Blog
Album Of The Day: We Walk This Road by Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Released 15 years ago tomorrow, this is the fourth album from R&B/gospel/rock group Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and it's one of their best in my opinion. The band and their lead singer/pedal steel guitarist got their start at church but their first three albums were much more in the "jam band" rock genre than this album, which definitely still has elements of those classic R&B/rock jams. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, this album celebrates their many musical and spiritual influences. Along with a number of original songs, covers of classic songs by Blind Willie Johnson, Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Prince are spread throughout this album and they are great new versions. It definitely celebrates their Gospel roots as well as a variety of other musical influences. As always, the band's musicianship is great and Robert Randolph's skills on the pedal steel are jaw-dropping. Sadly, it seems like the version on streaming doesn't have the brief clips of classic Gospel groups between some of the songs ("segue" tracks) which definitely contribute to the feel of the album—tying past to present—which is I guess a reason to get your own copy on CD or double LP.
Release Year: 2010
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Album Of The Day: Coming To Life by The Normals
Released 25 years ago today, this is the second album from alternative rock band The Normals. These were young men who were interested in making raw, honest rock about their life and loves, and that included some thoughts on their faith in God and women they were romantically involved in. This was a favorite album of mine in the following years, and I still love to give it a listen. As I've watched Andrew Osenga and a few other members go on to do other things musically and professionally, it's clear they have matured a lot since then, but it's still fun to relive their passion and earnestness for tackling the challenges of life from The Normals era. Favorite tracks are "Every Moment", "The Best I Can", "We Are The Beggars At The Foot Of God's Door" and the title track. These songs never really made it on the radio, but it's still an album I love to listen to all these years later.
Release Year: 2000
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Album Of The Day: The Boy Vs. The Cynic by John Reuben
Released 20 years ago later this week (June 21), this is the fourth album from John Reuben, and a bit of a departure from his previous albums. His previous albums were mostly "just plain fun and crazy" (as he says on one of them) and straight hip-hop, while this album gets a bit more variety of sounds with more pop/rock and rap/rock styles present. On songs like "Follow Your Leader", "Sales Pitch" and "What About Them?", John Reuben questions politics and the lines the church leaders are giving American Christianity today. There's still lots of fun, though; "So Glad" is a favorite dance/party song for me to get pumped up to and "Out Of Control" brings the rock 'n' roll to kick off the album. "Nuisance" is probably the most well-known song from this album, and it features Matthew Thiessen of Relient K on the chorus as John Reuben lays out his thesis on this album: He doesn't ask these questions to be a nuisance, "I just think we can do better than this." Thanks, John, for leading the fun and giving us some thoughts to ruminate on. It's not the most cohesive album ever, but I love all of it.
Release Year: 2005
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Album Of The Day: Kaleidoscope Superior by Earthsuit
"Do you enjoy the distortion?" Released 25 years ago this Friday (June 20th), this is the only label release by Earthsuit. This unique rock band incorporated elements of hip-hop, electronica, soul and reggae into their music. This album has lots of fun musical experimentation and is definitely more about fun jamming than any sort of message, although a few songs definitely do have religious references. This was one of those albums that definitely broadened my horizons of what music could be and made me realize I liked a lot more than just what was played on the radio or what most considered "normal" music. Some of the members of this band went on to form the band Mutemath 3-4 years later, which became one of my favorite bands ever. This album is a great collection of songs that is worth a listen for rock fans.
Release Year: 2000
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Album Of The Day: The Legend Of Chin by Switchfoot
Released 28 years ago today, this is the first album from one of my favorite bands of all time, Switchfoot. Honestly, this is not in my top Switchfoot albums, but it's still a very good debut album. It has more of an indie-rock, garage rock or even punk vibe than most of their other albums, though many of the slower songs are in the pop-rock genre still. Like many albums from Switchfoot and lead singer-songwriter Jon Foreman's solo work, the songs wrestle with the meaning of life and striving to be the the best man he can be. Maybe it's the rawness of the three-piece band that makes this sound a bit different, because they have to keep it fairly basic with just guitars, bass, drums and vocals. On later albums/tours the band added more members for a more nuanced sound. Still, even if it's not their best work, it's some good songs and the band's potential to make engaging music that asks the big questions and challenges the listener is clearly visible. Jon is one of the best songwriters in my opinion, and this is the earliest available documentation of this fact.
Release Year: 1997
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
Album Of The Day: They're Only Chasing Safety by Underoath
Released 21 years ago yesterday, this is the album that moved Underoath out of the Christian metal genre and into the spotlight as a post-hardcore, emo-rock band. One vocalist screams while another sings, and not only are guitars used heavily, but also electronic elements and other sounds to differentiate their sound from other bands. Lyrically, the band is telling stories of love and passion, relationships, and at least at the end of the album, a bit of acknowledgement of a higher power and forgiveness. It's loud, well-made, and full of energy on this 36-minute, 9-song album. This is probably the best album Underoath has made, though they've made a number of albums since, and honestly, the only album of theirs I listen to somewhat regularly.
Release Year: 2004
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
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.)
Listen on Spotify
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
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
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
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify
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
Listen on Apple Music
Listen on Spotify