Prism is a bold exploration of diversity that shines light on our shared impulse to seek ultimate truth. But not even a work of this scope can change the fact that when it comes to personal faith, the world can often be colorblind.

Johnson’s writing can be oblique, but he puts his big heart across. Indeed, it’s the ingredient that makes Sleep Through the Static hopeful without sacrificing the vigilance needed to stay awake.

Fall and Winter makes for a somewhat frosty listen, and yet Foreman’s transparent self-disclosure and ultimately redemptive message offset the chill, reminding us that even in the season of death and decay the promise of new life awaits.

Blige’s tough-and-tender blend on Growing Pains is both grounded and optimistic, offering hip-hop hope for growth that promises more gain than pain.

Nelson may be too self-styled to stand for any particular thought or belief, and while that clouds the message, the musical scope and character found on Moment of Forever make it a Willie record for the ages.

Franklin is an inspired innovator whose seamless integration of gospel, soul, pop, rap and R&B continues to evolve on his recently released album, The Fight of My Life, an album based on the struggle between the Spirit and the flesh.

On his latest album, Cohn again spots the specters of musicians and finds the spiritual link therein, this time in a different but equally influential mecca of American music—New Orleans.

As a singer, Mullen maintains an invitingly understated tone, admirably avoiding the temptation to over-sing—a chronic flaw in much modern pop and R&B. Her original songs are engaging, if a tad saccharine at times, and the potent hybrid sound she’s planted on Sharecropper’s Seed is proof of a fertile imagination, indeed.

As Henley seems to suggest in the biting lyric of “Business As Usual,” The Eagles are now as much a brand as a band. The return of their classic style on Long Road Out of Eden gives fans ample reason to celebrate, though it’s hard to escape the sense that Henley and company, while rebuilding the perfect beast for the 21st century, have left out part of its original heart.

If the 24-year-old performer hasn’t lived all the stories she sings, her whirlwind climb to the big time informs the rush of hopes and emotions contained on Carnival Ride, an album that mainstream radio listeners should find to be just the ticket.