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Album Of The Day: While They Slept by Cookbook & Uno Mas
Released 20 years ago today, this is the second album from this duo, two members of the L.A. Symphony underground hip-hop collective. On occasion I like some underground rap, but it's not something I listen to very often. I haven't listened to this album much, but it's a pretty good album of classic-sounding beats and beds with non-stop raps. Members of L.A. Symphony including Pigeon John and bTwice show up on a few tracks, too, which is a highlight. Like much of the underground rap scene, the lyrics are often about struggling to make it, but also about their personal experiences and a bit of their outlook on the world. The intro track and "He's #1!" show that they're also into a bit of humor and self-deprecation too. If you like the vibe of this, there's a whole world of underground hip-hop from labels like Illect Recordings to dive into.
Release Year: 2006
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Album Of The Day: The Wonderlands: Shadows by Jon Foreman
Released 11 years ago today, this is the sixth EP from Jon Foreman, the lead singer of long-time rock band Switchfoot. In 2015, he released 4 EPs in The Wonderlands series, each of the 25 songs written about a certain time of day, to some extent. This EP has 6 songs from 5pm to 10pm and each song is co-produced with a different Producer. As the day closes, Jon reflects on his humanity and morbidity, but also on God's love and grace. Like most of his solo work, it's not as rock 'n' roll as a Switchfoot album, but it's by no means just an acoustic set or anything, as most songs have full band instrumentation, sometimes even unique instruments and strings. "Your Love Is Enough" is my favorite song here and "Siren's Song" is a beautiful love song to the ocean from this lifelong surfer. The rest of the songs are solid too. I'm really happy Jon keeps writing songs and releasing them for us, because they definitely make me think and bring me joy.
Release Year: 2015
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Album Of The Day: Hard Love by Needtobreathe
"I made enough to make a young gun proud / Money and fame bring a man shame / Ain't no doubt about it." Released 10 years ago today, this is the sixth album from southern rock band Needtobreathe. Although mostly rock, this band incorporates a lot of styles, and this album is their most poppy release. These songs have lots of pop hooks, tight harmonies, and are driving, upbeat songs with plenty of keyboard. Songs like the title track, "Happiness", "Great Night", and "Money & Fame" are really fun and bring that pop sensibility, while "Don't Bring That Trouble" keeps the southern rock, guitar-based sound. Songs like "No Excuses", "When I Sing" and "Let's Stay Home Tonight" are beautiful, slower songs about love and relationships. And "Testify" also brings in a bit of a religious feel to the album too. I still think this is one of Needtobreathe's best albums; even the EP of songs that didn't make the album is really good.
Release Year: 2016
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Album Of The Day: Jordan's Sister by Kendall Payne
"All I know is that I must be perfect by Thursday." Released 27 years ago today, this is the first album from California-based pop/rock singer-songwriter Kendall Payne. Released at 19 years old on Capitol Records, this debut was a big opening statement from this songwriter. Both the music and the lyrics sound like someone who has had more experience in life. Though there is a bit of railing against the the vices of Southern California and a few songs about relationships with men, there's a lot of insightful moments too. In "Closer To Myself" and "Honest" she longs to know herself better, while songs like "On My Bones" and "Never Leave" point to a higher power for insight and consolation. "Modern Day Moses" draws comparisons between the Biblical character and people like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mother Teresa and encourages us to "change the course of history" through bold action. The whole album is a woman grasping at the beauty, struggle, and poetry of life, and it's still a good listen these decades later. I need to check out some of her other, later independent albums more too.
Release Year: 1999
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Album Of The Day: 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman
Released 15 years ago today, this is the tenth album of new songs by British worship leader Matt Redman. Matt Redman has been leading praise and worship at churches and around the world for over 30 years now, and with this album and all his albums since, he has recorded his albums live with an audience singing along to the songs, whereas many of his previous albums were recorded in a studio in a more traditional manner. This album is full of quality songs of worship and praise to God by this artist who has written some of the most popular modern songs sung by churches today. "10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)", is still a top song sung in churches around the world, and the chorus of worshipers singing behind Matt and the band creates a nice vibe. I really enjoy the mix of styles of songs here, as the title track and "Holy" are more mid-tempo, but songs like "Here For You", "We Are The Free" and "We Could Change The World" are upbeat, driving praise songs. At an hour long it's by no means a short album, but it doesn't really drag on like some of today's modern worship albums. This is one of my favorite and most-listened-to releases from this long-time Christian artist, and you might want to give it a listen and be blessed by the lyrics.
Release Year: 2011
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Album Of The Day: Cush by Cush
Released 26 years ago today, this is the first album from a collective of musicians that are just known as "Cush". Members of California's '90s Christian rock scene contribute in various ways that are not detailed in the credits with Michael Knott taking the lead vocals on this release. With 12 tracks spanning 65 minutes, most of the song are 5-6 minutes of slow-burning rock, soaring melodies and layers of guitars. It's great music and the musicians and songwriters from The Prayer Chain, The Violet Burning, Adam Again, The Lost Dogs, The Lassie Foundation, Fold Zandura, and Starflyer 59 are clearly very talented. The lyrics get pretty philosophical and have some religious themes to them, but I think anyone who appreciates rock will like this music. This is one of those albums that when I listen to it, I realize that if I listened to it more, I would like it even more. I definitely should try to come back to his again. Sadly, it seems to be not currently on streaming services, but you can find it on the Northern Records Bandcamp page.
Release Year: 2000
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Album Of The Day: Voyage by Tree63
Released two weeks ago today, this is the seventh album by South African rock band Tree63 and their first album in over a decade. About 30 years ago, John Ellis started the band Tree, which would be renamed to Tree63 a few years later. The band has been mostly inactive for the last 16 years but had a few reunion shows and one album, and now Ellis has formed the band again with new bandmates and the blessing of the other former members. As with many of their previous albums, this is an arena rock band with a sound something like U2 and just three members, John Ellis doing lead vocals with Angus Warden on drums and Deon Knipe on bass. And like their music in the 1990s and early 2000s, especially, this is quality rock 'n' roll with hopeful, original Christian lyrics. The production may not be as polished as previous albums, but it's still well-done and adds a more indie rock vibe. This album hasn't immediately blown me away like 63 and The Life And Times Of Absolute Truth did, but it's a good start for what is somewhat a new band, and I expect I will like it more with more listens. It's great to have Tree63 back unexpectedly! I hope they keep putting out new music and can make it as a band for many years to come.
Release Year: 2026
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Album Of The Day: Fathers & Sons by The Trigger Code
Released 10 years ago yesterday, this is an EP/mini-album from the Nashville-based rock band The Trigger Code. Known by his name, Taylor Sorensen, for an EP and an album back in the early 2000s, he started recording and performing under this name by 2010. This is 30+ minutes of quality rock with a bit of a southern rock vibe to it, with the occasional bit of blues or gospel elements thrown in. The lyrics are a bit dark and tackle tough subjects including rough family dynamics, but the music is driving and engaging. Songs like "Black Mountain" and "Swing A Hammer" definitely pack a punch, but things do slow down a bit on "Take The Roses" for a bit more a rock ballad. I honestly haven't listened to The Trigger Code much and am more familiar with his early work as Taylor Sorensen, but this listen makes me want to check out more from this band/artist.
Release Year: 2016
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Album Of The Day: American V: A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash
Released 20 years ago today, this is an album of songs that Johnny Cash recorded at 71 years old, just months before his death, though it was not released until a few years after his death. His iconic bass-baritone voice is a bit more ragged than it was in the decades before, but it's still beautiful, and star Producer Rick Rubin helps Cash craft a beautiful, timeless country instrumentation for these songs. Only a few of the songs, "Like The 309" and "I Came To Believe", are written by Cash and the rest are covers. Some of these songs like "Help Me" and "I'm Free From The Chain Gain Now", Cash had originally recorded 30-40 years before, but these are new recordings. And all of the covers, from songwriters such as Hank Williams, Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Springsteen, are remade into Cash's own, classic country style. Johnny Cash talks about his faith in God and his struggles through these songs, and like he has always done, brings that back-woods, southern vibe to the world's listening audience. This album is one I've only started listening to in the last few years, but it is a striking collection of some of the final recordings from this American icon. Thank you, God, for Johnny Cash and happy Independence Day to those who celebrate.
Release Year: 2006
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Album Of The Day: Empty by Tait
Released 25 years ago today, this is the first album from Michael Tait's short-lived rock band after DC Talk went on indefinite hiatus. It was one of my favorite rock albums in 2001, though allegations of sexual misconduct by Michael Tait have recently required me to look at this music in a new light. Still, I do find this album an inspiring and fun rock album, and I think that's due to others involved and maybe only a bit to Michael Tait's excellent vocals. Produced with Pete Stewart (Grammatrain), who also plays guitar, this album leans hard into rock. And many of the DC Talk members and friends like TobyMac, Mark Heimermann, and others contribute to the recording in various ways too. Rock songs like "Spy", "American Tragedy" and the nearly 5-minute "Carried Away" speak of someone struggling with fame, racism and personal demons and are a lot of fun to listen to. Slower songs like "Talk About Jesus", "Looking For You" and "All You Got" speak more to a relationship with Jesus Christ. And I love an epic closing track, which "Unglued" provides—plus there's a hidden track with an instrumental jam after. I totally get why some may no longer want to listen to this album after these allegations. I do not support any of those actions being done by anyone. But this album was important to me and still has messages that speak to me despite the imperfect people involved in this recording, so I thought I would mention it for a few minutes.
Release Year: 2001
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