Over a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel, Matt Andersen testifies to something we could all do well to remember: the time we have together is special, so let’s spend it the right way. The Big Bottle of Joy was a team effort: the title doesn’t just refer to the record, but the band that Andersen put together to make it. The songs were written with not just a band in mind, but this exact group of people, and Andersen tailored moods and arrangements and sections to elevate the already substantial talents of the players.