2023 Music Review

I’ve been writing year end music reviews for a little over 15 years. I typically include a top 10 or top 25 list of my favorite albums from that year. I’ve mostly stuck with that format with a few exceptions here and there. This year I decided to do something a little different. I wanted to include some additional thoughts on music from the year and include music that didn’t necessarily come out this year. I’ll present it in different sections ending with my favorite new albums with a little less focus on the ranking or limiting myself to 10 or 25 albums. If that’s what you’re here for, feel free to scroll to the end. My hope is for this to be the beginning of something new for this blog. Music is something I think about almost all the time and yet I don’t spend enough time sharing those thoughts. Ultimately, this is something I’ve always done primarily for myself and that will continue to be the case, but I hope if any of this is interesting to you, you’ll stick along for the ride. I have lots of ideas for the coming year!

2003 – 20 years later

Leading into 2023 I knew a couple of my all time favorite albums would be turning 20. Then as the year kicked off and I started to look into it more it became apparent that many beloved albums to me had come out in 2003. Here are the highlights:

Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance

Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown

Further Seems Forever – How to Start a Fire

Blink-182 – Untitled

Copeland – Beneath the Medicine Tree

Third Eye Blind – Out of the Vein

Beloved – Failure On

Eisley – Marvelous Things EP

MxPx – Before Everything & After

Dashboard Confessional – A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar

Relient K – Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right, but Three Do

AFI – Sing the Sorrow

Postal Service – Give Up

Each of these albums was highly influential to me at the time and would help define my musical taste for years to come. Many of these albums still hold up today and are ones I revisit often.

Who’s Version?

I want to spend a little extra time on two of these albums as they were both re-recorded for their respective 20th anniversaries and are albums by two of my favorite bands. 

The first is The Artist in the Ambulance in which Thrice re-released this year as The Artist in the Ambulance – Revisited. Thrice has been very vocal over the years about not liking the mix of the original album and have often thrown around the idea of re-mixing it at some point. Instead they decided to re-record the entire album highlighting the evolution of these great songs after 20 years of growing as musicians and playing these songs live. The result is phenomenal. The original album is great and will always stand on its own, but this new version gives the songs new life and a richness missing from the original mix. Interestingly the album also still fits well thematically in the time we’re living in. The lyrics explore many interesting political and social themes. Back in 2003 these themes really struck me at a formative time in which my world view was evolving. Now 20 years later I see these same themes at play in our world politics and our country’s foreign policies. There’s a timelessness there I think, but perhaps things don’t change as much as we think.

The next is Switchfoot’s The Beautiful Letdown. The band took a page from Taylor Swift’s book and re-recorded their seminal album titling it, The Beautiful Letdown – (Our Version). Similar to The Artist and the Ambulance, The Beautiful Letdown came at a formative time in which I was coming into my own as an adult and in particular growing in my Christian faith. The Beautiful Letdown was my soundtrack to that growth. The original sounds a bit dated these days, but Switchfoot’s (Our Version) shakes the dust off a bit staying pretty true to the original while giving it new life. Listening with fresh ears this year took me back to that time in my life and wondering if I’m still living the way Switchfoot encourages.

Live Music

I don’t make it to nearly as many live shows as I used to in my younger years, so when I do go to shows I make sure I make it count. This year I went to the Jimmy Eat World, Manchester Orchestra co-headlining tour at the Armory in Minneapolis and it did not disappoint. These are two of my favorite bands who are both great live in very different ways. Jimmy Eat World have perfectly honed their craft for nearly 30 years resulting in a performance that sounded not unlike how the songs sound on their albums. The set list featured a good selection of songs from each of their albums and the band’s stage presence was full of energy making for a great experience. 

Manchester Orchestra on the other hand is a different beast altogether. I fell in love with them after seeing them live around 16 years ago. This particular occasion was the 9th time I’ve seen them live. For me they are the greatest live band and they proved it at this show. Unlike Jimmy Eat World, Manchester Orchestra takes their songs and makes them into something new on the stage. The musicianship and energy is unmatched and truly a sight to behold.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the show opener The Middle Kids. I’d never heard them before and they completely won me over with their performance and catchy songs. I made a mental note to check out their music which brings me to the next section.

New to me albums

The Middle Kids’ album Today We’re the Greatest came out in 2021 and became one of my favorite albums of 2023. If you picked out songs randomly you might think this was a folk band on one song or an indie rock band on the other. In the context of the album it’s all stitched together with catchy hooks and thoughtful lyrics. Front-woman Hannah Joy has incredible vocal range, most notably a beautiful falsetto she uses to great effect. I can’t wait for their next album out early next year.

Another album from 2021 I got into this year was The Cold in Every Shelter by I Feel Fine. They are a second wave emo band that reminds me a lot of one of my favorite emo bands from back in the day, Anathallo. Pretty much every song is sung with gang vocals which I’ve never heard a band do before. Great pacing and dynamics from front to back and the emo guitar licks are spot on.

Old Music New

Prior to Bon Iver, Justin Vernon was in a band called DeYarmond Edison which also featured members who would go on to form the bands Megafaun and Field Report. This year they released a massive comprehensive box set of their work titled Epoch. Their music leans more on the folk side of things, but you can hear glimpses of what would become Bon Iver. It was also at a time prior to Vernon finding his signature falsetto. But what I love the most about these songs is the lyrics. Vernon’s lyrics in Bon Iver tend to be fairly nonsensical, but in DeYarmond Edison he was much more vulnerable in his writing. If you’ve never dove into DeYarmond Edison’s music before this is a great opportunity to do so.

I was a big fan of the Goo Goo Dolls in high school and college and while I don’t listen to them a lot these days they will always be one of those very nostalgic bands for me. I was reminded of that fact when the Goo Goo Dolls released their first ever live album, Live at The Academy, New York City, 1995. The performance is from what I’d consider to be the band’s glory days. This was pre ‘Iris’ when they were still very much in their hard rocking days. It was fun hearing live versions of all their great songs from this era and brought be back to when I first discovered the Goo Goo Dolls who where the first rock band I feel in love with.

Taylor Swift

Most of what I could say about Taylor Swift you probably already know, but I figured I couldn’t leave her off of an in depth review of music in 2023. Taylor Swift has been my top one or two artists on Spotify the past three years, not necessarily because I’m a super fan, but I think because of the sheer volume of music she releases. This year was no different. Swift didn’t release an new original music, but she did release two of her re-recorded ‘Taylor’s Version’ albums.

The first was Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). I wasn’t a Taylor Swift fan back when she originally released Speak Now so the songs were mostly new to me. It’s not my favorite Taylor era but it was fun to hear these songs for the first time, especially classics like ‘Dear John.’

The next up was 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and unlike Speak Now, 1989 was the album that got me into Taylor Swift and is still my favorite of her’s. That being said this has probably been my least favorite Taylor’s Version so far. It’s fully enjoyable but lacks the spark of the original which is just so good and still stands on it’s own. The biggest redeeming quality of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is the vault tracks which are all fantastic. It’s amazing that Swift’s b-sides are just as good as most artist’s a-sides.

My Favorite Albums of the Year

blink-182 – One More Time… [ALBUM OF THE YEAR]

In his wonderful comprehensive review of blink-182’s One More Time… Jason Tate of Chorus.fm had this to say, “To explain the impact blink-182 had on a generation, one needs to understand that I didn’t just want to listen to blink-182. I wanted to be blink-182. I was a kid in search of an identity, and what I found was as much music as it was a lifestyle.” There’s not many things I could relate to more than that. Blink-182 not only made music I loved, but I saw in them something I longed for in my own life. I was a rule following kid who cared way too much about what other people thought. I didn’t ever quite fit in anywhere and was never able to find the kinds of friendships I really wanted. Then along comes these three guys from San Diego making music I couldn’t get enough of and they didn’t care what people thought, they were just friends having fun. It didn’t take much and I was hooked and the more I got into them the deeper I went. Behind the goofy pop punk exterior it was clear from their lyrics the members of blink-182 had been through some pain and trauma in their lives. They tapped into my own pain in ways I hadn’t experienced before. It was so cathartic to know others had experience and felt the same things I did. 

A lot has happened in the 25 some odd years since I first discovered and fell hard for blink-182 and their music. I’m 42 years old now and I’ve grown throughout the ups and downs of life. Does this band that spoke so deeply into my young self still have relevance to me in mid-life? As it turns out the core members of blink-182, Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, and Travis Barker have grown up too. Both personally and as a band they’ve been through a lot. Band turmoil, break ups, broken friendships, a plane crash, divorce, and mostly recently a grim cancer diagnosis. In fact it was Mark Hoppus’s brush with cancer that was the catalyst for bringing the core members of this band back together, first as friends and then as band members. They got their chance to do it all again one more time, a chance not all of us get and it’s not lost on them. One More Time finds these three friends examining their lives up until this point and reflecting on all they’ve been through and learned. I’ve referred to it as punk rock for 40+, which sounds cheesy and yet once again they’ve so deeply tapped into the pains, regrets, and struggles I’ve reflected on in my own life. It’s not all heavy though, blink-182 offers a call to learn from the past and move onto something better for whatever time left we have in this life. They’ve also not let go of their goofy crass sense of humor which certainly cuts the tension throughout. The music encapsulates the evolution of blink-182’s signature pop punk sound with a spark of renewed energy.

One More Time begins with the song ‘Anthem Part 3.’ ‘Part 1’ appears on their breakout album Enema of the State and is filled with youthful rebellion. ‘Anthem Part 2’ from Take Off Your Pants and Jacket expresses feelings of teen angst. And finally we get to ‘Part 3…’ a song, an anthem if you will, of wisdom that only comes with age and the realization that things can be different this time around. “This time, I won’t be complacent / The dreams I gave up and wasted / A new high, a new ride and I’m on fire / My old shit ends here tonight.”

Jon Batiste – World Radio Music

At the beginning of the documentary American Symphony Jon Batiste has this to say about music, “What we love about music is not that it sounds good. What we love about music is that it sounds inevitable. It’s playing the thing that we all know is unfolding. Whether we want to accept it or not. And it’s there always. You just need to harness it. Be open to it.” As a fan of music I find this to be true. It often seems that music is all around me and it finds me just at the right time and hits me in just the right ways. I think this is also true about Batiste’s music. I’ve been following him for a number of years and something new and special seems to pour out of him with each new release. World Radio Music is no exception. The concept for the album centers around an intergalactic DJ named Billy Bob Bo Bob. He brings the listener on a journey in which he plays inspiring music from earth and sends it across the galaxies. Batiste works within this concept to take his musical talents and weaves in the musical styles of artists from around the world, much like the composer of a symphony. The result is a pop music masterpiece exploding with sound, beauty, and joy. As Batiste says in the liner notes, this is not a world music album, it’s a pop album with world music as the springboard. If this album did somehow manage to reach other worlds it would be a great representation of the musical talents of planet earth. 

Sufjan Stevens – Javelin

Sufjan Stevens puts out a lot of music and I typically enjoy most of it, but the albums of his I tend to like the most are the ones that find him at his most emotional and vulnerable. He wrote Age of Adz while dealing with a mysterious illness and Carrie and Lowell was centered around the time leading up to the death of his mother who was estranged most of his life. Interestingly, Stevens is publicly a deeply private person, but after the release of Javelin he revealed that his long time partner had passed away yearly this year. It’s hard to know for sure, but it seems Javelin was written about this deep loss in Stevens’ life. It’s another one of Stevens’ emotionally moving and beautiful works. Javelin is fairly sparse musically with glimpses of Stevens’ earlier more folk leaning tunes. However, he occasionally taps into his experimental side providing nice dynamic shifts.

Boygenius – The Record

The Record is the first full length for super group boygenius made up of Phoebe Bridges, Lucy Dacus, and Julian Baker. Separately they all make pretty chill melancholy music, but when they come together the result is indie rock magic. The Record is upbeat and catchy. You can really hear the chemistry between these three amazing song writers and it honestly sounds like they’re having a lot of fun. There’s certainly still some sadness on The Record –if that’s your thing– making for a nice emotionally balanced experience.

Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan

Country music was the first genre of music I really got into in my early adolescence. While it still informs my musical taste to some degree I’ve mostly lost interest over the years. I find country music often lacks musical depth and honesty. Zach Bryan’s self titled album on the other hand is just the opposite. My wife Rachel started playing me Bryan’s song called ‘Hey Driver’ and I was immediately intrigued by the distinct country sound mixed with vulnerable lyrics. I started listening to the whole album and was blown away. Bryan is a great songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve. He also captures what’s unique about country music without dumbing it down. He blends tangential genres together such as americana, folk, and rock and even starts the album off with a spoken word piece which contains maybe my favorite lyrics of the year, “I’ve ridden in fear, although, I was afraid every single time / I’ve learned that every waking moment is enough and еxcess never lеads to better things / it only piles and piles atop the things that are already abundantly in front of you / like breathing and chasing and slow dancing and love making, fighting and laughing.” Even if you think you don’t like country music I recommend giving Zach Bryan a try, you might be surprised.

Manchester Orchestra – The Valley of Vision

Manchester Orchestra have really embraced the cinematic over the course of their past few albums and their EP The Valley of Vision takes it step further with an accompanied film. They’ve dialed back their rock sound considerably leaving space for more ambient and ethereal musical movements much like a film score. The band also experimented with some modern pop production which is unexpected but works well with the overall sound of the EP.

Propaganda – The Possibility

The Possibility is the the fourth and final chapter of Propaganda’s Terraform series of EPs which also has an accompanying book (I’d highly recommend the book btw!). The idea of Terraform is to imagine what we would do if we could remake our world and remake ourselves. The Possibility looks at all the ways things could be different if we really did set out to do things differently. Produced by Kings Kaleidoscope’s Chad Gardner who brings a bombastic pop sound which blends nicely with Prop’s rapping. Propaganda is not just a rapper but a poet and it comes through in his exceptional writing on The Possibility. I’ll leave you this from the title track, “The future is yours / It’s up to you to keep it / The world’s exactly the product of how you leave it / Letting go of the person you wish to be / And embracing innate greatness / Imagine the possibility.”

Paramore – This Is Why

I’m really loving this post pop punk era of Paramore. I wasn’t a fan until their previous album After Laughter in which they experimented with an 80s synth pop sound. On This Is Why they try their hand at post punk with influences such as Talking Heads and Bloc Party and they pull it off amazingly well.

Slow Pulp – Yard

Slow Pulp’s Yard was a great find this year. It’s full of both charm and emotion. It gets moody at times without being overly morose. There’s a youthful energy and yet I don’t feel out of place listening to it as a 42 year old. It doesn’t hurt that I’m hearing influences like Weezer, Goo Goo Dolls and some nice early 2000s indie and emo vibes.

Jamila Woods – Water Made Us

If you drew a venn diagram Jamila Woods would fall at the intersection of hip-hop, R&B, soul, pop, and poetry. When you add to that her incredible vocals it always makes for something special and Water Made Us is exactly that. On the album Woods’ explores all the ins and outs of love in romantic relationships. A typical album about love or heartbreak can come across as cliche. Woods’ on the other hand takes a deep dive, looking not just at the big external expressions of love, but pulling apart the little things, the mundane and day to day things that are in many ways the real building blocks to relationships. Water Made Us is filled with Woods’ clever word play such that every listen reveals something new.

Koyo – Would You Miss It?

I have a small group of hardcore bands that I still listen to, unfortunately none of them put out albums this year. Then I stumbled upon Koyo and their album Would You Miss It? scratched that hardcore itch for me. They would fit right in with the hardcore/punk/emo scene of the early 2000s, which is a sound and era I’ll always love. Koyo isn’t just a throw back band though, they have a unique flavor all their own and it’s going to be fun to see them develop as a band in the coming years.

KC Rae – I Think I’m Gonna Die

KC Rae (Cacie Dalager) of Now, Now is not a prolific songwriter but when she does puts out music she makes it count. On her first solo effort, I Think I’m Gonna Die she proves she can make a great album all on her own. Her delicate vocals over synth pop music perfectly conveys themes of self reflection and nostalgia.

Margaret Glaspy – Echo the Diamond

If you wanted to make an argument that rock is alive and well and that music today is dripping with 90s influence, then look no further than Margaret Glaspy. Glaspy is an excellent guitar player. Her riffs on Echo the Diamond mixed with local legend Dave King’s drumming makes for a raucous punk inspired first half of the album while the second half has a more chill jazzy vibe. 

MxPx – Find A Way Home

It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed an MxPx album as much as Find A Way Home. I’m honestly not sure what it is. It sounds like classic MxPx; fast, fun, three piece pop punk and somehow sounds right at home in 2023.

Dessa – Bury the Lede

With Dessa you never quite know what you’re going to get. She might sing over a beat or rap over a guitar riff. She does all that and more on Bury the Lede. Dessa is also a master wordsmith and I love what she does with the moon metaphor on the super catchy ‘Blush.’ “I’m a moon for you / Give you just the good side / Save you all the best lines / Sometimes I wish that I was / Immune to you / Could see you and go right by / Pull myself away from your high tide.”

Citizens – I Can’t Find The Edges of You

Citizens have somehow unlocked a key which allows them to make explicitly worshipful music without it sounding like worship music. Musically, I Can’t Find The Edges of You stands up to any indie rock album out there, but the lyrics are beautiful written words of worship. It’s the perfect companion to any one at any point in their Christian faith.

Meg Meyers – TZIA

Myers’ latest album TZIA is a continuation of her grunge influenced electro-pop built around a sci-fi/utopian theme. She channels the likes of Sinead O’Conner and Dolores O’Ridordan with her vocal style and lyrical content making for a unique and thought provoking listen.

Laura Veirs – Phone Orphans

As with any art sometimes less is more and that is certainly the case with Laura Veirs’ Phone Orphans. It is an acoustic album which Veirs recorded using the voice memo app on her phone. It is unpolished and lovely.

My Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2022

Honorable Mentions

Anais Mitchell – Anais Mitchell

On her self-titled album Anais Mitchell transcends labels like folk and americana. This collection of songs would feel right at home both in a north woods cabin or in a cab in New York City as she sings about on the opening track “Brooklyn Bridge.” She also brings a brightness in her vocal performance that’s often lacking in the aforementioned genres. As a bonus this album features Twin Cities musicians Michael Lewis and JT Bates.

Copeland – Revolving Doors

Copeland has been making their own brand of indie rock for years. This year they released a best-of collection of songs re-recorded and reimaged with the help of an orchestra.The orchestral arrangements take what were already great songs and makes for a beautiful listening experience.

Third Eye Blind – Unplugged

Third Eye Blind also put out a best-of collections of songs, but in their case and as the title implies, these songs are stripped down versions of the originals. As a long time fan it was great hearing a new spin on these beloved songs.

Top 10

10. Danger Mouse and Black Thought – Cheat Codes

Danger Mouse’s distinct production style and sound is very much present on Cheat Codes, almost to a fault. However, once Black Thought starts rapping everything balances out really nicely. There’s a bit of an old school hip hop vibe, but with smart lyrics and a modern flow.

9. S. Carey – Break Me Open

Sean Carey is probably best known as the drummer for Bon Iver, which clearly influences his musical endeavors outside of that band. However, Carey continues to come into his own as a solo artist with his latest effort Break Me Open. He gracefully blends north woods energy with dreamlike soundscapes while tackling themes such as death, divorce, and watching his children grow up. The music captures the emotion expressed perfectly.

8. Taylor Swift – Midnights

After leaning into a more americana sound on her previous two releases with producer Aaron Desner, Swift is back in the pop realm and back with longtime collaborator Jack Antioff. The difference this time is in the feel of the songs. There’s a moody quality to Midnights and finds Swift attempting to relive moments from her life from a dream-like perspective. Midnights features some of Swift’s most vulnerable songs as well as being what I think is her best vocal performance.

7. Underoath – Voyeurist

Underoath’s 2018 “reunion” album Erase Me was not good, but after rekindling past chemistry and resolving some tension within the band they were able to come together and record one of their strongest releases in Voyeurist. Underoath did a great job of capturing the emotion of all the adversity they’ve faced over the years as a band and as individuals. The music is heavy and chaotic with nice electronic embellishments providing contrast and texture. This is all capped off with the one two punch of Spencer Chamberlain and Aaron Gillespie’s shared vocal performance. Chamberlain provides the devastating screaming and Gillespie brings spot on clean vocals. It’s a recipe that’s made Underoath one of the great hardcore bands and they’ve taken that and made it even better.

6. Comeback Kid – Heavy Steps

Imagine this for a moment, a song opens with a super heavy bassline, smashing drums, electric guitar feedback, a squealing pick slide, then it all cuts out except for a crunchy guitar riff, which leads into gang vocals screaming “heavy steps on hollow ground.” Well, that’s how Comeback Kid’s Heavy Steps starts out and while I know that’s not most people’s cup of tea, it gets me fired up every time. And that’s why I love Comeback Kid, they brilliantly inject energy into every aspect of their music. They’re much more of a traditional hardcore band; a simple formula of heavy guitars, drums, and screaming, but Comeback Kid bring a level of creativity making them stand out in their genre. Heavy Steps is their best produced, best mixed album and yet it’s as heavy as ever. Singer Andrew Neufield writes about the kinds of struggles in life we can all relate to making for a very cathartic listen.

5. Kings Kaleidoscope – Baptized Imagination

Kings Kaleidoscope’s latest album Baptized Imagination has a quality to it not unlike the Psalms. Frontman Chad Gardner cries out to God with doubts, questions, frustrations, and supplications. In the song ‘Look. At. Me.’ he says “Hard paced, hard times / Long waits, no signs / Praying in line / Fail me, it’s fine / Lord, I’m begging for something / Pray for peace and get nothing / Are you fixing the paradigm? / Or willing me out of mind?” At the same time Gardner doesn’t shy away from looking inward like on this line, “I got You, but if I’ve got You, then why don’t I still have enough? Maybe that’s the question I don’t ask enough” from the song ‘DOWN.’ In the end though there’s a sense of joy and longing as the album concludes. All of these Psalm like musings come courtesy of Kings’ genre bending brand of pop rock. They often take a maximalist approach to production with great effect, but know how to pull back at just the right moments.

4. Lecrae – Church Clothes 4

Church Clothes 4 is the final chapter in Lecrae’s mixtape series and it’s the best of the bunch. As with the previous Church Clothes mixtapes, 4 shows a more experimental and bold side of Lecrae. He raps faster, the production hits harder, and while he’s never been shy about wearing his heart on his sleeve he definitely opens up a lot on this album. Lecrae shares the ups and downs of being a Christian artist while offering criticism of the church and the country on issues like race, politics, and injustice. Church Clothes 4 is an album that gets your head bopping and your mind thinking.

3. Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever

Sophia Allison who performs under the stage name Soccer Mommy has really cemented herself as an important artist in rock music with her latest album Sometimes, Forever. Allsion along with producer Daniel Lopatin have perfectly captured what albums sounded like in the 90s. Everything from the guitar tones, the dry drums, and the understated production. I hear influences like Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, The Pixies, Nada Surf, Superdrag, and others. There’s so much nostalgia woven throughout this album, while still sounding like it belongs in 2022. Allison also has a knack for writing really catchy melodies. She combines that with incredibly vulnerable lyrics making for an album that is full of depth and will keep you coming back for more.

2. Norma Jean – Deathrattle Sing for Me

Norma Jean have been making face melting music for a long time, but in recent years have undergone numerous changes in band members. Singer Corey Brandon is the one mainstay since the early days of the band and he’s really become the creative force behind the band’s sound. Despite all that Deathrattle Sing for Me still sounds distinctly like Norma Jean while also being their most expansive and experimental album to date. They did some really interesting things in the mix where sometimes the mix will be almost muted and then comes in loud and explosive. Other times the mix is really blown out and distorted. On some songs it sounds like there are numerous guitar tracks layered on top of each other making for a tidal wave of sound. It’s chaotic and loud and that’s even before you add in Brandon’s crushing vocals. But Norma Jean also show a softer side on Deathrattle. They employ electronic elements creating ambient moments tying songs together and providing a reprieve from the otherwise heavy music. Fitting with the music Brandon writes about heavy themes like brokenness, frustration, and despair. It’s not particularly hopeful, but very relatable. Sometimes those feelings just need to be released and this album definitely does that.

1. Gang of Youths – angel in realtime.

I fell in love with Gang of Youths on their last album Go Farther in Lightness. Singer David Le’aupepe sings about faith and hope in the midst of heartache with impassioned vocals. The music has a big arena rock sound not unlike U2 or Mumford and Sons, but with more of an edge and more heart. It was an album that grew on me the more I listened until I found myself listening to it all the time. Needless to say my expectations were very high for their follow up album. Then along comes angel in realtime. Everything I had come to love about Gang of Youths was back with an album that once again grew on me the more I listened. The big difference was in Le’aupepe’s song writing. He went from writing about his personal experiences to telling an amazing story about his father who had passed away years before. Throughout the course of the album we learn that Le’aupepe discovered secrets his dad kept hidden in life and hoped would die with him. It’s a beautiful and emotional journey about a son mourning the loss of his beloved father, but also facing the confusion of learning things he’d never known. Le’aupepe along with the rest of the band bring the story to life with big and lively rock music, which is capped off with Le’aupepe’s rich vocals and infectious melodies. In angel in realtime. Gang of Youths have created an epic work of poetic storytelling and song writing. There are many great lyrical moments on this album, but I’ll leave you with the final verse which wraps things up nicely.

There’s angels in silence

It’s warm in the islands

And Indy is growing

My brothers are calling

The Rabbits are chasing

Ricciardo is racing

And I’m making a living

And God is forgiving

And it’s six in the morning

And England is storming

My wife is asleep and

We’re thinking of children

I wish you could meet them

(Halle, Hallelu)

In a way, it’ll feel like

You were an angel in real time

My Top 50 Favorite Albums of the Decade

A few things to note and some thoughts on the decade before I get to the list. First off, I put this list together rather quickly. I went through all my annual lists from the past 10 years (which was a lot of fun!) and picked out albums I continue to listen to a lot or ones I felt have held up particularly well over time. I also looked at albums I missed and discovered later on. Afterwards I ended up with about 60 or so albums. I then ranked them based on gut feeling. I’m sure I probably missed a few albums and there’s certainly plenty of music out there I still haven’t heard. If there’s anything you feel I missed, please let me know!

Outside of music this was a significant decade for me and my family. Rachel and I started the decade having been married three years and ten years later we’re still going strong! Also, both of our boys were born this past decade. Having kids has been such an incredible joy and privilege. It’s not without struggle, but so worth it. We traveled to India, we sold our first house and bought another, I had a big job change, Rachel started homeschooling, we grew in old friendships and made new ones. We experienced loss, but felt the comfort of our community of friends and believers. We wrestled with our faith and still do, but are still committed to God. We read many good books, ate many good meals, and went on many fun little adventures. We laughed and we cried. It’s a crazy journey and this has just been one small part of it for us. If you’re reading this and have played a part in that journey, thank you! And with that, here is what in many ways has been the soundtrack to these past 10 years. *art above by Rachel

1) Shad – Flying Colours

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2) Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell

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3) Switchfoot – Where the Light Shines Through

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4) Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

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5) Shad – A Short Story About a War

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6) Sho Baraka – The Narrative

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7) Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle

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8) Thrice – To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere

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9) Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City

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10) Japandroids – Celebration Rock

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11) Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne

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12) Propaganda – Excellent

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13) Kings Kaleidoscope – Beyond Control

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14) Propaganda – Crooked

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15) Copeland – ixora

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16) Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book

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17) Brother Ali – All the Beauty in this Whole Life

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18) Laura Marling – Semper Femina

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19) Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly

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20) Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

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21) Dessa – Chime

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22) Kings Kaleidoscope – Zeal

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23) Switchfoot – Fading West

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24) Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz

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25) Phoebe Bridgers – Stranger in the Alps

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26) mewithoutYou – [untitled]

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27) Dustin Kensrue – Carry the Fire

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28) Lorde – Pure Heroine

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29) Conor Oberst – Ruminations

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30) Prissy Clerks – Bruise or Be Bruised

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31) Paramore – After Laughter

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32) Kings Kaleidoscope – The Beauty Between

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33) Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties – We Don’t Have Each Other

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34) Laura Marling – A Creature I Don’t Know

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35) Kendrick Lamar – Damn

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36) Thrice – Palms

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37) Bon Iver – i,i

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38) Jon Foreman – The Wonderlands

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39) Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math

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40) Sucre – A Minor Bird

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41) Leon Bridges – Good Thing

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42) Volcano Choir – Repave

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43) Roma di Luna – We Were Made to Forgive

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44) Chance the Rapper – The Big Day

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45) Citizens and Saints – A Mirror Dimly

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46) Sandra McCracken – Psalms

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47) Jonsi – Go

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48) Manchester Orchestra – A Black Mile to the Surface

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49) Laura Veirs – July Flame

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50) St Vincent – Masseduction

My Top 25 Favorite Albums of 2019

1) Kings Kaleidoscope – Zeal

As I’ve written about in the past, the albums that often make my end of the year list are ones that not only have great music, but have an emotional impact. As a person of faith, it’s no surprise that many of those albums come from Christian artists. It’s also notable to point out that we’re in a time in which many Christian artists have found a place to exist outside of the “Christian” music industry. Instead of making formulaic “Christian” music, they strive to make great art inspired by their faith. Kings Kaleidoscope are at the forefront of this trend. Their latest album Zeal is the pinnacle of their success so far. From an art standpoint Kings Kaleidoscope, led by mastermind Chad Gardner, is making some of the most creative music in any genre. They’ve always had orchestral elements to their music, but that’s now just one of the many tools Gardner has in his arsenal of sounds. Kings Kalsidascope’s evolution has primarily been a reflection of Gardner’s growth as a producer. Gardner serves not just as the frontman but as a composer of sorts, bringing together various artists, instruments, and samples to the table to bring his vision to fruition. A great example of this is on the song “Backwards.” It starts with a beautiful arrangement of horns and woodwinds. Next come a synth bass and then a simple drum beat. It continues to build with a mix of vocal samples until the verse finally begins, which cuts back to just the drum beat and a piano part. It’s as though Gardner deconstructs the elements of various genres and puts it all back together. 

Zeal isn’t a worship album, but it feels worshipful much like the Psalms. There’s sorrow and lemment alongside joy and praise. In interviews Gardner has discussed the theme being about his own feelings of apathy with his faith and also watching his friends go through seasons of disillusionment and getting stuck there. The first half of the album addresses these challenges. The pre-chorus from “Backwards” captures the tone, “I’m sick and tired of church and chess/I take the wine and leave the bread/I’m jaded in the wilderness/And trying tricks to not confess.” This album came at a time when I myself was having these same kinds of feelings. It was nice to hear words that connected with what I was going through, but more than that was how the album responds to this state of mind. Each song gives the listener a little hint of hope and finally in the second half of the album it gives a very simple answer; strip everything away and go back to the basics. Go back to childlike faith and rest in the simple truth that God loves you. This response culminates in the three song suite titled “Rush” then transitions to “Oxygen” which samples an old recording of Gardner’s mom singing “Jesus Loves Me” as the refrain. And finally the albums wraps with “A Little Bit of Faith” which is written from God’s perspective. The chorus is simple but powerful. It borrows an important truth from the parable of the mustard seed, “Oh it’s gonna be okay with a little bit of faith / Oh it’s gonna be okay with a little bit of fate / Oh it’s gonna be okay with a little bit of grace / Oh it’s gonna be okay with a little bit of praise.” It just takes a little bit of faith to get through a dark place. If you’re a person of faith let this album be an encouragement to you. If you’re not, simply enjoy some excellent music and consider how these lyrics might apply to your life and experiences.

2) Bon Iver – i,i

A lot has changed between Bon Iver’s debut album For Emma, Forever Ago and their latest release i,i. For Emma was effectively a solo project for Justin Vernon and in the time since, Bon Iver has become a full fledged band with a rotating cast of characters and collaborators. Their 2016 album 22, A Million felt about as far from where Vernon started as you could get. It was heavily produced and relied primarily on synths, autotuned vocals, and layered sounds as the basis of the songs. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great album, but it lacked the organic qualities of the previous albums. Bon Iver has now taken all their sounds and inspirations and brought them together on i,i, which I think is their most cohesive album to date. Vernon has become a master of the studio over the course of his career and uses it almost as an instrument or as an additional band member. He’s also given up a certain level of control allowing his band and collaborators to really shine. Much like a hip hop producer, Vernon works with a broad pallet of sounds. There’s plenty of synths, and samples like on 22, A Million, but he’s seamlessly woven those sounds in with raw vocals and acoustic guitars. With each listen you can pick up on subtle elements you never noticed before, bringing the songs to life in a whole new way. You can’t talk about Bon Iver without talking about Vernon’s vocals. He uses his whole vocal range beautifully and whether he’s using his signature falsetto or singing in a lower register, it sounds amazing. I also love how he’s treated the other vocals on the album. There’s all kinds of backing vocals, layered vocals, and vocal samples which add an incredibly energy to the album.

When i,i was first announced the band mentioned the album completes a four album arc in which each of the four Bon Iver albums represents one of the seasons, i,i representing fall. I doubt this was intentional from the beginning, but I love how it’s played out. For Emma represented winter and i,i feels in some ways like it’s a return back to the approaching cold of winter in the Wisconsin woods where Bon Iver was birthed.

3) Chance the Rapper – The Big Day

After Chance released his mixtape Coloring Book I quickly became a fan. Then last year he released a series of six singles which I absolutely loved and listened to nonstop. Needless to say my expectations were high when he announced his “debut album” The Big Day. Sometimes high expectations can mess things up and that was definitely the case for me on this release. The Big Day is 22 songs long and clocks in at an hour and seventeen minutes. I honestly struggled to get through it the first time. I was let down. This didn’t sound like the Chance I’d listen to nonstop the year before. But sometimes things aren’t what they seem and I gave The Big Day another chance… see what I did there. The more I listened the more it grew on me. I also started reading about Chance’s inspiration for the album and after about the third listen it finally clicked. He basically made an album inspired by his wedding and by his love for his wife. The album is full of energy with one danceable track after the next. It also has a lot of 90s R&B vibes and you can totally imagine this kind of music getting played at a wedding. Add Chance’s brilliant rapping and clever lyricism and it’s really a fun ride once you get on board. I also appreciate the earnestness of the lyrical themes. You really get the sense that Chance has been on this journey with his now wife Kirsten. And his love for her really comes through. You really don’t see that in modern music much less in hip hop. I also respect the value he puts on marriage and wanting to celebrate something special and sacred. Production wise there’s a lot of great things going, but most notable are some of the featured artists. The ones that stood out to me are Chance’s brother Taylor Bennet on “Roo”, Death Cab For Cutie on “Do You Remember” and my favorite, Randy Newman on “5 Year Plan.” Newman is featured on both piano and vocals. It’s so unexpected, but works so well. Also, fun fact; Justin Vernon of Bon Iver is credited as a writer and producer on “Town on Hill” which features a vocal sample that Vernon also used on the Bon Iver song “iMi.” I’m glad I let this album grow on me, it certainly wouldn’t have made this list if I didn’t. 

4) Better Oblivion Community Center – Better Oblivion Community Center

For me, when it comes to acoustic, sad, contemplative, singer / songwriter music with amazing lyrics, it doesn’t get any better than Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst. So when rumors started swirling that these two were working on a project together, it seemed too good to be true. Then out of nowhere they dropped Better Oblivion Community Center, the name of both their band and their debut album and it does not disappoint. It would’ve been easy for them to have just made an acoustic album in which they each trade off tracks, but this is a true collaborative effort. It’s also rocks a little harder than what Bridgers and Oberst typically do on their solo albums, but is still just as intimate. Both of them sing on each song trading off verses or singing together. Their voices complement each other perfectly as do their lyrics. It’s unclear who wrote what but here are a couple of my favorite lines. From the opening track, “I know a girl who owns a boutique in the city / Selling clothes to the fashionably late” and from the song Dylan Thomas which is full of great lyrics, “These cats are scared and feral / The flag pins on their lapels / The truth is anybody’s guess / These talking heads are saying / ‘The king is only playing / A game of four dimensional chess.’” Not sure if these two will make another album together or not, but I’m sure glad we got this one, because it’s a gem.

5) Citizens – Fear

Citizens started out as a worship band, but have gradually transitioned into a more traditional touring band. In fact, their latest album Fear is their first album that is decidedly not a worship album and not explicitly Christian. Nothing against their previous work, but Fear is definitely their most accomplished effort to date. On the back of the physical album there is a subtitle of sorts which says “A Quick Memoir on the Topic of Fear.” And the album is just that. Frontman and lyricist Zach Bolen explores the emotion of fear and the many ways it infiltrates our lives. He explores his own personal struggles with fear and how it has become the basis of our culture. Because this topic is so relatable it’s a bit of a heavy listen, but I appreciate the vulnerability. And hearing perspectives that we all share can be comforting. Though Fear isn’t a worship album or a “Christian” album it’s still inspired by the band’s faith. It comes through subtly, providing hints of hope and freedom from something that so often holds us captive. Musically Citizens are on top of their game. I used to say, if Citizens wasn’t a worship band they’d be huge, and now that’s kind of true. I really think they have the potential to get big with the music they are making now. They create their own brand of indie rock by mixing in electronic music in one song and horns in the next. I’ve always enjoyed their use of gang vocals which is on display here as well. On the song “Past” the gang vocals along with the fuzzed out guitars give it nice punk rock vibe. Citizens also have a great talent for writing catchy songs. The upbeat songs in particular on Fear will have you bobby your head and singing along in no time. It’s worth noting that Citizens also released a companion EP called Waking Up to Never Die which is also very good.

6) Jamila Woods – LEGACY! LEGACY!

In terms of vocals and melody, Jamlia’s Woods’ sophomore album LEGACY! LEGACY! Is the best of the year. I first heard Woods’ voice on Chance the Rapper’s song “Blessings” and was curious who she was and if she made her own music. When I saw she had an album coming out this year I decided to check it out and was blown away. Woods’ voice is beautiful and has the ability to effectively convey the emotions of the words she’s singing. Additionally the melodies she comes up with will knock you off your feet. At times she’ll move from a simple melody to something more complex to emphasize a particular line. It’s worth noting, Woods is not just a singer, songwriter but also a poet. This comes through in both her cadence and lyrical prowess as well as in the overall theme of the album. Each song is named for a prominent black artists, and on each song she evokes and plays tribute to that artist’s work and message. There’s an overarching theme of speaking to what it means to be black. I’ll admit it was a bit of history lessen to me and a look into a world I’m not very familiar with, but it’s one we’d all do well to explore further. And what better way to do that than with some incredible music. Much of the album is produced by Slot-A who brings killer beats that would sound great on a rap album, but sound even better with Woods singing over them. 

7) Propaganda & Derek Minor – Nothing But A Word

Propaganda has quickly become one of my favorite rappers over the past few years. His 2017 album Crooked was my number 3 album of that year. Since then I’ve patiently waited for a follow up, which came more quickly and in a different form than I was expecting. After being in a bit of funk Propaganda reached out to his friend and fellow MC Derek Minor. Minor happens to also be a very good producer and invited Propaganda to his studio. Together the two would go on to record the seven songs that would become Nothing But A Word. For Minor the album gave him an opportunity to really let his production skills shine. And for Propaganda the production is very different from what his albums typically sound like. Minor brings a more laid back, funky, west coast vibe to the table and it’s fun to hear Propaganda rap over that kind of sound. Propaganda happens to hail from the west coast but the production of his previous albums haven’t really reflected that. On Nothing But A Word the music is new to him as an artist and yet he sounds right at home. As always Propaganda brings some killer lyrics to the party. On the opening track “Dope” he raps about recognizing yourself, your values, and your abilities for what they are. It’s a song about self love, which so many of us need to hear. On my favorite track “Impose” Prop brings the fire! He talks about the inequalities and injustices facing many today and how certain political ideologies perpetuate them. The lyrics for that song aren’t published online yet otherwise I would quote them here, so you’ll just have to go listen for yourself! Maybe this album was just a fun side project to get some creative juices flowing, but the result was some of the best music of the year.

8) Bad Books – III

Bad Books started out as a collaboration between the band Manchester Orchestra and solo artist Kevin Devine. On their third album aptly titled III the band has cut back to just Andy Hull and Robert McDowell of Manchester and Kevin Devine. Oddly, now as a trio they sound their most cohesive. There’s definitely less of a full band sound especially with the absence of a rhythm section, but it’s the production that fills the void. Musically it wouldn’t be out of line to call this a folk album. The core of each song is either Hull or Devine singing with an acoustic guitar, but as the songs build McDowell brings the songs to another level with rich ambient sounds. The songs are highlighted further by both Hull and Devine’s brilliant songwriting. It’s interesting because I’m not a big Kevin Devine fan when he’s on his own, but I love the songs he brings to Bad Books. In fact, one of my favorite songs of the year is one of his on this album titled “I Love You, I’m Sorry, Please Help Me, Thank You.” It’s a song about struggling with the joys of being a new father, but also facing the facts of bringing a child into a dark scary world. It’s a song I could relate to in many ways. The song “Army” is another stand out track. It’s the one song in which Hull and Devine trade off verses and sing together on the choruses. Lyrically it’s a really strange song, I’m not really sure what it’s about, but the melody and pace of the song makes for an exceptional listen.

9) Josh Garrels – Chrysaline

Josh Garrels is truly an independent artist, navigating the aspects of his music career mostly on his own. Because of this Garrels is able to be very flexible in the kind of music he makes and what goes into the creation of it. His latest album Chrysaline is a great example of this and how he was able to make an album outside of his wheelhouse. Garrels is a Christian artist, but has never fallen squarely into the “Christian music” genre. His music has always been heavily steeped in Christian imagery, but could easily be enjoyed by fans whether they’re Christian or not. Chrysaline is a different kind of album in that sense. After I first listened to it, I thought, this is a worship album. I don’t know if Garrels would necessarily refer to it in that way and it’s certainly not a traditional corporate worship album by any means. However, every song evokes praise and worship. I really respect Garrels for going in this direction. We live in a time where faith feels so fragile and yet Garrels doubles down on his faith. It’s almost as if he’s saying, no matter what’s going on or how crazy things get, I’m going to hold fast hope in Jesus. It’s a message that is so good to be reminded of. Another way this album is different from Garrels’ previous work is that he opened the writing and recording process up to other collaborators. Some of the songs on Chrysaline where written or co-written by other artist. It’s always cool to see artists open their creative process in this way, not for the sake of writing the next big hit, but to try something new and see what others can bring to the mix. Musically Chrysaline is built upon Garrels’ folk roots and unique vocal stylings and adds a variety of inspirations. “Butterfly” has a funky 70s vibe with some great backing vocals by Latifah Alattas. Other genres explored on Chyrsaline include country, soul, and post-rock, making for a well rounded album.

10) Taylor Swift – Lover

If you’d have told me ten years ago a Taylor Swift album would one day make my top ten list, I wouldn’t have believed it. But as Taylor Swift has transitioned into a pop artist I’ve come to appreciate her talent as a songwriter. She has the ability to craft some of the catchiest music around, which is adored by the masses and yet still carries depth. Swift has always had a certain level of vulnerability in her songs, though it tends to lean towards her history of broken relationships. Lover on the other hand sees Swift’s vulnerability in a new deeper light. She now finds herself in a long term relationship, which she opens up about. The title track is a tribute to her love and perfectly captures those feelings of falling in love and starting to build a life together. Most of the songs are upbeat and poppy, but a few songs harken back to Swift’s days as a country artist. “Soon You’ll Get Better” is a tender country song featuring the Dixie Chicks and may be Swift’s most heartfelt song of recent memory. Some believe it to be about Swift’s mother who has struggled with Cancer. Swift also explores topics such as gender inequality on “The Man” and internet trolls on “You Need To Calm Down.” It’s a nice balance of subject matter and shows that Swift has range and is more than just a pop singer, but truly a great songwriter.

11) Maggie Rogers – Heard It In A Past Life

On her major label full length debut Maggie Rogers delivers! Her voice, melodies, and production are all spot on. She combines folk, dance, and pop into a powerful force of an album. 

 12) Switchfoot – NATIVE TONGUE

I can always count on great music from Switchfoot. NATIVE TONGUE is a perfect mix of music from their whole catalogue with uplifting lyrics we’ve come to expect from frontman Jon Foreman.

13) Jenny Lewis – On The Line

Jenny Lewis is one of my favorite artists of all time. She’s made many great albums over the years, but On The Line is definitely the highlight of her career.

14) Jimmy Eat World – Surviving

I wasn’t too keen on Jimmy Eat World’s two previous albums, but they’ve completely redeemed themselves on Surviving. A lot of people these days say that guitar rock is dead, but Jimmy Eat World are proving them wrong, this album rocks from start to finish.

15) As Cities Burn – Scream Through the Walls

It was unclear if As Cities Burn would ever make music together again. Somehow they managed to work through their differences and come up with a unique, heavy album with great lyrics.

16) Sights and Sounds – No Virtue

Sights and Sounds album No Virtue is one of the most genre bending albums of the year. It’s hard rock, mixed with pop, electronica, and dance. There’s surprises around every turn.

17) Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride

After a bit of a hiatus, Vampire Weekend have returned with a double album with a bit of a mellower sound. I especially enjoyed the duet songs featuring Danielle Haim.

18) The Almost – Fear Caller

It’s been six years since The Almost put out an album. A lot has changed for frontman Aaron Gillespie in that time. It seems he had nothing to lose and made a raw, gritty album that’s one of the best amongst any of his bands.

19) Norma Jean – All Hail

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, Norma Jean is the most consistent hardcore band out there, period. But All Hail is more than just another consistent album, it may be the best album of their 22 year career. 

20) Clairo – Immunity

There’s been many young female artists over the past few years doing the lo-fi indie rock thing, but Clairo has risen above them all by creating an amazing debut album. It’s vulnerable, full of hooks, and proves Clairo is much more than just yesterdays youtube sensation.

21) Beyonce – The Lion King: The Gift

I’ve always respected Beyonce as an artist, but could never really get into her music. I guess all she had to do was make a Lion King themed album, because this album is great!

22) Lizzo – Cuz I Love You

Lizzo is definitely having a moment right now and her album Cuz I Love You is a big reason for that. It’s high energy and a lot of fun.

23) Justin Townes Earle – The Saint Of Lost Causes

When I’m in the mood for some americana and country tinged music I look to further than Justin Townes Earle. His voice and style checks all the right boxes for me and The Saint Of Lost Causes is one of his best to date.

24) Joy Williams – Front Porch

Joy Williams returns to the americana music she once made with the band The Civil Wars and she sounds even better now than she did then.

25) Copeland – Blushing 

Not quite as good as their last album ixora, but still another great album from a band who knows how to push all the boundaries of songwriting in just the right ways.

My Top 25 Albums of 2017 (10-1)

10. Lorde Melodrama

Lorde is one of a handful of artists who have squashed the notion that pop music is all hits and no substance. She brings a level of artistry to the genre pushing outside it’s own comfort zone. Her songs are catchy and yet are well crafted, so much so that if you strip them down they still hold up (see Melodrama Reimagined on youtube). This is especially amazing because of Lorde’s age. At just 21 Lorde is already a master of melody. The melodies on Melodrama are both memorable and unpredictable. She also knows exactly what a song needs and when. The production and arrangements are almost orchestral as they perfectly ebb and flow with the album’s lyrical themes. Melodrama is in part, a break up album, which typically wouldn’t be all that interesting. However, Lorde’s poetic lyrics give her story telling an emotional depth that when paired with the music makes for a compelling listen. She’s also surprisingly vulnerable as she opens up about the pitfalls of fame and how living it up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Lorde acknowledges her own weaknesses and short comings as she spent the later part of her teens in the throws of stardom. Many pop artists take years to develop the kind of deft hand Lorde has as at song writing, and she’s just getting started.

9. St. Vincent – Masseducation

Annie Clark’s last couple of St. Vincent albums have had a bit of a robotic feel both emotionally and musically. They were enjoyable albums and yet felt cold and distant. Masseducation on the other hand feels much the opposite. Clark opens up in a way she never has before. There’s an intimacy to songs like “New York”, “Happy Birthday, Johnny”, and “Slow Disco” as she sings about friendships, loss, and longing. On the flip side she also touches on topics like humanity’s pension for escapism and the desire for easy fixes. The subject matter on Masseducation is much more relatable and doesn’t lean as heavily on the music to carry the album. That said, the music is fantastic. Clark has always had a great pop sensibility, but this album has a more distinct pop vibe then her past work. Part of the reason is it’s much less guitar focused. Clark is known for her ability to shred, however, on Masseducation she pulls it back quite a bit, letting the songs breath and not needlessly adding guitar where it may not be needed. This demonstrates Clark’s maturity as a song writer and her willingness to stretch herself in new ways.

8. The Lulls in Traffic – Rabbit in the Snare

Aaron Marsh is best know as the front man for the band Copeland. A few years ago when Copeland was on hiatus Marsh teased a side project with rapper Ivan Ives. I believe they released one song at the time, but after Copeland got back together the side project faded from memory. Then early this year I was poking around the internet, as you do, and learned the mysterious side project had a name, The Lulls in Traffic and had released a proper full length album. Being a huge Copeland fan I immediately put it on and was floored! Rabbit in the Snare easily gets the award for most original album of the year. A very simplistic description of their music is, it sounds like Copeland with rapping. That in and of itself is intriguing, but it’s so much more. Copeland makes moody indie rock led by Marsh’s striking vocals. The Lulls in Traffic takes Copeland’s sound and makes it more rhythmic and beat driven. It’s still beautiful and stirring, but it makes your head bob. Take that along with Marsh’s vocals and add rapping by Ivan Ives. It’s a bit jarring at first, and yet it totally works. Ives’ style reminds me of mix of spoken word and grime (rap style out of London). His voice is deep adding a really poignant contrast to Marsh’s singing and fits well with the music. Their lyrics are more on the heavy side, with many songs about broken relationships, regret, and introspection. The lyrical themes and music meld perfectly together. I hope this isn’t a one off album and that these guys continue making music together.

7. Manchester Orchestra – A Black Mile to the Surface

Manchester Orchestra are know for their heartfelt, deeply personal lyrics. Musically they have no problem either hitting you in the face with a wall of heavy guitars or presenting you with a moving acoustic number. On their fifth album Manchester Orchestra have taken a more experimental route. There’s a dream like quality to A Black Mile to the Surface. The rock elements you expect from Manchester Orchestra are still in place, but the empty spaces are now filled with ethereal sounds and layered vocals. There’s also a distinctly cinematic quality to this album, which makes sense when considering frontman Andy Hull and guitarist Robert McDowell’s recent foray into scoring film (they scored the 2016 film Swiss Army Man). A Black Mile… is also a concept album of sorts, further adding to it’s cinematic nature. Many of the album’s themes are centered around the gold mining down of Lead, SD. On one hand these songs are much less autobiographical than Hull has written in the past, but within in the narrative you can still find him covering personal territory. One of the more notable examples of this is him opening up about his fears and insecurities of becoming a father for this first time. A Black Mile to the Surface is one of Manchester Orchestra’s biggest departures as a band and they pulled it off beautifully!

6. Japandroids – Near to the Wild Heart of Life

This album came at a good time. Prior to releasing Near to the Wild Heart of Life, Japandroids hadn’t released an album in four years and it was somewhat unclear if and when we’d get new music from them. But it was as if they knew we needed this kind of album after the kind of year 2016 was and the start 2017 got off to. Near to… is a great crack open a cold one, throw your cares away, and throw you fist up in the air kind of album. For the most part it sticks to the relatively simple Japandroids formula of crank it to 11 garage rock with Brian King on lead vocals and guitar, and David Prowse on Drums and backing vocals. The most noticeable difference is that they sound a little less punk and little more classic rock, which works great. Three albums in and the production has continued to get tighter without sounding mainstream. Despite being just a two piece band they are starting to sound like they’d fit right at home in an arena. They’ve also matured significantly in the lyrics department. Near to… is more grown up sounding. I’m sure these guys still do their fair share of drinking and partying, but they’re now singing about settling down and longing for home.

5. Kings Kaleidoscope – The Beauty Between

Kings Kaleidoscope are already back after releasing the excellent Beyond Control just last year. This time they’ve opted for a mix tape titled The Beauty Between. Kings Kaleidoscope mastermind Chad Gardner had been doing some production for rapper Andy Mineo, which gave him some inspiration outside of what Kings typically does, thus the mix tape format. The Beauty Between also employs more samples as well as guest spots from a number of incredible rappers, including the aforementioned Mineo, Propaganda, Braille, and more. The result is a stunning work taking these new elements and melding them with Kings’ usual soaring arrangements. This album is also a further departure from Kings’ beginnings as a worship band. Yet, their lyrics are still dripping with faith inspired songs that almost transcend the idea of worship as a genre. They also take on some social commentary this time around on the song “Playing With Fire” which features Propaganda. Propaganda’s verses dive into his perspective of racial issues as a black man while Gardner’s verses share his perspective coming from a place of privilege.   It’s a tension I think many people can relate with and in someway feels hopeless, but I love how Propaganda ends the song, “While living in the tension of the world’s imperfection / Locking in the sovereign reign of the King of All Kings / Trusting He’ll make right all things /He’ll make right all things.” Kings Kaleidoscope are making some of the most compelling, creative music not just amongst Christian artists, but in music in general. I can’t wait to hear what the they do next!

4. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

In Rob Bell’s book “What is the Bible?” there’s a part where he talks about the graphic violent images in the book of Revelation. Here’s a paraphrase of what he says, ” If you’re in a country where military groups are setting homes on fire and violating the helpless, you need encouragement, but it has to be encouragement that matches in intensity the evil that you’re experiencing.” This is what Kendrick Lamar’s music is like to me. He uses language and story telling that match the intensity of what he’s talking about. Which means there’s a lot of graphic language, but not without purpose. His latest album DAMN. is further example of this. Much like his previous albums the narrative is very much his own story. In the case of DAMN. two major themes arise; that of faith and of vices. There’s an element of critique as Lamar points out other’s vices, but also points the finger squarely back at himself. Lamar is an incredible lyricist and DAMN. is packed full of words without sounding wordy. Not a single word or line is wasted and of course Lamar’s delivery is the best in the game. What ultimately unfolds through the album is a telling of the destructive nature of the human race consumed by sin, but how it’s all held together. The production on DAMN. is the best of Lamar’s career so far. While 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly was very funk, jazz, and soul influenced, DAMN. has a much more modern sound. It’s fast paced, aggressive, and fits perfectly with the intensity of Lamar’s lyrics and rapping.

3. Propaganda – Crooked

Starting out your album with a six and half minute song spelling out how messed we are as humans is bold way to start an album, and yet Propaganda went for it and pulled it off. The title track on Crooked leaves you feeling pretty uncomfortable and yet compelled to keep listening. This is also one of the reasons I ranked this album higher than Kendrick Lamar’s. As I mentioned previously, Lamar’s approach is to deliver a narrative that happens to be very explicit and it works for what he’s trying to do. On the other hand Propaganda manages to cover similar hard hitting issues and making you feel uncomfortable without uttering a single expletive. In my mind, especially in hip-hop, that’s not an easy thing to do. In an interview Propaganda describes himself as a reflective thinker, so much of the subject matter on Crooked covers his thoughts on issues that arose in 2015 and 2016. He explores such topics as racial injustice, gentrification, misguided politics, navigating marriage, parenting and maintaining a perceptive of hope through it all. Another striking track is “Cynical” which features phenominal guest spots from Sho Baraka and Aaron Marsh. It’s one of those songs that demands your attention and makes you dwell on what’s being said. The song challenges the left, the right, the Christian, and the non-Christian. The song is saying, in the face of all this, how can we not be cynical. It’s a sentiment I think we’ve all felt in recent years, at least a little bit. Thankfully Propaganda doesn’t leave us with just cynicism. The tension continues to build throughout the album and there are some lighter moments along side the heavy. On the second to last track “Made Straight” he gives this proclamation, “But the hope of trans-cultural love and acceptance / That erased racism and sexism, the blessed / Day we don’t look down on the poor like we ain’t like them / And they not us and gender ain’t fodder for suicide among us / The already but not yet, so we look for it with joy and anticipation / For when the time keeper comes soon and make the crooked way straight.” Propaganda mixed it up production wise, utilizing numerous producers giving Crooked a dynamic sound rounding out an excellent album.

2. Brother Ali – All the Beauty in this Whole Life

So this is the third hip-hop album in a row, so what makes Brother Ali’s All the Beauty in this Whole Life better than Crooked and DAMN.? For one, I think this album has more balance. Much like Propaganda and Kendrick Lamer, Brother Ali covers some rather heavy territory, but musically it’s more upbeat without sacrificing the message. Brother Ali has been away for awhile and in the mean time he’s grown in his faith as a Muslim. This comes through a lot on this album. He’s completely dropped any swearing from his lyrics and sounds more true to himself as a result. Another reason I ranked this album where I did, was because of the emotional vulnerability Ali displays. He hits on racial and political issues, but they come across as deeply personal. Like on the song “Dear Black Son,” in which Ali explains to his son the hardships he’ll face as the result of his skin color, but encourages him to not let that define him. Or the song “Out of Here” which is letter to his Dad who committed suicide and who’s Dad also committed suicide. It’s a heartbreaking look at a deeply troubled legacy. Through the pain though Ali finds hope. Though my faith differs from his I still recognize the hope he writes about and find truth in what he’s saying. The title track and last song on the album feels like a worship song to me, “All the beauty in this whole life / Is reflecting your light / Cool tears obscure my sight / It’s the only way I see you right.” Ali has reunited with long time collaborate Ant who brings some exceptional production to the table. The music is rich and organic, employing many live instruments, particularly keys, which marries harmoniously with Ali’s words.

1. Laura Marling – Semper Femina

I first heard Laura Marling on her brilliant I Speak Because I Can. She was just 20 years old at the time. She set the bar very high at the beginning of her career as a young singer song writer and yet she’s continued to get better with each album. Semper Femina is her sixth album in just under 10 years and it’s her best yet. What sets Marling apart is her song writing. She’s always been wise beyond her years, writing songs that are beautiful, mysterious, and sometimes brooding. Marling has covered loose concepts on previous albums, but Semper Femina is the first that carries the concept through much of the whole album. The term “Semper Femina” roughly translates as “woman is ever a fickle and changeable thing.” Marling takes this idea and fleshes it out and examines what woman is, and what femininity is. The perspective is mostly hers, but she also writes from both other women’s perspectives and men’s perspectives. There’s an empathy toward women which unfolds over the course of the album. It isn’t so much a feminist manifesto, but rather a woman opening up about how she sees and relates to her own gender in a way only a woman can. She identifies the good and beautiful, along with the flaws. There’s so much depth in Marling’s song writing on Semper Femina that new things jump out with each listen and it’s an easy album to get lost it. I think it’s also important to point out that these songs come from her and her alone. Not that I have any problem with people co-writing songs, the last three albums where hip-hop albums after all. However, there’s something pure about someone writing such incredible songs themselves and bringing their vision to life. Another aspect to Marling’s music that puts her above the rest is her vocals. She has one of the most consistantly stunning voices I’ve ever heard. And it isn’t just that she has a good voice, she knows how to use her vocals in a way that complements her song writing. This is especially true on Semper Femina, as she skillfully varies the volume and tone of her voice at just the right moments. She also plays with the phrasing of her words, which enhances the feel of the songs. Musically Semper Femina could easily stand alone with just Marling sining and playing acoustic guitar. But as with her song writing she’s grown in her ability to know how her music will be best be presented. Like her previous album, Semper Femina is progression in Marling going with a full band feel. I especially love the funky bass line on the opening track “Soothing” and the backing vocal harmonies on the country tinged “Wild Fire.” Finally a couple observations. I’m a little shocked this album made very few end of the year lists despite having an average score of 85 according to Metacritic. Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, and The War on Drugs all had lower average scores, but all made numerous end of the year lists. Perhaps folk music doesn’t get as much notoriety as other genres. On the plus side Semper Femina earned Marling her first Grammy nomination for best folk album, I’ll definitely be rooting for her!

 

My Top 25 Albums of 2017 (25-11)

25. Eisley – I’m Only Dreaming

Sherri DuPree-Bemis and Garron DuPree are the only remaining members of the once five piece, mostly sibling band. It’s a different sound for Eisley for sure, and they still have some kinks to work out, but they’re off to a great new start.

24. P.O.S – Chill, dummy

P.O.S is back with his first solo album since 2012 and his first since having a kidney transplant. It’s one of his best albums to date. As you might imagine, being sick and almost dying provides a lot of creative energy.

23. HAIM – Something to Tell You

HAIM have over come the sophomore slump with a solid follow up to their breakout debut. They’ve continued to build upon their signature R&B infused pop-rock sound while demonstrating growth as musicians and song writers.

22. Lecrae – All Things Work Together

On his major label debut, Lecrae has stepped confidently out of the “Christian Rapper” box into the mainstream without comprising his faith, values, or artistic integrity. And as always he wears his heart firmly on his sleeve with lyrics as vulnerable as you can get.

21. Aaron Sprinkle – Real Life

Legendary producer Aaron Sprinkle — synonymous with Tooth and Nail Records — likes to get out from behind the board from time to time. On his latest solo album Sprinkle creates some nice synthy pop sounds. Lyrically he opens up about struggles with alcohol addition.

20. Arcade Fire – Everything Now

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with Arcade Fire, which I’ve written about before. Regarding their latest release, Everything Now, I’ll just say this, I really like it. It encompasses everything I love about Arcade Fire and nothing I hate.

19. Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound

Cloud Nothings perfectly balance grittiness with just a touch of polish. They are one of the few bands that fit nicely in both the punk an indie scenes. That continues to be the case on Life Without Sound perhaps polishing things up a bit more from their last release. Many an indie band wish they sounded this good.

18. Run the Jewels – 3

I’m finaling getting on the Run the Jewels train and it’s been a fun ride. The production on 3 is fast paced and aggressive and the rapping of El-P and Killer Mike follows suit. The guys have some hard hitting lyrics as well. With an album released just before the current administration took office, I can’t help but anticipate what they’ll say on 4.

17. Comeback Kid – Outsider

For a lot of punk and hardcore bands it can be hard to reinvent themselves without completely changing genres. Often the best they can do is hone their craft and be consistent. Comeback Kid certainly has been consistent in their career and have grown as song writers. On Outsider they take it a step further by adding some unexpected pop inspiration to their very heavy sound, and it works quite nicely.

16. Derek Minor – Up and Away Series

This year Derek Minor released two EPs, Your Soul Must Fly and High Above as part of a series titled Up and Away. I grouped these two EPs together as one “full length” album. The EPs remind of a lot of a mix tape in that Minor seems to have more freedom to be creative and take risks than he maybe would on a true album. This is some of his best work, from the production, rapping, special guests, and lyrical content. I’m excited to see what else comes from this series in the year to come.

15. ’68 – Two Parts Viper

A ’68 album is kind of like a tornado; one, in the chaotic nature of the music and two, the music is a swirling mix of genres. Two Parts Viper is impressive musically, but it’s the lyrics that really set it apart. The track listing when read together forms a poem of sorts, which sets the tone for the album’s theme. Front man Josh Scogin paints a somewhat bleak picture of the plight of mankind, but also offers hope. Hope in what cannot be seen, hope in each other, hope in love.

14. Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed – Magic & Bird

Magic & Bird is a mix tape by Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed and it’s a lot of fun! As I mentioned previously with Derek Minor, the mix tape format really allowed these artists to let their hair down. Thematically Magic & Bird plays homage to, well… the rivalry of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and the glory days of the NBA. The songs are fun and cheeky, while being technically proficient in production and rhyming. The guys have some serious moments as well, rounding out an excellent mix tape.

13. The Brilliance – All is Not Lost

The Brilliance are back with more of their beautiful arrangements and lyrics that find them both worshiping and wrestling. It my sound strange but there’s a distinct early 80s soft rock vibe on All is Not Lost, like maybe they were listening to a lot of Phil Collins while recording… I don’t know, but it somehow works amazingly well.

12. Taelor Gray – In the Way of Me

This may be the best hip-hop album of 2017 that no one has heard of. If you like hip-hop and haven’t heard of Taelor Gray, cue up In the Way of Me immediately. The production is relatively simple, but filled with a sense of urgency. The simplicity also serves to highlight Gray’s rapping and his lyrics in which he tackles issues of faith, justice, politics, and his own personal struggles.

11. Julien Baker – Turn Out the Lights

Julien Baker embodies restraint in her music while at the same time bearing her soul through her lyrics. The arrangements on Turn Out the Lights are minimal, with guitars and piano pretty much being the only instruments. The music sets the tone that starts to pull on the heart strings even before Baker sings and when she does, it’s heartbreakingly beautiful. If we didn’t know what “emo” was, then this would be emo. Baker’s vulnerability is unmistakable as she sings about depression, anxiety, self worth, identity, and how those things effect her relationships.

 

 

 

 

Fallen Heroes

Over this past weekend accusations of sexual misconduct were made against Jesse Lacy, frontman of the band Brand New. Not long after Lacy released a statement, not addressing the specific accusations or the victim in question, but acknowledging he has a history of sexual addiction, which led him to take advantage of numerous women and to be unfaithful in most all of his relationships.

Brand New is one of my favorite bands of all time. Their album The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me is one I’ve regarded as the best album of the 2000s and possible my favorite album of all time. Subsequently Jesse Lacy is someone I considered to hero to some degree. The accusations against him were devastating to me. I didn’t need his statement to know they were true, as a vast majority of sexual abuse accusations are true statistically. The victims in these situations should always, always be given the benefit of the doubt. Lacy’s statement simply confirmed the truth and gave some clarity to it. Sadly this is all too common. Men in positions of power taking advantage of women. Lately, there seems to be a steady flow of accusations being made, particularly against men in the entertainment industry. On one hand I’m glad these women are finally feeling empowered to speak out, on the other hand it’s heartbreaking to think of how these women have been hurt, and to think of the many more out there who haven’t spoken up. So what do we do?

Coming at this from a Christian perspective I want to make a couple things clear. First, we are all sinners, we all fall short, none of us can claim to be superior to another in this regard. Secondly, no one is beyond redemption. That being said, there are certain sins that are systemic and particularly destructive and there should be an effort to put a stop to those things. One of those is the abuse of power that leads to sexual violence against others. The reason this is so sinister is that it strips the victims of their humanity, it leaves them powerless, hopeless, and physically and emotionally scared in a way that many of us can’t imagine. Also, we live in on a culture that gives the benefit of the doubt to those in power. Victims of sexual violence often aren’t believed and are placed with the burden of proof. So when we think of these abusers, usually men in positions of power; Louis CK, Kevin Spacey, Bill Cosby, Jessy Lacy, to name a few, how do we respond? In the examples I gave, these men are beloved entertainers, they’ve produced art that we love, art that’s moved us, made us smile, given us fond memories. And now what?

For me, I’m not sure I can listen to Brand New’s music again… maybe someday, but I’m not sure. I just know I don’t want to to shrug my shoulders and say, oh well. I don’t want what these men did to be okay, or just written off and forgotten about. A couple nights ago I read a post by Jason Tate who runs the music site chorus.fm (formerly absolutepunk.net). He too is a huge Brand New fan and he wrote about his thoughts on the recent events and something he said really resonated with me, “…I don’t want to contribute to the normalization of acts like this. If we just go on, everything that happened fades to the back of everyone’s memory. There’s no accountability…” Like I said before, these men aren’t beyond redemption and none of us are better than them, but again, what they’ve done is incredibly destructive and it’s important we don’t normalize that kind of behavior. We need to stand up and say, this is not okay, and it needs to stop. I’m not sure what that looks like exactly, but for me right now, it means no longer supporting a band I once loved. It means not supporting systems or individuals who perpetuate sexual violence. As a father it means raising my sons to respect women, and to see all human beings as Children of God and who are all made in His image. To teach against objectification in a world where it’s rampant. And it means praying for those who’ve been hurt. That they would find healing, peace, rest, and forgiveness for those who have hurt them. And to pray for the abusers. That they would be accountable to their actions, seek forgiveness from those they’ve hurt and seek forgiveness for themselves.

One quick closing thought. This isn’t something that is exclusive to entertainers, athletes, and politicians. This is happening in our own communities, which is all the more reason there needs to be accountability.

My Top 25 Albums of 2016 (10-1)

10. Conor Oberst – Ruminations

Never has an album’s cover art so accurately conveyed what an album sounds like, than Conor Oberst’s Ruminations. Oberst at a piano with a microphone, and a harmonica around his neck, somewhere out of the frame there is likely an acoustic guitar on deck; this is all you’ll hear on this album. No drums, no bass, no backing vocals, and not much by way of production. The result is a very intimate album. If you close your eyes you can almost imagine yourself sitting in the room as  Oberst brings his rumination to life. To hear an album this sparse is breath a fresh air. It’s not something you hear too often these days, and it suits Oberst’s song writing perfectly. I’ve always been a fan of Oberst’s lyrics. They have a stream of consciousness feel to them that come out as poetry. It’s hard to know exactly who or what Oberst is singing about, but it’s beautiful just the same. The song “Barbary Coast (Later)” has one of my favorite lines from this album, “Tried to lose myself in the primitive/In Yosemite like John Muir did/But his eyes were blue and mine are red and raw.”

9. Bon Iver – 22, a million

This album stands in stark contrast to the previous album on my list. I’m sure legions of fans would be ecstatic if Justin Vernon did, like Conor Oberst and recorded a Bon Iver album by himself with just a few instruments, but that’s not where Justin Vernon is. Vernon was thrown headlong into fame and success with the last Bon Iver album and his collaborations with Kanye West. It seems he didn’t know how to handle his new place in the world and whether or not he’d even record another Bon Iver album; the main catalyst for his success. But here we are in 2016 with a new Bon Iver album, and it fits Vernon’s current state as an artist. 22, a million is distinctly a Bon Iver album. It’s what we’ve come to know and love, but it pushes those boundaries in a way that is not always easy to swallow. It’s chaotic at times, constructed more of sounds, dissonance, and noises than of guitar or piano chords. It’s misdirected, with short songs that feel unfinished or unresolved, and yet it works. The thing is, Vernon is an incredible composer, producer, and musician. He’s also smart in his execution. He surrounds himself with a talented cast of characters, and it doesn’t hurt that he has the voice of an angel. So whether he’s alone in a cabin, in a studio creating a grandiose cinematic album, or if he’s struggling with who he is as an artist and inspired by noise and chaos, you can be sure, Justin Vernon is going to create something special.

8. Derek Minor – Reflection

Derek Minor is one of those rare rappers who is both an MC and producer. This allows for a continuity between the the lyrics, the rapping, and music that puts Minor’s voice and vision for his latest album, Reflection on full display. Thematically, Reflection is about how we’re all made in the image of God and how Christians in particular, are called to reflect God’s greatness. I found this interesting for a couple reasons. One, hip hop often delivers a message of self idolization, of being the best. Where Minor flips that whole idea on it’s head, saying, I’m great, and you’re great, because God is great. Second, Minor addresses injustices of our day, particularly those faced by the black community, injustices that go back to day one of our country. While I can’t specifically relate, I imagine the black community has felt a lack of worth and value over the years and Minor again is flipping that on it’s head. He’s saying, yeah that sucks, I feel it, but your worth isn’t in how this country sees you, or how other people see you, your worth is in God, and you are great, and you were made for greatness, even in the face of injustice, even in your weakness and in your brokenness. That’s a powerful message and it comes across in a powerful way. Going back to Minor’s production, it’s filled with heavy in-your-face blaring beats, but he knows when to pull it back at just the right times. The album ebbs and flows as Minor communicates this message he’s clearly so passionate about. And man can he rap! He’s voice is deep and booming and blazing fast when he wants to be.

7. Citizens and Saints – A Mirror Dimly

Citizens and Saints started out their career as a worship band for a prominent mega church called Mars Hill. Then that church fell apart and left the band wondering, what’s next? A Mirror Dimly is Citizens and Saints first album since this all happened and it finds the band redefining themselves. I’ve heard singer Zach Bolen talk a lot about this album and how after their church collapsed he felt disillusioned and was filled with doubt. You can hear him working through these feelings on the album, and through his brokenness coming back to God. The bridge from the song “Relent” really gets to the heart of Bolen’s journey, “I just want to live in peace/But I’m struggling to believe/That letting go will bring me peace/Can I sit here at your feet?/’Cause this is right where I belong/Yeah, I can feel it in my soul/You say I’m right where I belong/And I know that I belong.” This theme is a thread that runs through the whole album. It’s not a worship album in the way their previous albums were, but it certainly has a very worshipful component to it. Musically, Citizens and Saints have walked a fine line between indie rock and pop. A Mirror Dimly has those elements to be sure, but they brought in a healthy dose of post-rock influence this time around. In some ways it kind of reminds of Sigur Ros with many crescendos throughout the album. Citizens and Saints certainly succeeded in redefining themselves and found hope and truth in the midst of life storms.

6. Lecrae – Church Clothes 3

Lecrae gained considerable popularity with his 2014 album Anomaly, which hit number one on the Billboard charts. During that album cycle he appeared a number of times on The Tonight Show. Lecrae’s new found fame has given him a more prominent voice, which he’s begun to use as a platform for increased activism. At the same time his fame and activism has actually alienated a portion of his mostly Christian fan base. All of these changes in Lecrae’s life are front and center in his lyrics on Church Clothes 3. Church Clothes 3 is not a proper follow up to Anomaly, but rather it is the third part in an ongoing mixtape series. In this day and age it’s hard to know exactly what a mixtape is vs an album, but in Lecrae’s case it’s a more raw and unpolished product than what he usually puts out. It’s clear from the get-go Lecrae has some things to get off his chest, and when artist find themselves up against the wall, they often put out their best work, which is definitely the case here. On the first two tracks Lecrae gets right into the subject of racial inequality and divides in this country and get’s to the heart of how we got to the dire state we’re in now.

They say that Crip stands for Community
Revolutionary InterParty Service
Way before the genocide and the murders
A little after integration was the verdict
When bombs might go off at the Sunday service (baow!)
They protectin’ they community
Then it turn into diplomatic immunity
Then a fight against oppression was the pressin’
Now they keep on losin’ battles and they started losin’ unity
Now they beat each other blue-black
Force fed self hate ’till the truth crack
Got they own folks hidin’ on the rooftops
They ain’t finna take no more, they finna shoot back (baow!)
Now they bond like a family they all bloods
From the concrete jungle to the small hoods
Throwin’ signs up, now the crime’s up
We was meant to kill oppression now we loadin’ 9’s up
But never mind us, grind us
Factory done closed, now a lot of people jobless
Now they got the drugs comin’ in from Nicaragua
Government done turned a blind eye, or they liars

-from the song Gangland

Later in the album Lecrae address his fans basically saying, this is who I am and these are the the things I feel are important to voice, take it or leave it. His message is loud and clear, but also comes from a place of humilty, he doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out. In terms of delivery, Lecrae’s lyrics and rapping are his best yet. Don’t get me wrong Anomaly was great, but he stepped it up to another level. Production wise the music is dark and melds well with the lyrical themes, but it’ll still get you moving.  These elements combined make for Lecrae’s best release to to date, even if it is just a mixtape.

5. Thrice – To Be Everywhere is To Be Nowhere 

If you know me at all, or if you’ve read any of my lists before, you know I’m a huge Thrice fan. Thrice released their last album, Major/Minor back in 2011 and went on hiatus in 2012. Now after four years they’re back, and I couldn’t be more excited. It was instantly clear after first putting on To Be Everywhere is To Be Nowhere that Thrice hadn’t lost their touch during the time off. It’s one of their heavier albums in a while and draws a fair amount of influence from the 90’s. There’s subtle elements of grunge, alternative, and hard rock from that era. Thrice also pulled in some of their more experimental and ambient stylings that have been mostly absent since their 2007/2008 Alchemy Index project. Vocalist Dustin Kensrue said in an interview that his lyrics are in part influence by the direction of the music and what he’s thinking about at the time. Because this ended up being a much heavier album and because of the political landscape over the past couple years, Kensrue’s lyrics went in a very politically charged direction. Honestly he comes across as angry at times and rightfully so, clearly fed up with what he has been seeing. While the album was written well before the height of the election season and it’s ultimate outcome, it’s amazing how well it paints a picture of a looming Trump presidency. On the opening track, “Hurricane” Kensrue tells of a gathering storm, “It’s gonna rain, it’s gonna rain/Till the levee breaks/A tidal wave of fear and pain carries us away/Another fight into the night/Until nothing else remains/How do we find harbor from the hurricane?” The next track “Blood on the Sand” calls out corruption, injustice, and calls for action in the face of it all, “We panic at the sight of different colored skin/And we’ve got a plan to justify each mess we’re in/But I’ve seen too much (of this fear and hate)/I’ve had enough (and I’m not afraid)/To take a stand, to make it right — this has to end.” The rest of the album is filled with similar themes and Kensrue delivers these hard hitting words with his fierce vocals that sound stronger than ever. All that to say this album isn’t without hope. The song “The Long Defeat” is inspired by an idea that Tolkien wrote a lot about. It’s a sense that evil will keep rising up and those of us on the other side must keep beating it down time and time again. But despite this endless struggle there’s a hope that exists outside of this word that one day evil will be defeated once and for all, “So keep holding on, to hope without assurance… The suffering that I see all around/It’s enough to keep me crashing down till I…/I lie wrecked and reeling from these falls/Still I believe there’s a word in the wire/And I believe there’s a way through the fire/And I believe there’s a joy that blooms beyond these walls.” Such a beautiful image and one to cling to in troubled times.

4. Sho Baraka – The Narrative

The Narrative is a concept album of sorts. Sho Baraka and his collaborator James Portier came up with a fictional character named Lewis Poitier and the album serves as a narrative telling Poitier’s story. The narrative focuses a lot on significant events within black history. It also draws influence from prominent black figures such as Fredrick Douglas and Harriet Tubman as well as prominent Christian figures like C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton. If that isn’t enough, Baraka adds a personal touch by incorporating elements of his own story. The result is a deeply powerful and profound journey through realities of being a black man, a father, a Christian, a 30-something, an activist and what it looks like to challenge all the preconceived notions we have about those things. Each song on The Narrative is kind of like it’s own little essay, and Baraka delivers the goods with excellent rapping. The production on the album relies heavily on live instruments and feels almost like it came out of the 70’s. It’s dripping with soul, funk, jazz, and gospel influences while still feeling modern at the same time. Also, I think they did a great job of balancing the sometimes heavy themes with upbeat music. For me this is easily the best hip-hop album of the year, and is up there with one of the best I’ve heard, period. The Narrative wraps up with a song called “Piano Break, 33 A.D.” and is arguably the best track on the album. I’ll leave you with a verse from that song.

The rich man wants more
The poor man wants your’s
The oppressed want a peace of mind
The thief want a piece of mine
The doubter needs a little faith
It ain’t cliché to say “let us pray”
Who gon’ call the fouls if everyone balls out?
So open-minded that your brain falls out
G.K. said it best, nothing fails like success
And being consumed with it is much worse than death
They killin’ you with money, they just bought your silence
You can’t worship in a land full of pirates
The more booty, I promise the more scary
Success can be a drag, you can ask Tyler Perry
We sell sex then get mad that we have rapists
We promote greed then get mad that we have haters
I hated the police until a brother got robbed
I hated welfare until a brother lost his job
When I’m at work, I watch my pockets for them corporate thugs
When I’m at home, I watch my back for those crips and bloods
If my words bring conviction, let’s call in context
I’m realizin’ life is pretty complex
Thoughts of abortion taught me sanctity of life
A divorced man and woman taught me how to love my wife
A poor man sat me down and taught me about dignity
A blind man’s vision taught me all about imagery
It’ll leave you broke, that’s why it’s called the record industry
I forgot who I am, trying to get them to remember me
We adapt and evolve, the problems just revolve
Industry creates the very problems that they try to solve
I know I trace my image way back to the beginning
We done lost so much, we don’t know when we winning
I’m hated, I’m loved, I’m both, I’m a challenge
I’m clean, I’m redeemed, I’m a recovering addict
I have baggage, I am damaged, I am unequally balanced
I’m a servant, but I have a room in the palace
Uh, never told a lie

3. Kings Kaleidoscope – Beyond Control

Kings Kaleidoscope’s story is very similar to Citizens and Saints mentioned above. Once a former worship band for the now defunct Mars Hill, Kings Kaleidoscope have come out on the other side, transcending the worship genre and making some incredible music. Chad Gardner, the master mind behind Kings Kaleidoscope is not your average frontman. He’s more of a composer, producer, and arranger. On the band’s second full length album, Beyond Control Gardner once again uses his skills to full effect, bringing in a menagerie of musicians and creating huge soaring songs inspired by rock, pop, electronic, ska, classical, hip-hop–you name it. And it all works together amazingly well. Unlike previous Kings Kaleidoscope releases Beyond Control has no hymns or other cover songs, it’s all originals this time around. Gardner who admittedly doesn’t love the lyric writing part of his job, enlisted Zach Bolen of the aforementioned Citizens and Saints to co-write many of the lyrics on this album. The lyrics are honest and powerful. There is a running theme of this life being “beyond” our control and how peace, joy, and freedom comes when giving that control over to God. Again this isn’t a worship album per se, and yet it’s deeply worshipful. I had the opportunity to see Kings Kaleidoscope live earlier this year, and first off, they are crazy good live. I’ve never seen or heard anything quite like what they do on stage. Secondly, it was definitely a worshipful experience… it was unexpected for me and yet it made sense. This album was really important to me this year. It encouraged me, brought me peace, and lifted my spirits. If you need a pick me up, look no further.

2. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – A Man Alive

In terms of music and production Thao & The Get Down Stay Down’s A Man Alive is my favorite album of the year. It’s an infectious, unique, upbeat brand of music unlike a lot of what is out there. One characteristic that sets it apart, even from previous Thao albums is the production of Merrill Garbus from the band Tune-Yards giving the album an almost bohemian vibe. A Man Alive is also very rhythmic with great bass parts front to back, provided by both bass guitar parts and synth bass parts. Then there’s the drumming, which is fantastic. The drums are really loud in the mix and are kind of all over the place in the best way. I really fell in love with the music on this album and front-woman Thao Nguyen has a great voice that lends it self well to what’s going on musically. But what took this album to another level for me was finding out about it’s lyrical themes. I heard some interviews and discovered the album is about Nguyen’s estranged father and her dealing with the emotions she feels toward him. After hearing that I re-listened to A Man Alive, and it came alive to me in a whole new way. Having a father leave and not be part of your life is something I could relate to, and it something that’s not always easy to talk about. And here Nguyen is opening up in a very vulnerable way, which was very moving to me. I was particularly struck by her reaching a place of forgiveness toward her father which she talks about in the first track, “Astonished Man”, “Decades to decide I need decision/I must find and capture an astonished man/Hold him ’til he knows he is forgiven.” She doesn’t let him off the hook, which she gets to later in the album, but she’s able to empathize with her father and see things from his perspective. Forgiveness and empathy are not easy,  especially when we’ve been hurt, but they are healing, and that is something we could certainly use more of in this world.

1. Switchfoot – Where the Light Shines Through

Over the years Switchfoot have made my end of the year top 10 lists numerous times. In fact, their 2014 album Fading West was my number one album that year. They are definitely one of my favorite bands, but even more than that, they make music that speaks to my soul. It moves me in ways other music doesn’t and for me having an emotional connection to music is what it’s all about. When I first listened to Where the Light Shines Through I actually didn’t like it. Switchfoot has done that to me before, so I gave it a few more chances and it grew on me in a big way. This is Switchfoot’s 10th album and it does a great job of combining many of their sounds from over the years, while at the same time it sounds nothing like they’ve ever done. There’s the usual rock and pop with hints of 90’s inspired sounds, psychedelic guitars, and funk inspired tunes with killer bass groves throughout. Then you have Lecrae showing up on “Looking For America” adding a little hip-hop to the mix, and the title track even has an almost mainstream country vibe that somehow works surprisingly well. These guys have honed their craft, and while some bands peak and either plateau or go down hill, Switchfoot keeps getting better with each release. Frontman Jon Foreman has always sounded great vocally, but on this album he pushes his range to new heights, and there’s something about his voice where you can tell he’s invested in what he’s singing about. And that brings us to the lyrics. Where the Light Shines Through is dripping with hope. It certainly doesn’t begin with hope, but hope has the final say. Foreman is wrestling with himself and with the world on this album. In interviews he’s talked about how this album came out of one of the darkest times in his life and he thought it would end up being a dark album. However, through the darkness he found light, and hope. He saw God moving and using the hard things for good. The title track “Where the Light Shines Through” captures these sentiments well, “Cause your scars shine like dark stars/Yeah, your wounds are where the light shines through/So let’s go there, to that place where/We sing these broken prayers where the light shines through.” Whenever I listen to these songs I end up stopping whatever I’m doing and let the words sink in. It’s inspiring, uplifting, challenging, and it helps you see the dark world we live in, in a whole new light.

A Few of my Favorite Christmas Albums

In the next week or so I’m going to start counting down my top 25 favorite albums of 2016. In the mean time I thought I’d do a quick post on some of my favorite Christmas albums. I haven’t written about Christmas music before, and I’ve found people either hate Christmas music or don’t know that good Christmas music exists. As someone who loves Christmas music, my hope is to maybe change those perceptions.

Growing up I was pretty neutral when it came to Christmas music. We had this one cassette of generic Christmas music, not even anything cool like Frank Sinatra or Judy Garland. At one point I got my mom a Neil Diamond Christmas album, but I never really got into it. I knew all the tradition Christmas hymns from singing them in Church, though as a kid they felt old and boring. As an adult I was probably like a lot of people and didn’t think much about Christmas music except to get kind of annoyed hearing it in every store during the Christmas season. Then Sufjan Stevens decided to release some Christmas music and it change everything and that is were I shall begin.

Sufjan Stevens – Songs for Christmas

This is more than just a Christmas album, it’s a box set containing over 40 songs! It encompasses everything I’ve come to love about Christmas music. It contains traditional hymns, original songs, and plenty of fun songs to get you in the Christmas spirit. It was also the first time I really started to hear and understand the significance of the Christmas hymns I grew up singing. There’s some really power stuff in there and helps ground me during the Christmas season; reminding me of what it meant for God to become man and change history forever.

Rosie Thomas – A Very Rosie Christmas

If I want to instantly get in the Christmas spirit, all I have to do is put on this album. Thomas’ original song “Why Can’t it be Christmas All Year” has become one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. This album is great too if your sick of the standard Christmas melodies. Thomas does her own take on Christmas classics such as “Silent Night” and a very different take on The Chipmunks’ “Christmas Don’t Be Late”.

Dustin Kensrue – This Good is Still Everywhere

Dustin Kensrue is the singer of my favorite band Thrice. So when he put a Christmas album I was super exited. The album is split into two parts. The first half is secular classics, and the second half is hymns. He also has two originals on the album which are both great! If you like a more folksy acoustic vibe in your Christmas music, look no further. Dustin Kensrue has also released Christmas music under the moniker The Modern Post, which is also great!

Citizens and Saints – Repeat the Sounding Joy

If dancing get’s you in the Christmas spirit then this 5 song EP is for you! After hearing these upbeat takes on Christmas hymns, you’ll never think of them the same way again.

Page CXVI – Advent to Christmas

Page CXVI are experts at reworking old hymns and they’ve done the same here for Christmas. The changes to the classics aren’t too drastic, but just different enough to give you something new. There’s also a couple originals on here and one hymn you may not be familiar with. Also, singer Latifah Philips has an amazing voice!

Heck Ya the Halls – Heck Ya the Halls, Vol. 1 & 2

Speaking of Latifah Philips, she and Aaron Strumpel started a little Christmas side project called Heck Ya the Halls. This is a little more of an up beat and fun take on Christmas music vs Page CXVI. Philips’ and Strumpel’s voices go wonderfully together. Additionally, Strumpel plays trumpet on many of the songs which adds a nice touch.

Jon Batiste – Christmas with Jon Batiste

This album came out this year and has become an instant classic for me. Jon Batiste is the band leader on The Late Show with Steven Colbert. I’ve become a big fan of his always smiling face, his energy, and his melodica infused modern jazz. Needless to say I was really excited about this album and it doesn’t disappoint. If you like jazz and/or Christmas music, this is must have! His original song “Endless Love” will no doubt go down as one of my all time favorite Christmas songs, and has a message that is much needed in 2016. Unfortunately this album is currently an Amazon exclusive so you can only find it there, but if you have Prime you can stream it for free!

I hope you’ve found something new here and if you weren’t already a Christmas music fan, then I hope you will become one! If you’d like a sampling I’ve created a Spotify playlist including some of the artists I mentioned above and some Christmas classics thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!