Surf’s Up | The Beach Boys

“Every great beach day has a sort of elegy when the air gets a little cold, and the sun gets a little low, and the water’s roar recedes to a fainthearted ‘goodbye’. Though I love the Good Vibrations of their older albums, the Beach Boys here struggle with questions of music and purpose in a changing world. What happens when there’s no Beach and they’re no longer Boys? Let's consult the water and trees; weary travellers and vintage ideals; legacies and promises. You also get a great snapshot of Vietnam-era activism, varied instrumentals, and, as always, great barbershop harmonies.” (Erik Potts)

The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 | Lord Huron

“Remember the good ol’ days. Okay well maybe they weren’t all that good, but from 300 miles down the road it sure does seem that hindsight is 20/20. The Cosmic Selector Vol 1 will have us all ‘Looking Back’ in our rearview mirrors and hoping that we can find a future for ourselves in the remains of the past. This album should cause one to reflect as the vocals carry a longing muted by years gone by and excited once again by memory.” (Zane Thorne)

We Like It Here | Snarky Puppy

“This album may not have words, but it tickles the ears of all who listen to it! The arrangements and versatility of this album are unlike any other. Try to pay attention to how each instrument plays such a crucial role in the arrangement. From the shaker to the synth piano to the trumpets, every instrument brings its own flavor to each song and elevates it to new heights. Travel the world with each new song; you might even find yourself transported to the streets of Rio listening to the track "Tio Macaco." Dive into instrumental fusion with Snarky Puppy's "We Like It Here" and come back a changed person.” (Caleb Benjafield)

Solo in Rio 1959 | Luiz Bonfá

“Imagine this... a calm and gentle breeze passes as the sun just started to peek out of the horizon; on the right is a warm cup of coffee, and across from you is a good friend. On the table, Bananagrams are scattered, and on your left is a good book. This album slows me down in my busy day. Bossa Nova embodies a warm and tender yet fun and lively spirit. Yet, all it takes is a classical guitar. I tend to gravitate towards this album when I need a moment of peace. I hope that this can provide that for you: a little time in your day to quiet the noise around you.” (Rachel Huang)

THE MOLLUSK | WEEN

“The Mollusk by Ween is a wacky little thing. The band takes you to many different places in this album and it almost feels as though you are listening to a mixtape made by someone on crack. But despite feeling like a mixtape The Mollusk still feels connected and concise in its execution. Likely because of the nautical theme that runs throughout the whole album. Ween’s The Mollusk will take you to the depths of despair and loss with covers of traditional English folk songs, then will take you out onto a pirate ship to sing shanties with your mateys, and then will take you to the joyful life of a child. The fact that Ween successfully combines these many ideas and emotions together into one 43 minute nautical themed album is flabbergasting, and that is why it deserves a listen.” (Trevor Quinn)

Thie MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE | RAYE

“This Music May Contain Hope is full of emotional highs and lows and beautiful instrumentation. It includes Raye's most popular song, "Where is my Husband?" but don't miss the rest of this powerful album. Raye writes songs full of rich lyrics, using a wide variety of styles. Her songs contain hope for the hopeless romantic and hope for the hurting and broken. Enjoy the musical surprises, diversity of styles, and glimpses of a hope found in something greater than ourselves!” (Rose Mitchell)

Love & War & the Sea In Between | Josh Garrels

“Embark on a seafaring voyage of folk and other diverse styles in this album, which has brought me so much joy and comfort through the ups and downs of life. I feel an aching hope when I listen to this album, particularly in my favorite song, “Farther Along". This album plucks the chords of my heart, speaking deeply to the questions and realities of life here on earth.” (Jordan Lemons)

Beyond Belief | Petra

“What Christian material would you choose to keep if all else was wiped out? My parents, living in a sensitive region of Central Asia, risked a bible, a disk of Henri Nouwen sermons, and a disk with several Petra songs. Though Petra was not the first to conceive of the genre, it was the first to birth Christian Rock -- introducing it to the populous. This album contains some of their best work. Though quite mellow compared to modern examples, it scandalized straight-laced Christians in the '70s, mixing meaningful biblical lyrics (and there are some really good lyrics) with the style of the times. "Prayer" I still sing under my breath when I think of my family in Kazakhstan.” (Joshua Treece)

Rage against the Machine | Rage Against the Machine

“Rage Against the Machine's eponymous debut is a cathartic fifty-minute amalgamation of metal, rap, punk, blues, and funk music decrying injustice and violence across the world while also showcasing a high level of technical skill and talent. As a vocalist, Zack De La Rocha brings a level of intensity, lyricism, and insight that puts him on par with many of the best metal and rap musicians of his time, while Tom Morello's creative use of pedals and riffing makes him stand out as a guitarist. Meanwhile, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk form a formidable rhythm section containing one of the greatest bass tones of all time. The band remains a staple of revolutionary music for combining politically astute lyrics with a well-developed and unique sonic identity. “ (Asher Agol)

It’s Time | Michael Bublé

“It’s Time by Michael Bublé is an absolute gem among the albums of the already incredibly talented singer. The album begins with the thunderously bold, brash, and jazzy "Feeling Good”, winding down into a pair of wistful ballads in “You Don’t Know Me” and “Quando, Quando, Quando”, before landing on the album’s emotional core in the lonely melody of “Home”. The tempo then picks back up rapidly, climaxing on the delightfully Latin “Save the Last Dance for Me”, before dwindling away to the soft, caring confidence of “You and I”, all the while enrobed in Bublé’s enviable and inimitable buttery tones.” (Josh Kepner)

Nickel Creek | Nickel Creek

“In their eponymous album, Nickel Creek showcases the joys of bluegrass music while also transforming it into their own style. The pieces differ from instrumental songs showcasing skilled mandolin playing to ballads both mournful and lively, demonstrating both their impressive musicianship and their sense of fun.” (Mirabelle Smith)

Holy In My Heart | LO Worship

“Holy In My Heart is an album of rich worship music that evokes joy, stirs conviction, and inspires a reverence for God. I'd recommend listening to it in a quiet place where you can sing along or simply soak in the lyrics. It is delightful to recognize parts of scripture sown throughout each song. I discovered this album in my junior year of high school and it has helped keep me grounded and reminded me to fix my eyes on God.” (Maia O’Toole)

Bad Blood | Bastille

“Bad Blood showcases the true musical ability of Bastille. The album begins with the widely popularized "Pompeii," which rose to fame largely because of its catchy melody and stimulating percussion. While the rest of the album stays true to some of the musical components that made "Pompeii" a success, it delves deeper into Bastille's ability to interweave booming percussion with layered vocals and intricate harmonies. This sets the stage for the drama of their lyrics, which often paint a picture using allusion to everything from ancient mythology ("Icarus") to pop culture ("Laura Palmer") and even biblical stories ("Daniel in the Den"). This album never fails to satisfy a craving for a pop melody with an evocative web of instruments and vocals.” (Sydney Flint)

Tales from the Punchbowl | Primus

“Primus is one of the most unique bands I have ever listened to and Tales From The Punchbowl is a perfect representation of that one-of-a-kind style. It incorporates unique stories of all kinds of wacky characters, like Mrs. Blaileen and Captain Shiner, and has truly impressive musicianship that contrasts with these bizarre themes. The mind of Primus's lead vocalist and bassist, Les Claypool, is on full display, and this album is definitely worth a listen at least once in your life.” (Max Fuller)

La Pasión Según San Marcos | Osvaldo Golijov

This particular passion setting by Argentine Jewish composer Osvaldo Golijov uniquely depicts the story of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion by using Latin American folk instruments and genres. Dedicating it to “the miracle of faith in Latin America” Golijov is himself an agnostic, yet he finds the story of Jesus compelling, and the witness of a persistent faith in Latin America in the face of injustice all the more inspiring. For Golijov, it is the women of Latin America that he finds most exemplary of the way of Jesus, and he sometimes gives the words of Jesus to a female singer. Yet, he will sometimes also use the words of Jesus as the prophetic voice of the people crying out against injustice. All these themes resonate with some notable Latin American theological traditions. Along with the dazzling range of musical instruments and genres, La Pasión presents an engaging and moving (if also challenging and at times perplexing) Latin American take on the passion setting. (Dr. Gee)

22, A Million | Bon Iver

“Take a break from the acoustic/folk/unplugged/authentic world and try this one on for size! Justin Vernon’s (Bon Iver) sonically exploratory but strikingly expressive album is nostalgic, haunting, beautiful and perplexing. IMHO don’t worry about following the rather opaque lyrics. Consider how Vernon can turn vocal and sonic manipulations into expressive devices (e.g. the sonic “blips” in 22 (OVER Soon) and the vocal processing of 715 (CREEKS)).” - Dr. Gee

Zeal | Kings Kaleidoscope

“A challenge toward persistent (band leader Chad Gardner would probably say “child-like”) faith in a post-Christian deconstructing world. Besides chewing on the metaphors that Gardner uses to describe to describe a post-Christian context faith journey, consider also the role orchestra instruments play and what they might be coded for (vis a vis your typical alternative rock instruments). Finally, I’d be curious to know how you respond to how Gardner ends the album.

Incidentally, framing this album is Chad Gardner and others both participation in and eventual departure from Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill church. You can listen to a podcast episode about their band here.

For more background, KK did a nice documentary on the making of the album as well.”

-Dr. Gee

The Epic | Kamasi Washington

“‘A generous canvas,’ according to its Pitchfork review. Yeah, and a little bit more. Not for the faint of heart!

Take the plunge into this triple album of sonic glory, and drink until you’re satisfied. There’ll be plenty left for your next listen.”

– Dr. Gee