How Can It Be (album) explained

How Can It Be
Type:studio
Artist:Lauren Daigle
Cover:How Can It Be (Official Album Cover) by Lauren Daigle.png
Border:yes
Recorded:2014
Studio:
  • The Tracking Room, Yackland Studios and Yoda's Palace Studios (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre:Contemporary Christian music, soul, worship
Length:48:02
Label:Centricity
Producer:
Prev Title:How Can It Be
Prev Year:2014
Next Year:2016

How Can It Be is the debut studio album by American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter Lauren Daigle. The album was released on April 14, 2015, through Centricity Music. LifeWay Christian Bookstore was permitted to release the album on April 11, 2015. The lead single from the album, "How Can It Be", was released on July 8, 2014.[1] A deluxe edition of the album was released on May 6, 2016.[2]

The album has since sold 1 million copies in the United States.[3]

Critical reception

Signaling in a four-star review by CCM Magazine, Grace S. Aspinwall realizes, "From top to bottom, this project showcases one of the best and brightest young voices in Christian music with the skills and prowess of a veteran songstress." Christopher Smith, indicating in a four-star review at Jesus Freak Hideout, recognizes, "you've got some inspiring worship tunes on How Can It Be." Specifying in a five-star review for New Release Today, Kevin Davis responds, "How Can It Be is a masterpiece with compelling music and lyrics and stellar singing and it is my worship album of the year." Timothy Yap of Hallels.com wrote that "Many contemporary Christian artists may sing about the marvel of redemption, but when Lauren Daigle does it with her smoky alto she commands attention. There's a holy gravitas that resonates within this Louisiana native's pipes that we can't help but be drawn in."[4] Jeanie Law of Breathcast summarized that "Lauren Daigle's debut release How Can It Be on Centricity Music will serve as a breath of fresh air for music lovers with its raw emotion, honest lyrics, and Daigle's infectious voice."[5] In a nine out of ten review by Cross Rhythms, Tony Cummings describes, "Paul Mabury's production is impeccable, Lauren's vocals are richly expressive, and all in all 'How Can It Be' is an inspiring full length debut from a singer who will surely be here for the long haul." Michael Dalton, in a four out of five review from The Phantom Tollbooth, says, "The voice I hear on Lauren Daigle’s debut, How Can It Be, reminds me of Adele and the International House of Prayer’s Misty Edwards. Each of them can sound both smoky and delicate. It adds weight in this God-directed release." In a four out of five review by Christian Music Review, Laura Chambers writes, "How Can It Be invites us to approach God with a blend of wonder at His majesty and faith in His goodness." Christian St. John, awarding the album five stars from Christian Review Magazine, writes, "How Can It Be is a beautifully produced album and the musicianship is excellent on each and every track."

Accolades

The song, "How Can It Be", was No. 9, on the Worship Leaders Top 20 Songs of 2015 list.[6]

Personnel

Vocalists

Instrumentalists

Production

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)Position
US Billboard 200[8] 198
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[9] 7
Chart (2016)Position
US Billboard 200[10] 62
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[11] 2
Chart (2017)Position
US Billboard 200[12] 164
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[13] 1
Chart (2018)Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[14] 4
Chart (2019)Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[15] 3
Chart (2020)Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[16] 4
Chart (2021)Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[17] 12
Chart (2022)Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[18] 20
Chart (2023)Position
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[19] 21

Singles

YearSingleChart positions
US Christian
[21]
Bubbling Under Hot 100
2014"How Can It Be"5
2015"First"2
2016"Trust in You"123
"Come Alive (Dry Bones)"6
2017"O'Lord"3

Other charted songs

YearSingleChart positions
US Christian
"Loyal"48
"I Am Yours"42
"Here's My Heart"50

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How Can It Be: Lauren Daigle: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads. July 31, 2016. July 8, 2014. Amazon.
  2. Web site: How Can It Be (Deluxe Edition) by Lauren Daigle on Apple Music. July 31, 2016. May 6, 2016. iTunes Store (US).
  3. Web site: Lauren Daigle's "How Can it Be" Album Certified Platinum . June 25, 2018. Centricity Music. July 26, 2018.
  4. Web site: Yap. Timothy. Lauren Daigle "How Can It Be" Album Review. Hallels.com. April 16, 2015. September 13, 2014.
  5. Web site: Law. Jeanie. Lauren Daigle's 'How Can It Be' Stuns Christian Music Lovers with Soulful Voice, Heartfelt Lyrics & Mainstream Sound [ALBUM REVIEW]]. Breathecast. Christian Media Company. April 16, 2015. September 23, 2014.
  6. Staff . 2015 Top Songs . Worship Leader . October 31, 2015 . November/December 2015. 62–3.
  7. Web site: Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Top 20 Official Charts Company . September 7, 2018 . . March 28, 2019.
  8. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015. Billboard. May 24, 2020.
  9. Christian Albums - Year-End 2015 Billboard . . November 23, 2018.
  10. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016. Billboard. December 9, 2016.
  11. https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/christian-albums "Christian Albums – Year-End 2017"
  12. Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End 2017 Billboard . Billboard . November 23, 2018.
  13. Christian Albums - Year-End 2017 Billboard . Billboard . November 23, 2018.
  14. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018. Billboard. February 9, 2019.
  15. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019. Billboard. December 9, 2019.
  16. Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 5, 2020.
  17. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 4, 2021.
  18. Billboard Christian Albums – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 4, 2022.
  19. Top Christian Albums – Billboard . . Year-End Chart . February 11, 2024.
  20. Hot Christian Albums – Decade-End 2010s. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031225410/https://www.billboard.com/music/lauren-daigle/chart-history/3AU. dead. October 31, 2019. Billboard. October 31, 2019.
  21. Lauren Daigle - Chart history (Hot Christian Songs). August 25, 2016. Billboard.