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Album Of The Day: Beatitudes by Stu Garrard
Stu Garrard has toured the world with the band delirious? and played in the studio and on tour for many other artists over his career that spans over 30 years, and is a very talented guitarist. However, this album isn't all about the guitar playing. Garrard spent years researching The Beatitudes, Jesus's call to humility, poverty, loving your neighbor and so much more. In his trying to understand it, Stu G. co-wrote songs about these teachings with many of his friends and recorded them for this album. The album is a bit of a variety of styles and is a slower, more contemplative album that you might expect, but it does end up being a cohesive album, great for reflection on God's words. Throughout the album, a poem about listening to God's words encourages us to listen to God's words. Stu G. lets the rock out a bit in the only track doesn't have a guest, "In The Middle". I love the appearances from other artists I enjoy like Propaganda, John Mark McMillan, Amy Grant, and many more. If you've got a bit of time to listen, give this album a virtual spin and contemplate the words of Jesus with these musicians.
Release Year: 2017
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Album Of The Day: Gonna Get It Wrong Before I Get It Right by Sam Ashworth
Sam Ashworth has worked with a huge variety of artists, mostly co-writing but sometimes producing for or doing other things with H.E.R., Leslie Odom, Jr., Dierks Bentley, The Civil Wars, The Lone Bellow, Michael W. Smith, Sixpence None The Richer and many more. Released 20 years ago today, this is his first full-length album and it's 12 songs of indie pop and rock. Vocally, he sounds very similar to his father, Charlie Peacock, but Ashworth also has his own style that is more rock and less jazz-focused. This is an album I haven't listened to in many years, but it's very good. Sadly, seems like it's not on streaming currently, so it might be a bit hard to give it a listen unless you have the CD on hand as I do.
Release Year: 2005
Album Of The Day: 77 (Pt. 1) by Colony House
Released today, this is the fifth studio album from the band Colony House, one of my current favorite rock bands. With the "Part 1" in the title and the only 7-track length, it seems like it might be just a half of the final album that is coming later. Usually I wouldn't feature a partial album, but I'll make an exception for my favorite bands. Lyrically, it's clear the boys have found the recent years tough and are trying to find a positive way forward, and they mostly fill this release with mid-tempo rock ruminating on that. Probably my favorite song at the moment is "OK OK OK OK", which celebrates doing whatever in the moment with a loved one. I guess I'm going to continue to use this post to rant about how songs are getting shorter and albums too now, and I hope we get more from Colony House soon, but I guess for now I'll enjoy that we got any new music at all. These songs are good, even if I wished there were more. Looking forward to seeing them on tour in a couple weeks!
Release Year: 2025
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Album Of The Day: City On A Hill by Various Artists
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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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