I enjoy music in a variety of genres (Worship, Christian hip-hop, Pop, Rock, Christmas, Contemporary Christian, etc.), and perhaps you do as well. As we approach the holiday season, there are a number of albums of interest that have either been recently released, or are scheduled to release over the next few weeks that you might be interested in. Here are 11 of them. Watch for reviews in the coming weeks.
Glory – KB
Patient Kingdom – Sandra McCracken
Still, Vol. 1 – Michael W. Smith
Miracle of Love: Christmas Songs of Worship (EP) – Chris Tomlin
Live From The Forum MMXVIII – Eagles
Until We Meet Again… (Live Unplugged) – Mat Kearney
Letter to You – Bruce Springsteen
A Drummer Boy Christmas – For King & Country
Feared By Hell – Social Club Misfits
Fogerty’s Factory – John Fogerty
McCartney III – Paul McCartney
Glory – KB
This is Christian hip-hop artist KB’s first album since leaving Reach Records. I’ve enjoyed some of his previous work, including 2017’s Today We Rebel and 2015’s Tomorrow We Live.
Patient Kingdom – Sandra McCracken
I’m a late-comer to Sandra McCracken, being introduced to her music at the 2018 Gospel Coalition and the last few Getty Music Sing! Conferences. I really enjoyed her 2019 Christmas album. I’ve also been enjoying this new album, featuring songs such as “I Will Sing” and “I Am One”.
Still, Vol. 1 – Michael W. Smith
This is a very different Michael W. Smith album, and won’t be everyone’s “cup of tea”. The album provides an “atmospheric listening experience of improvisational music” along with Smith reading scripture on the first five tracks. The final five are all instrumental. His prayer for the project “is that this music will help the listener find moments to meditate with scripture.” Smith describes Still as a worship album that is more for individuals during their personal quiet times. There are videos on Smith’s YouTube channel that accompany each song.
Miracle of Love: Christmas Songs of Worship (EP) – Chris Tomlin
This new seven song EP from Chris Tomlin includes two new songs, “Miracle of Love” and “All the World Awaits (Hosanna)”. The project also features the songs from his 2019 Christmas Day: Christmas Songs of Worship EP as well as “Noel” featuring Lauren Daigle originally released on the 2015 album Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship.
Live From The Forum MMXVIII – Eagles
This is a live album of 26 Eagles, Don Henley, Vince Gill and Joe Walsh hits recorded live over three nights at the Forum in Los Angeles in September 2018. This is also the first recording in which Deacon Frey (son of the band’s late Glenn Frey) and country music’s Vince Gill appear with the band. Having seen the Eagles in concert in both 2018 (two months before this recording) and again in 2019, I’m really enjoying this project.
Until We Meet Again… (Live Unplugged) – Mat Kearney
This is a collection of eleven of Mat Kearney’s best songs recorded on his acoustic tour, which took place just before everything shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Letter to You – Bruce Springsteen
One of the most anticipated albums of the year is Letter to You by Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. It is Springsteen’s first album with the E-Street Band since 2014’s High Hopes, and will be released October 23.
A Drummer Boy Christmas – For King & Country
For King & Country will release their first full-length Christmas album on October 30. The album includes 13 songs, including two original Christmas songs entitled “Heavenly Hosts” and a ballad from Joseph’s perspective “A Carol of Joseph.”
Feared By Hell – Social Club Misfits
This will be Social Club Misfits first full-length album since 2018’s Into the Night, which I enjoyed along with their 2016 album The Misadventures of Fern & Marty. The album will be released November 3.
Fogerty’s Factory – John Fogerty
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, John Fogerty began running through songs with his three youngest children: Shane 28; Tyler 27; and Kelsey, 18. Those performances led to a number of performances posted on YouTube, and on November 20, those songs will be released as Fogerty’s new album Fogerty’s Factory. The record is a nod, in both its title and on its cover, to the 50th anniversary of Cosmo’s Factory, the 1970 album Creedence Clearwater Revival.
McCartney III – Paul McCartney
A surprise release, Paul McCartney will release McCartney III on December 11. Like the previous two McCartney albums, he will play all of the instruments and provide all of the voices on the new album.
Are there other new and upcoming albums that you are interested in?
