well for a nice full-band sound. This album is a great hour of music if you play it right through, and all these songs are well-written and fun to listen to. It was the biggest-selling album of 2005 and Coldplay was everywhere back then, so maybe you have already listened to it, but if it's been a while, maybe you want to give it a listen again.
Release Year: 2005
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Album Of The Day: Winning Streak by Andy Gullahorn
"There are some weird people out there." Released today, this is the 8th album from Nashville-based independent singer-songwriter Andy Gullahorn. I love his music because often his lyrics mix the humorous, the events of daily life, and the profound—usually all in one song. For example, on the song "Weird People", he says that there's lots of weird people, gives some fun examples, and sings that maybe believing in God isn't the weirdest thing. Musically, this album is just pretty simple acoustic pop with a tinge of country, but these simple songs do hold some worthwhile insights on the nature of life and spirituality. I really like his man-next-door vibe and his talent of tying a somewhat mundane moment of his life to some simple truth. It's been 7 years since his last album, and it's great to have new songs finally from this excellent songwriter and performer.
Release Year: 2025
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Buy from Andy on CD or Vinyl
Album Of The Day: Speechless by Steven Curtis Chapman
![Album Art of Steven Curtis Chapman's Speechless album - On the left side, the background is a blurry green and gold, maybe a blurry shot of some bush or something, fading to black at the bottom. On the right two thirds is a somewhat desaturated photo of a middle-aged man with short, light hair wearing a turtleneck with the collar covering up his mouth. The photo is just from his shoulders up, and he has his fingers in a praying pose in front of his covered mouth and is looking directly at the camera. Across the top, it has the artist's name, with his first name in black over the green background, and his 2nd and last names in white above the photo. In the bottom left corner, in white on the black is written '[ Speechless ]'.](/sites/default/files/blog-media/Steven%20Curtis%20Chapman%20-%20Speechless.jpg)
Released 26 years ago today, this is the 9th studio album from Christian pop artist Steven Curtis Chapman, and I think it's possibly his best album. Steven Curtis Chapman creates a bunch of fun pop songs and even gets a bit rock 'n' roll in moments on this album, while lyrically bringing Christian ideas and values. Despite being a king of Christian pop, he often makes it clear that he's struggling to find God and live his life as a Christian, which I definitely can identify with. Songs like "Dive", "Whatever" and "Next 5 Minutes" are the fun, upbeat highlights, but the quieter songs also are great. The title track ruminates on the beauty and majesty of God, and the album ends with slower ballads like "With Hope", "Be Still And Know" and a cinematic orchestral interlude between the songs that tugs on the heartstrings too. It's definitely one of my favorite Christian pop albums because it is fun, honest and made from the heart. Thanks, Mr. Chapman, for continuing to create music all these years.
Release Year: 1999
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