CINEMA | The Marías

“CINEMA, The Marías’ first full-length album, is a tribute to the band’s cinematic roots and their early work composing music for film and television. The album is immersive, atmospheric, and guides listeners through a series of vivid, film-like soundscapes of slightly different genres. Best experienced at high volume and in a surround-sound environment, CINEMA explores the full range of sound, from delicate subtleties to intense, underlying tones that are physically and emotionally felt more than heard. Like a quality movie or television show, lead singer María Zardoya describes the project as a “break away from real life," inviting listeners into a dreamlike world of escape rather than a self-reflective one. Two Spanish tracks, one of which is reprised in English at the end of the album, pay homage to Zardoya’s Latin heritage, adding an additional personal layer to the collection.” (Alexandra Wagner)

Leave What’s Lost Behind | Colony House

“A tired runaway walks into a train station--coming from nowhere, going nowhere, too. Leave What's Lost Behind is this runaway's exploration of how he got into this loop and, just maybe, the beginnings of a chance to break the cycle of running. This is a concept album, told through the runaway's own musings and a conversation with a porter interspersed throughout the album. A musical blend of orchestral-acoustic-indie-rock, with lyrics rich in imagery and heartfelt humanity, this record is a narrative that reaches into an important facet to our humanity.” (Nicolas Vivanco)

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You | Big Thief

“Big Thief’s fifth album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You, contains a variety of sounds with lyricism that is riddled with hope, love, and loss. The 20 songs in this album strip humanity of its protection – exposing vulnerable beliefs and desires. Don’t be scared, as the dragon may protect you still. So, immerse yourself in the magical world of a dragon who lives in a new warm mountain. You may dance, you may cry, and, finally, you must decide if you believe in the dragon, too.” (Keira Larson)

Self-Titled | Doc Watson

“Doc Watson, Doc’s first record, is THE pivotal bluegrass album. Written by the blind and flat-picking legend, Arthel Watson, he writes this album based on traditional Appalachia folk tales.” (Gideon Farhadian)

Diamond Life | Sade

“To me, Sade Adu's voice is akin to the ocean: rich, deep, and full of life. Pair this with groovy beats and soulful melodies, sprinkle in some RnB and Jazz seasoning, and you get Diamond Life. This album can be moody; at times, mournful saxophones voice despair; at other times, funky guitar riffs accompany a vigorous call to hope. Mysterious characters, some virtuous and some not, appear throughout the album (who is Frankie? Who is Sallie? Who is the Smooth Operator?) adding to the overall intrigue and mysticality contained in Sade's voice. Regardless of the song, the message of Diamond Life remains the same; Sade consistently appeals to love as the ultimate and all-encompassing power.” (Bryson Lee)

Joshua Tree | U2

"U2’s Joshua Tree is not your typical 80s rock album. The lyrics cut right to the heart of the human experience while artfully exploring themes of love and longing for eternity with God. The mixture of soft rock and rustic twang invite the listener to imagine a beautiful landscape— a place that evokes worship and contemplation. The songs blend together beautifully and evoke relatable emotions, providing the listener with a mixture of feelings: unsettlement in this present world and comfort and hope for what is to come." (Kate Spraul)

Brent iii | Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler

“Brent iii, is a collaborative project by Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler. Written with a tenderness that outstrips its relatively simple (though occasionally convoluted) soundscape, this album has probably been my favorite since its release in November of 2024. From the simple, consistent harmonies on “black and white” to the visceral yearning felt in “and the government too” (my personal favorite), this is a well crafted blend of soft pop and indie folk sounds which, when mixed with the combined songwriting power of Cutler and Zucker, is a treat for any listener.” (Charlie Covington)

No Fear Of Time | Black Star

“Black Star’s No Fear Of Time is the group’s second album after 24 years of various solo ventures. Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) and Talib Kweli return to the themes of their first album: social justice, hip hop culture, and the black experience with a more philosophical perspective. The entire album is produced by Madlib and a variety of spacey samples loop over each track. Bey’s bars often cover existential issues, religion, time, and existence, while Kweli focuses on the social issues still breathing two decades after their first collaboration. No Fear Of Time was originally released exclusively through Luminary, a podcast platform, but was later added to bandcamp to allow streaming. To me, this album is essential hip hop.” (Titan Jerome)

Revelation | Leif Vollebekk

“In his album, Revelation, Leif Vollebekk blends piano, guitar, and subtle layered instrumentation with his rough, understated vocals, to create a sound that feels full without being overwhelming. The album relies on simple, layered arrangements that steadily build to give a sense of cinematic movement while leaving space for the lyrics and emotion to unfold naturally.  Across the tracks, Vollebekk reflects on love, loneliness, and self-discovery in a way that feels honest and quietly compelling.” (Sydney Buesser)

Self-Titled | The Avett Brothers

“The Avett Brothers (2024) features thoughtful lyrics and warm tunes that are raw, acoustic, and reflective. This album explores themes of aging, faith, love, and change, and the quiet shifts that mark different stages of life, which forms a tone that feels both extremely nostalgic and introspective. I love the simplicity and steadiness of the album because it invites you to slow down and listen closely, while allowing past and present moments of joy to surface, and it doesn’t rely on dramatic and loud production. This album reminds me to rejoice in and appreciate the joy of simplicity in my childhood and life. As you listen, I hope you can take time to reflect in stillness and wholeness across life’s seasons and to notice the beauty found in simple, ordinary moments.” (Leah Nieman)

Two Star & The Dream Police | Mk.gee

"Two Star & The Dream Police is an album that expresses the human experience in words and sounds that are more abstract than what I normally listen to. This album is definitely more experimental with hints of alternative and indie rock genres. Mk.gee shines light on universal experiences that may be heavy or even menial. I notably appreciate the concise lyrics that provide more space for the listener to experience the sound of the actual notes that are played." (Leah Chai)

Unreal Unearth | Hozier

“Journey through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell with Hozier’s Unreal Unearth, which is an incredible secular reflection on Dante’s Inferno, the first of three installments in his The Divine Comedy (14th century). Like the poem, Unreal Unearth opens with a search for light in a dark wood before going through the nine circles of hell and emerging out of the darkness into the light. A couple highlights are ‘Butchered Tongue’, an exploration into the circle of violence (to others and the self) through the tragedy of the British colonization of Ireland, and ‘Unknown/Nth’, on the circle of treachery. Highly recommend researching the circles of hell prior to listening.” (Ava Aneed)

Illinoise | Sufjan Stevens

“Most famous for 'Chicago', this entire album is rife with unique and emotionally rich performances from Sufjan Stevens, who is no stranger to creating unique and emotionally dense music. Taken individually, any one of these songs is an absolute delight: when I think of intricate and layered soundscapes, I think primarily of his extensive body of work (Carrie and Lowell, Seven Swans, the Call Me By Your Name soundtrack). His music is masterful, and his trick is to take a musical landscape that sizzles with creative, new sounds and add to them simple, deft lyrics that do great work in peeling back the humanity and emotion around the theme at hand. 

Take an album of his, then, and the effect increases tenfold. The joy of Illinoise! lies in its cohesion, where every song leads into the next, they all feel as though they belong together, and no other song could really exist alongside them. That cohesion is what Illinoise! is about. What does it mean to be from a place? To have experiences and memories overlap and live next to each other, together? It is 22 different love songs to the city of Chicago, 22 different ways that Sufjan picks up his experience of the city and tips it on its side. Released four days before I was born and an instant favorite of my parents, it has been with me for my entire life, and meant something different I revisit it. All things go.” (Asher Hammer)

Love & War & the Sea In Between | Josh Garrels

“Love and War and the Seas In Between is an album I grew up with and also a story that I have come to love for myself. It casts a wide net into the sea of Christian experience and the character of God and pulls out beautiful truths about redemption, brokenness, love, lament, and intimacy. I think this is the most cohesive and articulate piece of Christian music from my lifetime.” (Isaiah Godshall)

Demon Days | Gorillaz

"Demon Days is a funky, chaotic, and groovy album that incorporates a number of different genres and styles, including (but not limited to) alternative rock, funk, electronic, hip hop, and pop. It's a thought provoking collection that challenges listeners with its exploration of current political, post 9/11, and borderline apocalyptic themes. It has some great guest appearances that work very well with the killer beats that the album has to offer. It's a very enjoyable listen, regardless of whether you're looking for something to bump during a workout or something to ponder on. All in all, it's a project that is extremely unique and just plain cool.” (Austin Beckett) 

Oh Sweet Cafe Racer | Sumbuck

Oh Sweet Cafe Racer by Sumbuck is a side project by Taylor Meier, the face of the well-loved folk band Caamp. “Sumbuck is a very intentionally mysterious thing." Meier says, "Part of me is a little shy still about releasing music under my own name. I just wanted it to be a little hidden. You would have to be a little more invested to find the stuff.” 

You know the kind of music that immediately brings you into a dreamy world of sentimentality? With satisfying melodies, gently dissonant harmonies? Well, this album might be just the thing for you. Take a walk through a forest path, leaves springing gloriously into pale yellows and deep greens. Or along Mountain Drive. "Sumbuck's laid back music seeks to capture the beauty of simple moments, love, and the bittersweet passage of time." (Iona Canlis)

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