Caedmon's Call

EARLY 2000s

In 2000, Caedmon’s Call put out their third album Long Line of Leavers. They once again showed how musically diverse they are, through variations of a sound rooted in their adult alternative rock influences. Long Line of Leavers proved that they could write songs inspired by new sounds and influences. It featured brass accompaniment, driving rhythm guitar, great guitar licks, and a fresh sound that spanned from pop to high tempo rock-and-roll, to some of their most folk-inspired songs to date.

The members consistently kept delivering albums, releasing In the Company of Angels: A Call to Worship in 2001 and Back Home 2003. The group also participated in City on a Hill’s 4 releases from 2000 to 2003: Songs of Praise and Worship and The Gathering, It’s Christmastime, and Sing Alleluia.

Their seventh studio album, Share the Well, was released in 2004 as a missions album. Although it did not receive as much radio play and reach as it perhaps deserved, the album was well-received by critics. A few songs on Share the Well were influenced by the band’s trips to India, Brazil, and Ecuador, and focused on social issues as well as still appealing to the Christian market with signature praise themes lyrics.

LATER YEARS

The band’s eighth studio album In the Company of Angels II: The World Will Sing, was released in 2006. At the time, Caedmon’s Call had no real plans on producing new music, and Company of Angels II is the result of pressure from their record label, Essential Records. They ended their contract with Essential Records after releasing Company of Angels II, choosing to partner with INO Records, who signed Caedmon’s Call later that same year.

In the fall of 2006, Caedmon’s Call embarked on “The Emancipation Tour” – which may have eluded to their newfound freedom after splitting from their label.

Derek Webb, who left to pursue a solo career, also returned around this time. On May 22, 2007, Caedmon’s Call shared news of an upcoming album. This would be the group’s first release with INO. The album, Overdressed, came out in late August 2007. In January 2008, Caedmon’s Call’s track Ten Thousand Angels was featured in a Season 4 episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

It would have seemed that the band had no plans of slowing down up to this point but it would be another 3 years before their next studio album in 2010.

INDEFINITE HAITUS

The group once again found themselves welcoming back old members to their lineup.

With their tenth and last album Raising the Dead, Caedmon’s Call departed from their traditional sound They wanted to explore new genres and push some boundaries with their sound. Danielle Young had her vocals feature more prominently on the album, with her lending beautiful lead vocals to half of the 12 songs on Raising The Dead.

The band left an open letter on their website regarding their album, Raising Up the Dead, noting that “the album that feels like a family dinner table: a little messy, full of various interesting personalities, and encircled by an unmanufactured love”.

Several members added songwriting credits to their resumes on the new album. Caedmon’s Call acoustic guitarist, banjos, vocalist, lead guitar player, and keys player Derek Webb noted that this was “our most collaborative project ever”. Webb continued to show his skillful songwriting on the album. Even Webb’s wife, acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Sandra McCracken – who has a solid fan base of her own – contributed to the album.

Drummer Todd Bragg lent his songwriting skills to the track I Need a Builder, while bassist Jeff Miller contributed to the songs Sometimes a Beggar and Streets of Gold.  Lead vocalist Danielle put her writing talents on full display by contributing music and lyrics to more than half the songs on the album. Frontman and rhythm guitarist Cliff Young also joined in by lending his writing talents to God’s Hometown.

Caedmon’s Call has been mostly inactive following the hype of the album’s release and a small tour for Raising Up the Dead. The band’s website saw a redo in 2013 but most of their content was removed and there haven’t been many updates in recent years.

Caedmon’s Call may be on an indefinite hiatus but the band’s music is still available on various platforms and enjoyed by fans – new and old – and so Caedmon’s Call has a dedicated following to this day.