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Album Of The Day: Live At The Wetlands by Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Robert Randolph and his Family Band started playing music in their church, but then started playing in clubs as more of a jam band. I've enjoyed seeing them play their mix of rock, blues, Gospel, and even country a number of times and it's great live music if you can catch them in a city near you. This, their first album, is definitely a jam band album with the average track being over 11 minutes long. Recorded at a New York City club called "Wetlands Preserve" which closed shortly after recording, it's a fun night to listen in on. Sadly, this album does not seem to be available on streaming services currently, so you might have to seek out a CD release to listen to it.
Release Year: 2002
Album Of The Day: Sessions by Lauren Daigle
Just released today is this new EP of 8 songs recorded mostly acoustic—half at the SirusXM studios and half at Apple Music studios. With the stripped-down, intimate live setting, Lauren Daigle's vocals and lyrics shine even more than usual. Most of the songs are from Daigle's 2023 self-titled album, but her previous album's "You Say" and a cover of "You Are So Beautiful" are included in the Sessions as well.
Release Year: 2024
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Album Of The Day: The Burning Edge Of Dawn by Andrew Peterson
I think Andrew Peterson said once that he writes sad songs about Jesus's love. That's about right. Andrew's ninth studio album mixes his thoughts on life and love with reflections on God's love, God's beauty and the peace of God. It's a tight 10 songs—only 38 minutes—and the musicianship is impeccable. It makes my heart long for what is to come and calls me on to make it come about.
Release Year: 2015
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Album Of The Day: All That You Can't Leave Behind by U2
If The Joshua Tree made U2 a popular band in the late '80s, this album pushed them through the stratosphere 13 years later. After going through a dance rock phase in the '90s, All That You Can't Leave Behind went back to the more guitar-oriented rock band sound, though keeping a bit of the electronic. Bono's vocals get into the falsetto on songs such as "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation" among others. Although the first four tracks are the memorable singles, the rest of the album is great music too, from a love song to "New York" to a call for "Peace on Earth".
Release Year: 2000
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Album Of The Day: The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman
Since the mid-'90s, Matt Redman has been writing modern songs for churches across the world to sing that express praise and worship to God. Released in the UK and internationally in 1998 under the title "Intimacy", this album was released in the US with the title of Matt Redman's most popular early songs, "The Heart of Worship". This studio album has a jazzy feel to it and the lyrics long for a closer relationship to God as well as thanking him for what He has given. It's a great listen from the raucous open to "Let Everything That Has Breath" to the extended ending of "The Prayers Of the Saints".
Release Year: 1999
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Album Of The Day: Beyond These Shores by Iona
Iona mixes traditional Celtic sounds with rock/pop. The Irish band weaves together beautiful instrumental tracks with Joanne Hogg's heavenly vocals taking the lead on others. This album is centered around Irish historical figure St. Brendan and his exploration of the seas around Ireland. I love to have Iona's albums playing in the background while reading a book on a quiet weekend day; they're so epic in scope.
Release Year: 1993
Note: On streaming services, it seems like this is the 2-disc, 30th anniversary of Iona release which includes bonus tracks from the studio sessions. The original album is the first 15 tracks, about 70 minutes in total. The later tracks are just demos and unreleased tracks which may be less interesting.
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Album Of The Day: Acoustic Cafe by Phil Keaggy & Friends
Phil Keaggy has been playing guitar professionally for about 55 years now and is the most talented guitarist I've ever heard on acoustic or electric guitar. On this album, though, he doesn't show off, but just plays some great songs. "Here Comes The Sun", "Make You Feel My Love", "Time After Time" and "God Only Knows" are some of the classics and the arrangements are simple and beautiful. I really enjoy Keaggy's original song, "You Have My Heart", which fits right in with these classics. This album is a chill vibe no matter if you're winding down for the night or just getting started for the day.
Release Year: 2007
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Album Of The Day: Never Take Friendship Personal by Anberlin
Anberlin has been making alternative rock for most of the last 20+ years, although they took a hiatus for a few years in the late 2010s. Never Take Friendship Personal is their second album and it's been an album I play pretty regularly from them. It's probably still one of my favorite albums made by Anberlin. As with many of their songs, the lyrics are about relationships and love, sometimes beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking. Stephen Christian's vocals mix in with the guitars sometimes and float above them in other times. If you have a CD copy, enjoy the booklet which has a bunch of variations on the cover artwork.
Release Year: 2005
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Album Of The Day: The Still Point by Sandra McCracken & Ben Shive
OK, this one is not an album. It's a recently released 3-song EP from Sandra McCracken and Ben Shive. McCracken has been doing singer-songwriter music for decades, and Shive has been a successful producer for many other artists and projects over the years as well. In this release, these new songs are slower, more reflective and two of them have very long, instrumental introductions before the vocals start. It's a great vibe for a few moments of reflection today.
Release Year: 2024
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Album Of The Day: No Man's Land by Charlie Peacock
The release tour of this album was I think my favorite concert ever—so far. Charlie Peacock and his band are musicians who are so good at their craft! And it was in this beautiful little old church venue and I was just a dozen feet away from them with the most beautiful music being played. No Man's Land was his first independent vocal album of the modern music era, and it's a great mix of jazz, country and New Orleans blues rock. Charlie Peacock's lyrics mix the mundane with the profound. "Kite In A Tree" and "Beauty Left The Room" get stuck in my head. I love a good closing track so "Satellites" is a favorite of mine as well.
Release Year: 2012
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