wrenching a new song from my lips

Matt's "sophomore" release

2009-06-18T23:01:00.003-06:00

So I was alerted via google reader that there is new info on Matt's forthcoming album here but mostly this article just annoyed me- just because it's your second record on a specific label doesn't make your fifth CD a "sophomore" effort and the fact that every track on it has been co-written also doesn't leave me with a heightened sense of anticipation. Matt says he feels he's matured as a songwriter and musician and the album has greater authenticity. PLEASE GOD LET IT BE TRUE. Matt, you are so talented, please don't throw your pearls before swine.

Music with a Mission & Joe Zambon

2009-05-05T15:10:00.006-06:00

This past friday I hosted a concert to benefit a church in Peru I visited last year. This mission in Chimbote, Peru is incredibly poor but filled with faith. It was a privilege to visit the people there. I vaccilate heavily about why to go on a trip like that and ultimately I believe it is to return and share the plight of others with people here. So I decided to invite some friends to play some music to raise money for the people I met down there.

My roommate, Jeremy, and my friend Michael agreed to play and they sure did. It was a beautiful experience from classic Jesuit tunes (Take Lord, Receive) to covers of Gnarls Barkley (an insane acoustic version of "Crazy"), Sufjan, Decemberists, all kinds of good stuff. One of the highlights for me was one of Michael's original songs about loving your enemies. It was really beautiful to be in a room full of both Christians and non-Christians singing the radical words of Jesus about doing good to those who hate you.

Since then I have been craving something deep and acoustic, meaningful and intimate. Thankfully Jake over at the blah blah blog posted an interview yesterday with Joe Zambon, and after reading it I immediately went and downloaded it. It was exactly what I had been wanting. I already want to share it with pretty much everyone. I listened to it for the first time while making quacamole and baking tortilla chips and several times just said, "damn." It's that good. And I started to laugh out of joy at one point. I am being honest, here. It is a beautiful beautiful album. I am going to post a youtube video but I have to tell you this doesn't even come close to how smooth and warm the album is, you really just need to get it for yourself. Heartily recommended.

feeling like a real music lover

2009-03-24T09:58:00.002-06:00

Twice today I happily surprised myself by dropping my jaw involuntarily twice in the face of sound.

The first was in response to this report on NPR about chanting monks in the now-diasporic Tibetan Buddhist communities. You MUST listen to these sound clips! When the first one came on I knew that the man who interviewed who said it was "the holiest sound he had ever heard," wasn't speaking hyperbolically. It is unearthly, unbelievably different. I was (and am!) completely amazed!

The second is perhaps more usual: I have been excited for a while now about the promise of a new Indigo Girls' album, which was released to day. Morgan told me it was good and shared that a retooling of Amy's song, "Driver Education," which appeared on her second solo album, and was my favorite on that album. When I heard Emily's guitar on the song I was pretty psyched but the new harmonies just blew me away! Once again I was amazed! Check out their website to sample a few songs, plus just look around the new website looks great too. I could rave on but I will suffice to say, I think this album is their best since "Become You."

my faith restored

2009-02-04T07:07:00.002-07:00

I genuinely thought Matt was going to slip into the abyss of radio-friendly crappy CCM music. I am glad to know his heart is still with artistry.

http://www.myspace.com/loverequited

He's being folky! I love it! I actually like him again!

christmas music

2008-11-17T08:53:00.002-07:00

I admit it, I've already started listening to Christmas songs. It started with a chill in the air and the desire for campy "Baby, It's Cold Outside" listening and then I just wanted more.

Plus I've been getting emails about some exciting new albums (Alli Rogers has a Christmas EP coming out and apparently you can book her for a private Christmas concert?!! Why am I not rich? Oh yeah...).

Anyway, at worshiptogether.com they have free downloads of songs by Matt Maher and Steve Fee, both guys I like. Listening to Matt sing "Silent Night" reminds me of how much I love his voice- WHY?! I don't get it but it is so soothing. The Fee song is completely different but definitely very Fee. :) So go download!

it's the little things that make me a dork

2008-09-22T21:21:00.000-06:00

There are several pairs of songs that I have either recently put next to each other on mix CDs or look forward to doing in the near future.

Jars of Clay: Ship Wreck and mewithoutYou: Messes of Men.
Because they are both about...ships.

The Khrusty Brothers: Sympathy for Jesus and The Hold Steady: How a Resurrection Really Feels
I recently put these in this order and I LOVE that they first one has the Hallelujah under their breath by the door seguing beautifully into the her parents named her Hallelujah but the kids all called her Holly.

Waterdeep: The Circus Song and Dog Named David: I Ran Away With the Circus
I mean, I was in the circus, two sweet acoustic indie Christian songs about the circus???

How a Resurrection Really Feels

2008-09-14T20:21:00.003-06:00

Thanks Michael and Fr. Phil (go Jesuits!) for the rec...

her parents named her halleluiah, the kids all called her holly. if she scared you then she's sorry. she's been stranded at these parties. these parties they start lovely but they get druggy and they get ugly and they get bloody.
the priest just kinda laughed. the deacon caught a draft. she crashed into the easter mass with her hair done up in broken glass. she was limping left on broken heels. when she said father can i tell your congregation how a resurrection really feels?

holly was a hoodrat. now you finally know that. she's been disappeared for years. today she finally came back. she said: st. louis had enslaved me. i guess santa ana saved me. st. peter had me on the queue. the st. paul saints they waved me thru.
i was all wrapped up in some video booth. when i heard her say i love you too.

she said i've laid beneath my lovers but i've never gotten laid. some nites she felt protected. some nites she felt afraid. she spent half last winter justa trying to get paid. from some guy she'd originally thought to be her saviour. they wrote her name in magic marks. on stopsigns and subway cars. they got a mural up on e.13th. that said halleluiah rest in peace. halleluiah was a hoodrat. and now you finally know that. she's been disappeared for years. today she finally came back.

walk on back. walk on back. she said don't turn me on again. i'd probably just go and get myself all gone again. holly was a sexy mess. she looked strung out but experienced. so we all got kind of curious.

joy

2008-09-10T09:50:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I drove out to Villanova under fast moving tarnished silver clouds and as the rain began to pelt, Patty Griffin began to sing and I thought, "Yes. Sometimes life really is sublime."

hurricane party music

2008-09-07T14:23:00.002-06:00

One of my friends came over for dinner last night and my roommate has been really excited about the prospect of "surviving" Hurricane Hanna. I'm from FL so I've been reminding here that by the time it hit us it was barely even a Tropical Storm. But I also explained the concept of a hurricane party (not that difficult, if the power goes out you have a party with the whole neighborhood and eat all the food in your fridge, plus drink the cold beer before it gets warm!).

When I was home last weekend my dad was listening to "No Shoes Radio" on XM which is apparently a monthly series they have which highlights one artist (in this case Kenny Chesney) and plays only that artist, plus artists who have influenced them, and artists they've influenced. This sounds like a great idea to me, but I doubt they ever highlight anyone I'm interested in. The cool thing about it is that you can't help but dig down to deeper cuts of an artist if you're playing them all the time. The fact that I really like "She thinks my tractor's sexy" aside, I had the chorus to Kenny's "Key Lime Pie" song in my head for several days and our attempt at a Hurricane Party definitely included me grabbing a pie myself. I would have made one but apparently key limes and/or their juice are hard to come by in Philly?

Other not-to-be missed Hurricane Party classics...

Cowboy Mouth- Hurricane Party

Jimmy Buffett- Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season

oh yeah, and something I'm REALLY excited about

2008-08-26T06:35:00.002-06:00

So anyone familiar with this blog will know that Don Chaffer is my favorite songwriter but I've never seen him live. After Miles and Ruby were born he and Lori took a break from touring so I have missed the goodness of Waterdeep live. BUT NO LONGER.

Derek Webb.

Sandra McCracken.

Alli Rogers.

WATERDEEP.

Eddie's Attic in Georgia. A venue I've always wanted to go to (the Indigo Girls play there fairly often).

Morgan and I are committed to going.

I'm also definitely going to the Art, Music, Justice tour with Sara Groves, Derek, and Sandra that's coming near me in PA. I've never seen Sara Groves though I love her songwriting and, come to think of it, that will be my first opportunity to hear Sandra live too which is totally exciting for me. So yay for concerts!

John Mayer

2008-08-26T06:27:00.002-06:00

JM is just the artist I hate to love. He won me over in May of 2002 when my friend Kristin made me listen to a bootleg of him singing "Love Song for No One."

Now Morgan and I both discuss how we refuse to go see John Mayer in the venues he plays now- way too expensive to see a show with way too many people. We've agreed that we wouldn't pay more than $15 to see him with 10,000 people but would be willing to pay a lot more to see the John Mayer Trio in an intimate venue. (This is in a fictional alternate reality where I have money.) So that alone should tell you I much prefer his acoustic and Trio sets.

Anyway, I previously claimed that somehow JM managed to OWN a Tom Petty song, but here's the evidence. My favorite bit is 1:56ish, that guy on the right is my favorite, his harmony just adds a total dimension of awesomeness.

This is the other song I love- I immediately loved it for the harmonics he plays in the beginning and then just the whole song- ugh! It makes me want to do nothing but lie in bed staring at the ceiling with the fan on and drink iced tea and listen to this song on repeat. I could happily do just that for HOURS. It's that sublime and I HATE that I would use that word to describe John Mayer, but just listen and you'll know what I mean.

the promised summary

2008-08-25T14:36:00.003-06:00

As usual in my musical wanderings I was prepared for an onslaught at what should have been the most anticipated theatrical release of the summer: the Remedy Club Tour, of course!

So Morgan and I went to get tickets, then we had dinner and became excited about Crowder. We had a great time with the, uh, 40 other people in the theater?! A few people clapped and randomly sang along quietly but overall we all just watched and had a low buzzing joy reverberating over our collective heads. :)

The dvd is great. I am definitely going to buy it at some point and make my friends watch it with me. The cinematography is good, the editing is pretty mindblowing (on one song the footage switches back and forth between ATL and NYC seamlessly, it's beautiful!), and of course the music is great!

The one sidenote is that I have never considered any of the members of the Crowder band particularly good-looking; talented, thoughtful, brilliant (bwack and his wizadry), artistic, etc but not so much attractive. THE CAMERA LOVES JACK. I had already thought about ten times, "geez, I never noticed how attractive Jack is!" when my sister leaned over and was like, "Who is that guitar player, again?!" and then we both started laughing hysterically. Anyway, way to go Jack, you definitely stole the good camera angles! Not to mention played a mean banjo.

So, yeah, you should give it a look-see.

the bright sadness

2008-08-25T07:36:00.002-06:00

Today is my first day of (grad) school, I have no internet at my house.

But I have been listening, listening, listening. :)

Morgan bought John Mayer's "Where the Light Is" which includes a KILLER cover of "Free Fallin'" (I mean JM owns that song) and a newbie, "In Your Atmosphere" which I can't see ever becoming a radio hit but the harmonics and harmonies are so beautiful!

But what we've REALLy loved is Charlie Hall's new album, "The Bright Sadness." It's so good and so Charlie, worth the wait and well done through and through.

I thought this review from Christianity Today did a good overview.

Jars of Clay: Ship Wreck

2008-08-18T14:11:00.002-06:00

Another "discovery" from Emily, this is a song from Jars' "Roots and Wings" EP. What a gorgeous and thoughtfully poignant song. I love it.

Ship Wreck
Jars of Clay

One two, one two
He put it in the bottle and he threw it out to sea
But the tide would not surrender and it floated to the beach
So the message of apology his love would never see
He walked around that island all shipwrecked and heavy
The scars of early childhood still showing on the skin
Necessary enemy so healing could begin
From the message of apology his heart might soon break free
For now he walks that island all shipwrecked and ready
Low beyond horizon lines, across the salty sea
A boat without a captain makes its way to some city
He prays that it would sail its course to lover or to kin
And fan a thirst for searching and finding him again
Finding him again, finding him again

Let us be the Remedy

2008-08-18T13:35:00.003-06:00

So my sister and I got tickets to go see the Remedy Club Tour DVD on the big screen. For the uninformed, this new DVD is being released in movie theaters for one night. I find this fairly hilarious because I think the Crowder band excels at seeming really accessible and indulging super enthusiasts like myself with fun interactive things: think the Remedy summer scavenger hunt, the goodreader videos, the streaming video of their recording process, etc.

But this I think will be hilarious. I mean, usually I wouldn't wear a Crowder tshirt to a Crowder concer but, in this case, surrounded by other Crowder fanatics would it just be funny? Will we sing along like a real concert? Will we eat popcorn and raisinets like a movie?! I'll let you know how it goes...

i thought i said this but maybe not

2008-08-18T12:58:00.002-06:00

Well it's a little late now, I thought I posted that I was going camping for a month- 14 National Parks in the Rocky Mountain region and then moving across the country and that is the reason I have been absent and haven't shared any musical excitement recently. So anyway, I just spent a month in a tent and driving a lot and therefore listening to a lot of music. This segues nicely because one of the happy surprises of Lifest was how much I enjoyed Switchfoot.

I really enjoyed their songs on the Walk to Remember soundtrack (never saw the movie but LOVED the soundtrack) and then when they "resurfaced" a few years ago I remember my friend Kate being like, "now is this the same Switchfoot that was that Christian band?!" I think I just shrugged. So I was looking forward to seeing them in concert and Anne really wanted to get over to see lead singer Jon Foreman play some of his solo stuff.

I think I was most impressed by how authentic they seemed despite being a band that has seen it's share of hype, in a sense. So when my friend Emily (companion of the epic camping trip) showed up with Jon Foreman's EPs to listen to while we drove I expected good. But it was really REALLY good. These songs are SO scriptural! I found myself on the verge of giggling because he does such a great job of artistically interpreting the scriptures he focuses on and giving them extra emotional tension. I like a lot of them and could listen to these EPs over and over (and have!) but the one that I latched on to immediately, turned up every time it came on and after listening to once told Emily I plan on listening to everyday for the rest of my life was the Amos inspired "Instead of a Show."

The verses he draws from haunt me often when I'm gathered with others to pray and sing so this reminder is really gutsy, I think, an indictment of guilt for all of us. But beautiful, beautiful, I genuinely wish every worship leader would open with this song.

a lot to say, new music, etc

2008-07-14T10:59:00.004-06:00

So I just returned from Lifest and have a lot to share- some new discoveries some amazing music from some established faves, (OMG, OtR!), so I think it will come piece by piece. But first I just got an email saying that CHARLIE HALL'S new album, "The Bright Sadness" will be coming out August 19th!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! I just love his stuff, I am definitely writing that one on the calendar...

woo!

2008-07-02T18:50:00.001-06:00

noisetrade.com is up and fully functional- I'm actually a bit surprised at only having to tell three friends. Three of the albums I already own and would like to tell ALL my friends. Check it out!!!

Almost Lover

2008-07-01T22:47:00.003-06:00

I really like this song, some great images, beautiful sound, and poignant without being TOO sentimental.

Just today I was wondering if the title and main idea are in any way related to Emily Dickinson's phrase of "fleshless lover," which would make it even more interesting. (sourcetext!!!)

Both of those thought led me to ask people (mainly to Morgan since she's the one person I appear to influence via blog) what songs they would put on that CD, you know, that's part heartbreak and part trying-to-get-over-heartbreak.

Off the top of my head comes "Real Good Friends" by Blessid Union and "Last Tears" from the Indigo Girls.

Rock What You Got

2008-06-30T19:20:00.003-06:00

Nothing to make me feel totally badass like sporting my new dreadlocks and blasting Superchic[k] from my car stereo.

Yet, there is a weird juxtaposition going on. I took my 13 year old cousin to see them on the "Cross the Line" tour over a month ago and we went down to the front with the other kids (I taught her well! She actually asked to go down this time!) and by the end of the show I couldn't help but ask myself that indidious question, "Am I too old for this?!"

It didn't hurt that out of the lineup the only bands that I liked were Disciple and Superchic[k]. My cousin liked KJ-52 who I hear enough good things about to doubt my own opinion but I couldn't help but think that unless he had a stellar off-stage persona he would, at the very least, drive me insane on the bus and was, like, 9 parts "entertainer" (and that's granting a lot) to 1 part musician (never really evident but I'll take his albums as some kind of evidence). Anyway, I was sort of tired by the time Tricia, Melissa, Dave, Matt, and Brandon took to the stage, and I have to say I like their commitment to "cool" in coordinating outfits and stunts. Their set was good but it had the faults of every set saddled with no less than FIVE opening acts- too short! I appreciated getting to hear a few songs off of the new album and, albeit, their later work is better than their earliest, but it was their first two albums that got me through high school! Standing a foot or so taller than all the junior high kids around me I wondered if my anomaly status means I should listen to their music primarily from the confines of my car, jerking and weaving with my earbuds in, or, more generally, alone.

I don't know. I'm just thinking that I've seen these guys three times now- and actually that in the last 12 months. The first time was great and I went by myself and danced like crazy and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have NEVER again been so sore after a concert. Second time was at Lifest and was definitely amidst the much younger crowd and felt slightly out of place. That was intensified being packed among girls I felt like I might stomp all over if I were to dance and proceeded to chat through EVERY set.

So, am I old and curmudgeonly?? Who knows.

I like the new album, my only beef is that I pre-ordered it and it only came in the mail TODAY! I feel like that is just wrong! Seriously, their last three albums I bought the day they were released and this one I buy early and get a week later?!

Also I read a review that mentioned that really there was only 28 minutes of new material on this studio album that has taken three years to get. So roughly, ten minutes of work to show for each year...I'm pretty happy to have anything, myself. But I do see his point. I haven't gotten to dig into the album yet although I'm liking the veneer so far. I'm very interested because their past releases have come to me just when I needed it and I'm curious to see how the sound and writing will strike me now. When I popped their CD in I definitely did feel it.

I'm looking forward to seeing them next week at Lifest.

I also have a slight crush on Dave. :)

november?!

2008-06-27T20:55:00.002-06:00

From Alli Rogers mass email update:

in November she's going to be out on the road with Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, and Waterdeep!!!

FRICKIN RIGHT THREE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!

I'm excited to see Alli.

I'm excited to see Derek and Sandra.

But that PALES in comparison to how excited I am to see DON AND LORI!!!!

I have been really annoyed with myself recently for not packing my stuff for Kansas City for one of the FEW shows they've had since I've known of them and lived within 10 hours. But, seriously, I'm certain nothing is going to stop me come November....

Also HERE is an interview I wish I had gotten to have with Don. Fascinating.

obsessions

2008-06-27T20:28:00.003-06:00

I tend to be obsessive-compulsive. Hopefully not in any extreme or truly unhealthy way but it just runs in my family.

Case in point. My sister got really into the Master and Commander novels when we were in college and read all of them. This is not an easy piece of work, especially if you ask me. Napoleonic naval fiction complete with detailed ship geography and vocabulary? Anyway, a feature of the two main characters (some who have seen the movie may remember this) is that Aubrey plays the violin and Maturin plays the cello so many an evening on ship they will play together to pass the time. Morgan somehow got her hands on a CD that is a compilation of duets mentioned in Patrick O'Brien's series. Which she actually listens to.

Recently I watched Last of the Mohicans and then another book I was reading mentioned western frontier archetypes, particularly Fenimore Cooper's Natty Bumppo of the Leatherstocking Tales, so I found myself reading the book whilst listening to the movie soundtrack.

You may be wondering what the point of this post is and I tell you: HOUSE, MD.

Yes, ever since my college roommate introduced me to the joy and hilarity of BlackAdder and PG Wodehouse I have been a devoted fan of Hugh Laurie.

He's a musician. I just saw a snippet today of the episodes where Dave Mathews guest stars as a patient, who just so happens to be a musician, a classical musician on the show. And the interview cut back and forth to Hugh Laurie talking about how amazing Dave Mathews is and Dave Mathews commenting wryly that for the piano bits he had a hand double while Hugh had not. No one questioned their respective guitar skills. Although, the episode where House has spent all the time he's supposed to be hiring a new team learning Van Halen riffs is pretty amusing. But back to the show! And to Dave Mathews. I don't know who picks the music for this show but I always love it! Since I've been watching again it has struck me AGAIN how well selected it always is. Particularly whatever song is chosen to sum up the emotion at the end of the episode. I don't even remember what episode it was but I was led so far as to look up the song (Dave Mathews: Some Devil) and finding that it wasn't on iTunes and wasn't in any of the stores I visited in the next day or so I ended up having to buy the entire album on the internet- and NOT in mp3 format. Then wait forever for it to come in the mail. Geez.

It was worth it. This is a great song.

and a bonus of a Hugh Laurie original (he's SO funny):

song of the day

2008-06-16T20:19:00.001-06:00

I'm Afraid I'm Not Supposed to Be Like This
Waterdeep

Well I’m afraid I’m not supposed to be like this
Like I was born in a land where no serpent hissed
And I have waited a long time for Your kiss

Well I have felt that they’d all take offense at me
And so a fence I have built to protect the seed
But all the bricks will secure its mortality

I have been seated in circles and stood in disgrace
At the noted intention to be in place
And I have seen that one man saved the human race
But it took His life and it took His faith

I have risen from ashes and fed on flames
But even so I still fear I have played a game
And it seems no one else is as sick and depraved

I have heard that I’m not supposed to be this way
And still the stones that are lifted fall down to stay
But I keep doubting and think one will strike my face

He’s been promising me something more than pain
Where the cost is grace and my loss is gain
And I have chosen because there is no other way
I either wallow in shame
Or humble myself and be saved
And be saved

a tribute playlist for my dad

2008-06-15T19:16:00.002-06:00

After putting the obvious (to me) songs on this playlist I just typed in "father," mainly to peruse Justin McRoberts album of the same name, but it gave me pause as I saw Everclear's "Father of Mine" that most songs about fathers are about their absence rather than presence. Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You" comes to mind.

I think it's sad and is a good example of art imitating life. Tonight at church the sermon centered on fatherhood (it actually coincided well with the gospel from John of Jesus' feeling pity for the crowds who were like a sheep without a shepherd.) Our deacon, who preached today, talked about the role and importance of spiritual fatherhood to which I say Amen.

Tracklist of CD titled "Daddy Gi Gi the One" (hard g's, I actually have no idea where this nickname came from.)

1. Gonna Have a Party: Alabama
2. Here for the Party: Gretchen Wilson
3. When the Sun Goes Down: Kenny Chseney
4. Big Time: Big & Rich
5. Start Me Up: Rolling Stones
6. Cowboy: Kid Rock
7. Little Miss Magic: Jimmy Buffett
8. Country Road: James Taylor
9. My Love Will Keep: Adrienne Young and Little Sadie
10. Butterfly Kisses: Bob Carlisle
11. Daughters: John Mayer Trio
12. Iowa: Alli Rogers
13. Ca C'est Bon: L'Angelus
14. Sister Rosa: Neville Brothers
15. Wanna Be Loved: dc Talk
16. Growing Older But Not UP: Jimmy Buffett
17. Early in the Morning: Andrew Osenga
18. What a Wonderful World: Louis Armstrong

The first half is songs my dad likes or I grew up listening too, funny, things like perhaps "Sister Rosa" started me on social justice at a young age. I still love James Taylor (I gifted "One Man Band" to my dad for Christmas). When my sister and I were really into dc Talk in high school "Wanna Be Loved" was the song my dad liked. I'm embarassed to include "Butterfly Kisses" but really, I had to. I feel like the rest is musically self-explanatory. :)

the kind of musical giddiness this blog is really for

2008-06-14T16:18:00.003-06:00

Don Chaffer is insane. I mean that in the sense that he's doing something really crazy, all out, and I LOVE IT. I mean, it's conceptual, it's performance art, it's no-holds-barred, it's (literally) kind of epic. Don says this about the attempt within the context of his usual Christian audience (although I am loathe to label his audience "usual"),

"The broader problem with broad swaths of evangelical subculture is dishonesty at an emotional level," Chaffer adds. "I was at a point in my life where I couldn't afford that. I had to get this stuff down."

Let's back up, before I left on my trip I mentioned that I was going to commit some more time/effort to listening to Don Chaffer's latest offering "The Khrusty Brothers" (likeminded blogpost here).

The Khrusty brothers is a concept piece centered around a fictional group of brothers in Appalachia. Like most good art, you sort of have to get into it to understand. Eventually Don wants to turn the concept into an off broadway rock musical. The play sounds AMAZING. Not only does the whole idea just make my head want to explode but the songs are SO GREAT for this story, not to mention the story would incorporate "Both of Us Will Feel the Blast" which I was just reflecting on the other day what an amazing song that is. If you were here I would be jumping up and down and trying to incoherently explain why everything about this is so awesome.

This is one of those moments where my friends claim they feel a lot of pressure when I'm like, "LISTEN TO THIS SONG IT'S AMAZING." Then I rave about why I think it's utterly unique and indispensable to the human deposit of art and then just look at whoever it is. (Liz. Claire.) They look back at me, uncomfortable. "Um, it was a good song." I sigh.

But I do it anyway.

So.

I LOVE THE BEGINNING. This song is funky from the beginning and draws you in right away, I think it captures the whole album the most easily if I had to pick a single song. The scene is set so well. Danny busts into the room and angels stop him in his sputtering anger.

Jesus says he can see him face to face if he thinks he's got the balls. YES! I love that! I really feel like that's true to Life! There is so much truth in this song!

The other part I think is just utterly wonderful is when Jesus pours himself a drink (I just shake my head in wonder at how artfully this is put together.) and explains that his fiancee is supposed to speak His mind and just doesn't get it. I so resonate with that, it's so earthy.

Then when Danny says he just gives up and the ANGELS SING IT UNDER THEIR BREATH- HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. To me that little bit might be the most crafty part of the song because it's really the moment of revelation and the angels are rejoicing even though the narrator doesn't even really see what's going on.

With that you just have to try to appreciate it. This is from the CD release show including an intro from Cowboy Jesus (interestingly I've had a note on the side of my comp for a few years now to spark a poem and it just says "Jesus in red cowboy boots.") and then "Sympathy for Jesus" live.

I came stumbling into church with a hot gun in my hands.
I was ready to talk to Jesus, to tell him my demands.
Jesus ain't no fool, he's seen this kind of thing before,
And he had a couple of angels stop me at the front door

I said now come on, that ain't fair, you should be accessible to all.
He said, "everybody gets a secretary even just to take their phone calls.
So address me to my face if you think you've got the balls
but i ain't playing around boy at all."

Well this is not what i expected so i stiffened in my stance
and tried hard to remember every single shitty circumstance
then i quivered like a victim with his predator in sight
I was ready now to vindicate, I was ready to start a fight

Now you can stand right there and judge me.
Shoot, you can send me straight to hell.
I now you've got the power, I know that fact full well.
But before you do explain to me, why suffering? and why death?
and why did i pray all those years and waste all that good breath?

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

the angels sang it under their breath by the door

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I give up, I can't go on like this anymore.

"Well I appreciate your kind," he said, and then Jesus poured a drink.
For my face must have looked funny 'cause he said, "it's not like you think
you see I'm saddled with the job, oh, of interpreting my dad
to a bunch of frightened people, frightened or just mad."

"most of them think they've got it right,"
and then he threw some ice cubes in,
"but most of them are just dead wrong
about death and life and sin."

"And then I've got my fiancee, she's supposed to speak my mind,
sometimes she's just chicken and then she messes it up other times."

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

the angels sang it under their breath by the door.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I give up, I can't go on like this anymore.

A great article about the Khrusty Brothers live.

More evidence why I think you have to listen to any of Don's songs at least ten times before you can start to appreciate them. I've been listneing to "You Were At the Time for Love" recently. Between that and learning more about this album I decided I couldn't go any longer without having "What You Don't Know." Thoughts to come MUCH later (like after I've listened to the album at least ten times.)

humanity unfolding: Holly Sienty

2008-06-13T21:03:00.004-06:00

When Holly sat down at the grand piano her lithe figure and beamy mango-coloured dress set a contrast to the bulky black instrument dominating stage left. In a single convulsive wave of breath and motion, though, she managed forge a connection that held the room enthralled at her surprisingly boozy voice and personal sound.

She played two songs she's recently written, "My Dinah" and "Jubilee." I admit to preferring the former at first, it was in response to an assignment to create a song from a newspaper article. Holly saw this article about camel breeding in Saudi Arabia and wrote a song about it. Something about that in itself strikes me as incredibly lovely and poignantly quirky. I love the point of view she takes, the intensity with which she treats her subject, the wonderful images (deserts in bloom, camels with long neck and lashes, solitary trails...), and not least the sultry tone the whole song takes.

However, upon further listening I think the long-term favorite of the evening will be "Jubilee." I am already eyeing this song for my Lent09 CD to point to God's faithfulness when despair seems inevitable. I love this song on its own merits, not just because I like Holly's sensibilities; the hopelessness transformed into a vision of freedom. Again Holly's strength as a writer shines through with the strong internal rhymes while still painting a vivid picture of withering fruit trees and dusty forlorn faces. "Jubilee" manages to be soulful, mournful, soothing, and redemptive all at once.

Listen.

I wish you could know Holly so that her unassuming and impish personality could cause you to wonder at her versatility and genuine artistry as a songwriter. Proud to call her a friend. :)

mix cd goodness

2008-06-13T20:23:00.002-06:00

I made this CD for a friend I'd been out of touch with for a while,so I had to catch him up. Here's the tracklist with some explanations.

1. I Don't Wanna Waste Your Time: Over the Rhine
I love Over the Rhine, they are unbelievable writers, Karin has this amazing unique voice and they have a great sound. This is the opening track of their most recent album and both times I've seen them live they've opened with it and, well, I have a hard time these days NOT opening a CD with this song because it's so perfect! I don't want to waste your time! And I LOVE the "when it comes to what is real there's no such thing as greed." The whole impetus behind this song of wanting their music to MEAN something- that just completely resonates with me.

2. Swing Life Away: Rise Against
My friend Eli put this song on a mix CD she made me and for some reason I just really like it. There's something carefree and simple about it, something basic and joyful and I love that. I also just love the image of swinging on a front porch, getting by on minimum wage, and sharing each others woundedness. It's a good thing.

3. Used to Love: Judd & Maggie
Judd & Maggie are a Catholic brother/sister duo who actually Mario introduced me to a few years back. I think their music just keeps getting better, they have this great artistic indie sound, to me, and they're just cool. I went to see them and Steven Delopoulos at this little coffee shop near my neighborhood in Chicago and got to hang out with them for like an hour and they're ridiculously Catholic and really true to their unique voice. I think the combination is really winning. I love this song because it's *so* love-and-responsibility, personalistic, theology-of-the-body, etc. Plus it's catchy. :)

4. Even in the Darkness: Rue Royale
A band I randomly saw at the same aforementioned coffee shop, this time husband and wife duo and despite their Postal Service-esque sound, they really do sound like this live which is impressive. I love the imagery of this song and relate to it.

5. To Be Alone With You: Sufjan Stevens
For some reason this became my Advent/Christmas theme song. I think it's really Incarnational- what Jesus did to be "alone" with us. Plus this whole album has this fantastic surreal feel to it.

6. In the Secret of His Presence: Sandra McCracken
So this song is actually based off of a 200 year old hymn by Isaac Watts (who is one of my songwriting heroes) but I think it captures Eucharistic adoration perfectly. It really expresses exactly how I feel, not to mention Sandra has such a lovely voice and I love this arrangement, it's so sparse and beautiful.

7. Who Can Ascend: Jon Shirley
I became obsessed with this song during Lent07. Well, I guess it's an extension of my obsession with Psalm 24. But anyway, it's pretty clear why someone desperate to climb the mountain of the Lord and see His face would love this song. And that's why I love it. Plus I think it builds really well and I think it is a true worship song in the sense that it really is a cry out to the Lord.

8. All I know: 100 Portraits (Ben and Robin Pasley)

9. Father of My Dreams: Nick Carleton Band
Okay, admittedly this song is slightly cheesy (mainly the title, I'm sure they could have thought of a better one) but who DOESN'T relate to it?! "You gave me Jesus and I fight to pray"?! I was won over right there. This is a local Colorado band and I went to see them live at a coffeeshop here and was BLOWN AWAY, really. The guy singing, you can't tell so much in this song but he has an incredible range! Anyway, simple as the lyrics are I think they say something profound and jubilant nonetheless.

10. Servant of All: Misty Edwards

11. He Loves Me (at this point called the "ooh ooh song"): Enter the Worship Circle (VERY rough demo)
This is an excerpt from their podcast to demonstrate some of the qualities I love the most about the Pasleys- they just take something and RUN with it! Seriously being in a room where music and prayer are just bouncing around off the walls, they're so great. All of their songs have this great raw edge and it's all super-acoustic: hand drums, guitars, random stuff. I love the part of this little thing where they are literally just throwing stuff out, "and now Robin sings!" and I love the part where Ben's voice goes crazy and where he says "he freaks out and pours good stuff all over my head." Now THAT'S a great interpretation of the psalms...

12. He Loves Me: Enter the Worship Circle (Ben and Robin Pasley)
So here is the version on the album and I still love the intimacy of it. The lyrics are great- just the discussion of God's totally undeserved and unreserved love for us. Their songs really make me want to yell the words along, LET'S GO WITH HE LOVES ME!

13. Everything Glorious: David Crowder Band
So this song just won a GMA award for, like, best worship song of 2007 or something. Funnily enough I fell in love with it in the summer of '06 when Claire and I drove all over the western united states (GRAND CANYON! possibly my favorite place in America...) but everywhere we went I had to confront exactly what Crowder says here "you make everything glorious...and I am Yours. What does that make me?" Because everything WAS so so so glorious... on a dorky sidenote the part that says "my eyes are small but they have seen the beauty of enormous things," I later heard mewithoutYou say something very similar on the song you'll hear later and realized I think both songs are actually referencing the same Rumi poem. SHARED SOURCETEXT, WOO!

14. For the Morning: Alli Rogers
I love Alli Rogers. This is one of those songs that sort of defies description: it's poetic and evocative, scriptural and personal, awe-filled and emotional, it is just so... I don't know, it is so easy to get lost in. To pray with, to inspire hope, just great.

15. This Too Shall Be Made Right: Derek Webb
I saw Derek in Chicago and he opened with this song from his newest album (which hadn't been released yet at the time) and I was like...."yup, this is why I LOVE Derek Webb."

16. When the Saints: Sara Groves
If I didn't try to hold it back, this song would make me weep every time I hear it. Maybe it's because all of the examples she gives of modern sainthood- I feel like I know people doing those things and just the beauty of it overwhelms me. On Matt Maher's new album I really like the "Shine like the Sun" song for the same reason- the hands and feet of those who serve the poor are SO BEAUTIFUL and the places they work and live in obscurity...it's like, that's the kingdom- IT'S AMONG US NOW! And so often we are SO caught up in other totally unimportant things that we miss it, at least I do, and this song reminds me that there is a place for me among that cloud of witnesses, I just have to have faith and finish the race. Really, it's so inspiring to me.

17. Good Good End: Waterdeep
Ah, Waterdeep. From the opening second this song is so eclectic and totally owned by Don and Lori Chaffer. I just love the heart of this song "it's a long hard road with a good good end." Just the kind of nonplussed wonder as we get to join them in stepping back and being amazed by life and our own eternity.

theme songs

2008-06-12T19:16:00.003-06:00

So I've spent five nights at Rocky Mountain National Park in the past 13 days, before that was catching up with friends in Florida and now am trying to catch my breath so that I can plan a month-long camping trip with Emily and pack to move to Pennsylvania. But that's not why you're here!!!

Whilst camping these last few weeks I realized an indispensable part of camping is music- on round 2 at RMNP I brought my ipod speakers and it was wonderful. I have been mentally creating a playlist for my trip with Emily but these past few days brought to mind songs that have been definitive for trips in the past

Cross Country with my mom and sister, circa 1995- ALABAMA'S GREATEST HITS (i.e. the compromise between my mom wanting to listen to Hootie and the Blowfish and my sister and I wanting to listen to Alanis Morisette, now I think I would choose EITHER over Alabama but their music is sentimental to me now, so there you go.)

Driving up to Camp Skyline with Morgan this song MUST be played up Lookout Mountain, 2001 to present- Sheryl Crow: Kiss That Girl
(ignore the anime, in fact go to a different screen and think about growing up and driving up a mountain when the air starts to smell like who you really are)

Epic Roadtrip with Claire, summer 2006- David Crowder Band: Everything Glorious

Camping trip with Claire, two weeks ago- Jars of Clay: Love Song for a Savior

Camping trip with Lola and Kat, just returned- Kansas: Carry On My Wayward Son

get out the map!

2008-05-23T08:14:00.003-06:00

I flew to Orlando on Wednesday. While flying I continued to read my amazing book whilst listening to the new mix cd I made (will post contents later) as well as deciding to listen to the Khrusty Brothers again (it's an album that requires some attention).

Now I'm about to drive to Jacksonville for a retreat for the weekend. I haven't gotten to inundate my college roommate, Liz, with new music for almost a year now so I've already made her listen, intermittently, to Misty Edwards, Alli Rogers, Ingrid Michaelson, Over the Rhine, Colbie Callait, well, it's been a lot. So I'll be off for a few days but blogs to look forward to when I get back:

-a way overdue review of seeing Superchick with my cousin
-Holly's singer/songwriter workshop (sort of waiting till I have mp3s of her songs)
-actual review of Misty Edwards' "Relentless"
-surely more thoughts on worship after the weekend and last week's "Logos"

i love louie

2008-05-20T22:15:00.000-06:00

really, this is just genius.

I wouldn't trade this girl for a soul

2008-05-20T21:52:00.002-06:00

This is a song for Lau, who I will see in less than 24 hours!!!

we cried over boys and we laughed over beers...

books & music

2008-05-19T17:51:00.003-06:00

I just got an email from the library saying that this book was ready for me to pick it up! I am so excited to read it, I've been eyeing it for close to two years now, it had better be good!!!!

note: I'm back and have just read the first chapter and I'm already blown away. Part of me is like, "why didn't I read this years ago?!" and another part of me thinks, as accessible as its goal is to be, I still wouldn't have been ready until now. It's amazing. Go grab this right now and start reading.

a trio of songs for trinity sunday

2008-05-18T21:56:00.002-06:00

first the complement to Misty Edwards' biblical usage: the first time I heard this song it was to run an errand for my friend Aleya and the CD just happened to be in the player. I was all, "Jennifer Knapp, how did you KNOW those were all my favorite verses?!"

The song is called "Trinity"

I went and saw the new Narnia movie tonight and it was actually a lot better than I expected. The song at the end was really good so I'm going to share it. It's Regina Spektor which is a sort of pleasant surprise.

I don't have a youtube for this last one; it's a song I've loved dearly since I first heard it and it just felt right tonight.

All I know
100 Portraits

today if there's ever been a day when I needed a rescue
I've been digging with all three hands a hole that I can't climb out from
someone throw me a rope
woven with the rounds of history
something I can believe in

someone told me a lie
someone told me
I should climb, so I tried
but I'm not that strong

someone found me, yeah
someone found me
He came down, pulled me out, bandaged me

Oh, all I know is
Love found me broken
Oh, all I know is
the Healer has freed me
from all of my shame
legs that were withered
are under me walking
I'm leaving this pain that I built with my pride
hands that were broken, now are waving goodbye

someone sold me a lie
someone told me
I should be in myself, but I'm not that tall
someone showed me
someone showed me
that I fall down
and call out, He will rescue me

Oh, all I know is
Love found me broken
Oh, all I know is
the Healer has freed me
from all of my shame
legs that were withered
are under me walking
I'm leaving this pain that I built with my pride
hands that were broken, now are waving goodbye

Oh, all I know is
Love found me broken
Oh, all I know is
the Healer has freed me
from all of my shame
legs that were twisted
are under me walking
I'm leaving this pain that I built with my pride
hands that were broken, now are waving goodbye
They are waving goodbye.

and the Hands that just healed me
draw me close to His side

I was broken, I was broken
Oh, this Hand has healed me, came and touched me, came and made me whole.
I said now I have to dance!
I lift it up
Oh now, all of my life I will sing!
Oh now, join me, join me, join me
Oh now, join me, join me, join me

Oh, all I know is
Love found me broken
Oh, all I know is goodbye lonely!
Goodbye, goodbye broken!
Goodbye, goodbye to blackness!
Goodbye to lonely!
Goodbye to hear my sin all in my mind
This Hand come around my left and
this Hand come around my right and
draw me close to the face of God!
I feel the kisses, I feel the holy something, the kisses from the mouth of my God!
And the sweet tears rolling and they hold me closer, sweet tears roll, hold me now.

whoa

2008-05-16T21:52:00.004-06:00

If anyone knows me they know that 48 hours is more than enough time for me to become totally into something new. MISTY EDWARDS. I can't speak for the weird dance going on but this song is SO UNBELIEVABLE. It seriously makes me want to freak out- not many songs make me want to kickbox and pray in tongues at the same time, in fact this might be the only one. It's like some of the most powerful ideas and scriptures all rolled into one song. You have to listen to it to understand how crazy incredible it is.

People Get Ready
Misty Edwards

I can hear the rhythm
of the Lion of the tribe of Judah

He's doing a new thing
So we're singing a new song

He's not a baby in a manger anymore
He's not a broken man on a cross
He didn't stay in the grave
And He's not staying in heaven forever!

He's alive
He's alive
He's alive
He's alive!

People get ready!
Jesus is coming!

We join in the song of the ages
It's a new song
It's a new song
It's a new song

We say to the One who was slain,
"You have proven Your love,
And You have shown us, shown us
That You can be trusted."

So take the scroll and open
And open, and open the seals
We trust You, Jesus
And we want you to come back
So take the scroll and open the seals
So take the scroll and open the seals

I can hear the rhythm
of the Lion of the tribe of Judah

He's doing a new thing
So we're singing a new song

He's not a baby in a manger anymore
He's not a broken man on a cross
He didn't stay in the grave
And He's not staying in heaven forever!

He's alive
He's alive
He's alive
He's alive!

People get ready!
Jesus is coming!

People walking around
With their fingers in the their ears
Singing, "Da da da da da."
"I don't want to hear the sound of the coming King."

But He says, he says,
"Well, I have held my peace for
A long, long, long, long time
And in my silence you thought
That i was all together like you.
And in your heart you were settled in complacency
You said, 'He won't even respond.'
You said, 'He's not interested."
You said, 'He's dead and gone."
But I've been silent for such
A long, long, long, long time
But I'm about to gasp, to pant,
To cry out, to cry out,
I'm going to shout!"

Once again I'm going to shake
Everything that can be shaken
Once again I'm going to break
Everything that can be broken

Are you ready?
Are you ready for this?

Are you ready?
Are you ready?

People get ready!
Jesus is coming!

He's coming!
He's coming!
He's coming!
He's coming!!!

songs that stick

2008-05-13T16:16:00.003-06:00

New Shiny Shoes
Sandra McCracken

It's been almost two years now since I saw you last
Sorry I remember you anyway 'cause you won't escort me out of your past
So you'd better just leave me here
'Cause I knew you when
Just take your new shiny shoes
You don't have to be my friend

Go ahead and walk away
Sever these last ties
I am nothing but a breath
And you're nothing but a lie

You got the last word when you left
to put me in my place
and you went off to your wild dreams
gone without a trace

While you follow that yellow brick road
to thine own self be true
and when you choose to go that way
in the end there is only you

Go ahead and walk away
Sever these last ties
I am nothing but a breath
And you're nothing but a lie

high on the sound of your own name
and this fleeting fanfare
the common ground is falling down
as if it was never there

while I'm still wearing this same old dress
my heart has come alive
and i will wait for your return
if you'll ever change your mind

Go ahead and walk away
Sever these last ties
I am nothing but a breath
And you're nothing but a lie

I wish I could find a way for you to actually hear this song
. Don't you love (and sometimes hate?) when there are songs that wrench on you again and again? Sometimes because they're too close to home and other times because it's so far from where you are?

I once went to a poetry reading to raise money for the situation in Darfur and two poets quoted Czeslaw Milosz, "Poetry doesn't change anything." Both poets, of course, attempting to disagree. I have to say perhaps the highest aim of art is to do just that: change something. Sometimes it's a subtle change in the way we approach something, sometimes it's picking up the phone to fight seeming inevitability, sometimes it leads us to more art or prayer, or conversation, and the ripples continue.

This song does all of that for me.

even if your hands are shaking: john mayer and more thoughts on conventional romantic ideas...

2008-05-12T21:46:00.001-06:00

So part of me really likes this song. I mean, oftentimes I find it incomprehensible when people don't like the same music I do so maybe that should be taken into account but really it's a theme commonly expressed in the young(ish) and angsty- it's better to say too much than to never say what you need to say

And I couldn't disagree more, John. I will go ahead and speak as a young(ish) and angsty person and declare that I have often really resonated with this sentiment: I don't believe in having regrets, I'm probably more passionate about things than is prudent, and I'm (sometimes brutally) honest to a fault. So I speak from experience when I say that, really, sometimes, it is better to keep your mouth shut. Seriously, not everything that we feel like NEEDS to be shared, really needs to be shared. I genuinely think we have an unhealthy societal obsession with the dramatic, romantic, last-ditch, everything-hangs-on-this-moment, sort of confrontations and monologues that make for good TELEVISION. Not so good real life. Why have relationships and communication deteriorated to the point where this is necessary?

I'm not totally against the sentiment in "Say." Once you've screwed up a relationship and need to apologize or have been untruthful in some way, sometimes it does come to the point where you have to risk something for things to be made right. If your brother has something against you and you are getting ready to make a sacrifice- go leave your sacrifice and make amends with your brother.

But there is still something about this song that feels emotionally manipulative. Actually maybe I just resent that John Mayer feels emotionally manipulative. He is a classic example of why I usually steer clear of reading interviews with musicians/actors of a certain celebrity: I always end up disliking them. Or worse, sometimes they come off as someone cool who you might have a good conversation with, drink a few beers on the swing and really connect. Then you have this good feeling toward them and then the next interview you read you're like, ONLY A JERK WOULD SAY THAT, YOU ARE SUCH A JERK! Is consistency too much to ask?

Or perhaps that's the whole crux of any kind of artist: the first person you portray in your music isn't necessarily "you." Even the "I" of one's own work isn't necessarily "me." It's who I choose to be, it's what I choose to portray, and most of us prefer to portray ourselves with our best foot forward. Maybe that's why I like really confessional songwriters, because it resonates as more authentic or something.

While I'm in the vein of pop music of a confessional nature, maybe the aforementioned is why I like Kelly Clarkson. As a group of my friends used to tell each other with mock-serious, knowing looks, "Kelly understands." This song DEFINITELY qualifies as emotionally manipulative, but DAMN, if you're going to manipulate me the dizzying changes of keys and octaves HAS to be the way to do it.

I think these songs have some dialogue together. Listen to both of them- am I the only one who thinks there are threads woven between the subjects?

high fidelity, natasha bedingfield, and "soul mates"

2008-05-10T19:28:00.002-06:00

What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music? (Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity")

(full video here, it's interesting actually.)

I read an article at BustedHalo.com the other day about the obsession in our culture with finding your "soul mate". I was intrigued by the discussion, statistics cited, etc. Back when my sister got me to listen to Natasha Bedingfield's hilarious and all-too-true "I Wanna Have Your Babies" I made my friend Marci listen to it because it's so ridiculous and yet hits close to home (if you knew what I was thinking/it would make you like, "whoa!") and she was looking at the other videos from Natasha's new album and said that she liked "Soul Mate" better. I watched the video (v. intelligent, imo) and listened to the words and found myself more disturbed than entertained. I think the chorus kind of says it all:

who doesn't long for someone to hold?
who knows how to love you without being told?
oh somebody tell me, why I'm on my own
if there's a soul mate for everyone?

It's a difficult lyric because I think Ms. Bedingfield speaks the truth: who doesn't want those things? At the same time the other half sort of infuriates me; the suggestion that there is someone out there who can love you effortlessly, "without being told." I'm sorry, my general idealism loses out for a moment, this is just pure fantasy. Relationships take time and effort. My friend Nick holds that anyone can marry anyone else because love is a decision (he also claims his two non-negotiables for a wife are that she doesn't want a diamond and will let him wear jeans to the wedding, but I digress.) I won't go so far as Nick but I believe there is a grain of wisdom in his thinking here. Love IS a decision and requires sacrifice, so the idea that there is this ONE person out there who it will be easy to love. None of us are easy to really love.

Anyway, all this came back to mind because I heard this song overhead while reading at a Barnes & Nobles and I was just thinking in the midst of stupid "chick lit," unbelievably improbable romantic comedies, ADVERTISING, and just the whole facade our culture tells us is the "good life"I wonder how much we buy into it. How much we should buy into it. I speak from the middle, I think. Any friend of mine can tell you how vehement I am against girls "settling" for relationships that aren't good for them but at the same time expecting perfection from ANYONE (including oneself) is just a recipe for disaster. On the other hand I am one of those lovers of books like "A Severe Mercy" and really believe in the tremendous power of two people becoming one person.

One of the questions the article brought up was how comfortable you are with being someone else's "soul mate." The object, I suppose you could say, as opposed to the subject of such a tight relationship. I thought that was an interesting question. Lots of pressure, huh?

I told my friend Lauren last night and concluded by saying that I think the idea of seeking out "The One" (as LG says, we're really looking for "The Two" anyway) is totally unrealistic and this is the crux of my issue with the "Soul Mate" song. I genuinely believe in a relationship of becoming with the other. One of my favorite people, TomNeal, who taught me Christian Tradition in college gave us one Friday off because he and his wife were going away to celebrate their (12th?) anniversary and he commented that the more he knows his wife the more of a beautiful mystery she is. Now that's what I'm talking about.

if Lindsay influenced the liturgy...

2008-05-04T20:24:00.001-06:00

I would have somehow worked Over the Rhine's song "The Trumpet Child" into the mass for today's feast of the Ascension.

more mix CD goodness

2008-05-04T13:08:00.002-06:00

I met a Catholic musician recently who expressed his frustration with the lack of artistry and authenticity in most Christian music, a genre he's pretty much given up on. I decided to make him a mix CD to remedy this. He's primarily a pianist, and I knew he liked Burlap to Cashmere and admired Rich Mullins. So here's what I came up with:

1. I Don't Wanna Waste Your Time: Over the Rhine
2. The Dress Looks Nice on You: Sufjan Stevens
3. The Things We Can and Cannot Keep: Alli Rogers
4. She Held My Hand: Steven Delopoulos
5. Mercy Moves Me: 100 Portraits
6. Springtime Indiana: Sandra McCracken
7. Mansions: Steven Delopoulos (from his live album)
8. On a Night That Felt Outdated: Waterdeep
9. May I Always Keep My Feet Upon the Ground: Steven Delopoulos
10. A Savior on Capitol Hill: Derek Webb
11. Have You Fallen on the Cornerstone: Don Chaffer
12. Eve: Sandra McCracken
13. Work to Be Done: Steven Delopoulos
14. Used to Love: Judd & Maggie
15. Lonely Sometimes: Waterdeep
16. For the Morning: Alli Rogers (from "At Sea")
17. Ohio: Over the Rhine
18. To Be Alone With You: Sufjan Stevens
19. Pieces: Enter the Worship Circle
20. 18 Bullet Holes: Waterdeep

which leads us to.... chair and microphone, vol 1 review

2008-05-02T20:28:00.002-06:00

I downloaded Chair and Microphone, Vol 1 from emusic.com about a week ago and, gosh, the more I listen to Robin and Ben Pasley just...do what they do... the more I like them.

The first time I was mesmerized by their style of music and worship was through the songs "save me" and "improv" from their collaboration with Waterdeep on the first "Enter the Worship Circle" album. The improv song left a big impression on me- especially when I learned that its title says it all; it's literally an improvised song that wanders through some of the best bits of Song of Songs, Isaiah, and Hosea. Then it weaves that with personal responses to the promises offered in those places, really poignant and more beautiful for its spontaneity.

So, back to the project at hand (it's not newly released or anything, just new to me, I've been eyeing it for a while now) the song that stands out the most is the first one, "Pieces." The imagery is wonderful, it immediately caught my attention with the first line I swallowed the key/to the door painted red/that leads to the big room filled with regrets. I just love how concrete it is, and poetic.

I suppose that highlights one of the Pasleys talents which is managing to make really strong emotional connections with really specific images while at the same time constructing choruses that are accessible but not trite.

My other favorite tracks are probably "Rescue Me Deep", "Wedding Days" (I like the straightforward simile running through the song), and "Answer Me." I also really love the whole construction of "Crown Him."

But in the vein I've come to expect from these projects almost all the songs speak to me in different ways, at different levels as they play through.

They really have managed to continuously capture the spirit of the psalms. I say that in the sense of containing pieces of your personal journey even if it's not where you are at the moment. The Catholic Church participates in the ancient Christian tradition of praying the psalms everyday and we all pray the same psalms. Obviously the millions of people praying the same psalms are not all in the same place in their emotional and spiritual lives and yet these words resonate with all of us somehow. So to say that Ben and Robin have managed to create pieces of art that can have that effect is high praise.

wikipedia lets me down again

2008-05-02T13:50:00.003-06:00

no entry for "100 portraits", "enter the worship circle", OR "ben/robin pasley" as individuals?! WHAT THE HECK??

I am LOVING this song recently. I actually really really love the random version of them just getting the idea out there. Their voices are just amazing and unique. Makes me happy.

nytimes blog on music & lyrics

2008-05-01T16:34:00.002-06:00

Once again Morgan pulling through for me... she gchatted me this article by Rosanne Cash about songwriting: craft, art, poetic license and other good things.

Also good notes for wannabe music interviewer like myself...

Judd & Maggie: Not Quite

2008-04-29T12:05:00.002-06:00

I keep playing this song over and over.

Oh no, not again.
Start to feel abandoned
and my good intentions
are paving the long way
that gets longer every day.

Not enough, I'm never enough
when all the love you give me is a bluff
and I spend time on the meaningless stuff.
It's not enough.

Oh no, not again.
Trippin' me on my journey
and my hands stutter to explain
the same problem all over again.

I'm not enough, I'm never enough
when all the love you give me is a bluff
and I spend time on the meaningless stuff.
It's not enough.

Oh, it's not enough.

It's you only, or I'm lonely.
It's you only, or I'm lonely.

And I spend time on the meaningless stuff,
it's not enough.

It's not enough, never enough,
when all the love you give me is a bluff
and I spend time on the meaningless stuff.
It's not enough.

Oh, it's not enough.
(It's you only, or I'm lonely)
It's you only, or I'm lonely.
It's you only, or I'm lonely.

good sounds

2008-04-29T11:02:00.002-06:00

At my Starbucks every once in a while I hear a song that rings familiar and it's never on a playlist that I can pull up on the system- annoying! But recently I have heard Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) floating over to the bar and I asked my friend Holly (a gifted musician and songwriter in her own right) if she was familiar with their music. She wasn't so I made her a mix CD of some of my faves with a few bonus tracks thrown on. The playlist was:

1. This Side: Nickel Creek
2. Let it Fall: Sean Watkins
3. Doubting Thomas: Nickel Creek
4. When You Come Back Down: Nickel Creek
5. Reasons Why: Nickel Creek
6. The Lighthouse Tale: Nickel Creek
7. Run Away Girl: Sean Watkins
8. Spit on a Stranger: Nickel Creek
9. No Lighted Windows: Sean Watkins
10. When in Rome: Nickel Creek
11. House of Tom Bombadil: Nickel Creek
12. The Fox: Nickel Creek
13. Art of Virtue: Adrienne Young and Little Sadie
14. The Things We Can and Cannot Keep: Alli Rogers
15. I Boast No More: Sandra McCracken
16. Wedding Dress: Derek Webb
17. Pieces: Enter the Worship Circle
18. Kingdom of Noise: Judd & Maggie
19. And: Waterdeep

so proud of my sissy...

2008-04-29T10:36:00.003-06:00

I like to share the things I love. Part of it is just enjoying being right but also when you love something you share it, right? In addition to brainwashing my sister into appreciating the music I love she has written about the two concerts she just went to (the "same" show twice that is) and it's scarily like something I would write.

Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Alli Rogers

2008-04-27T21:32:00.001-06:00

My sister went to see the aforementioned trio Friday night and wrote about it on her blog. In typical "us" fashion she decided to drive to West Virginia this evening to do it all over again...

David Crowder @ GMA Awards

2008-04-24T14:22:00.003-06:00

I just love the Crowder band. I can't help it. They are awesome and hilarious.

*Hogan rocking the violin, just makes me unreasonably happy.
*Jack's hair is almost as crazy as Crowder's beard. (which apparently it was suggested that he band it whilst filming new song cafes, a la Charlie Hall- he declined)

Full Dove Awards Listings

"real" reviews

2008-04-23T21:47:00.003-06:00

I don't know how people work with a deadline. I mean, I *do* I have worked with deadlines before and created art under them but for some reason music seems different. For example, when I first downloaded Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken's Ampersand EP on Valentine's Day I had this great idea about a review; except it was really complicated and involved a compare/contrast with the Indigo Girls' "All That We Let In" as well as reflections on seeing a couple renewing their wedding vows at daily mass. So it never happened. Then I got a mysterious CD in the mail the other day and when I opened it I was surprised to see the actual hardcopy of the EP, although I guess somewhere in my head I knew it was coming. But the review still hasn't happened, though if anyone (MORGAN) would like to anticipate what the connection between the aforementioned songs would have been, please feel free to share.

Also, I have been meaning to listen/think about/review several new albums: the mix CD Trey made me, the new stuff I've downloaded. But instead I've felt a driving necessity to listen to weird things like Rich Mullins-> Andrew Peterson or wake up and listen to Kelly Clarkson-> Saving Jane. Yeah.

So how to "real" reviewers do it? Phew.

Rita Springer: I Have to Believe

2008-04-23T14:31:00.002-06:00

So the cool thing about emusic.com is that for a monthly rate you get a whole slew of songs and, unlike a napster type service, it's DRM free. Sweet. I read the stats on the website and they say something like (because the lowest membership level is $10/30 songs a month) their users typically download 30 songs a month compared to an itunes user downloading 2 or 3 songs a month. I don't even WANT to track my monthly itunes spending but I know that for $10 I only get ten songs, not thirty, so their claim that their users are more likely to branch out and experiment with more music seems pretty well founded.

Case in point, I downloaded Rita Springer's new album, "I Have to Believe." I bought it based off of a few reviews I read that were positive and the fact that she sings "Freedom Reigns," a song I LOVE, and her song "Like You Jesus" was one I also really connected with and put on my Lent07 playlist.

So I decided to listen to the whole thing and although I don't know that this album will become one I come back to in its entirety time after time there are definitely songs that I think will reach that status, most notably "Rise Up." Anyone familiar with Neil Anderson's books would probably have the same immediate reference point but her lyrics really bring to mind his powerful Biblical statements of "Who I am in Christ."

I am blessed among the people
I am blessed among the nations
I am blessed because I am loved by You
I am loved and highly favored
Saved by the grace of a mighty Savior
I am blessed because I am loved by You
No weapon formed against me will prosper
No curse can ever take His promise from me
When hope is gone and the darkness has fallen
I will still believe, I will still believe
I`m will rise up, I`m will rise up
I`m will rise up and call myself blessed
I`m will rise up, I`m will rise up
I`m will rise up and call myself blessed

I also really like the track "O God Of Mine." I think it's gutsy to open a song by saying, O God of mine, I'll have no idols. I appreciate that.

Overall it sounds slightly more like something my Aunt Melody would like (nothing wrong with that, we just don't listen to TONS of the same stuff) than I normally listen to but there is an intensity and authenticity laced throughout which makes the songs truly inhabitable.

this just in

2008-04-20T20:48:00.000-06:00

I am addicted to emusic.com.

more from the steaming bean

2008-04-20T20:07:00.002-06:00

Friday I went to Parker again to see a band at the Steaming Bean. A couple that is part of the larger band, Second Chance, did an opening acoustic set and it was painful for me. They weren't really that bad they just sang songs like "Wind Beneath My Wings" as well as some cringe-inducing covers of both Matt Redman and George Strait?!

So I didn't have high hopes for the whole lot of them despite seeing a chipper youngish pregnant lady soundchecking with her electric violin (that was encouraging to me, thanks to Hogan.). They ended up being really good! No, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to see them again but their frontman could seriously belt it out and I appreciate a group whose members are all pushing past middle age. There were a lot of those members too- about eight if I remember correctly. Two electric guitars, bass, drums, keys, violin, and a guy with a sax and soprano sax. That would make seven. I was close. So they were surprisingly southern rock influenced, reminded me strongly of the Muzic Mafia crew.

All in all a nice low-key evening. :)

Ed Cash

2008-04-20T12:31:00.000-06:00

My sister actually alerted me to this. I was excited for him. :)

variations on a theme

2008-04-17T14:35:00.003-06:00

I am so small I can barely be seen.
How can this great love be inside me?

Look at your eyes. They are small,
but they see enormous things.

- Rumi

I heard this line in the middle of mewithoutYou's song, "Four Word Letter, Pt 2," and immediately thought of David Crowder's "Everything Glorious."

My eyes are small but they have seen
the glory of enormous things
which leads me to believe
there's light enough to see that

you make everything glorious
you make everything glorious
you make everything glorious
what does that make me?

I have to admit that I'm dorky enough to really appreciate things like shared source texts. I feel the same way about little musical riffs that just-maybe pay homage to each other, allusions to other artists or people in songs, or songs that complement each other in terms of lyrical growth or theme. I think this is why I like making themed playlists- I really like to sythesize and connect the dots.

For example I love Psalm 24, here are some of my fave songs that reference it.

Jon Shirley: Who Can Ascend?
Chris Tomlin/Charlie Hall: Give Us Clean Hands
Rich Mullins: My One Thing
Matt Redman: Lead Us Up the Mountain, Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?

"new" music

2008-04-17T13:31:00.005-06:00

There has been a recent influx.

My friend Trey made me a mix CD- review coming, it's NOT my usual fare!
Rediscovering mewithoutYou's new album (I love Brother, Sister so much it's hard to even branch out to their other stuff!)
I just joined emusic.com and have therefore downloaded Watermark's "A Grateful People," Enter the Worship Circle "Chair and Microphone," Rita Springer's "I Have to Believe," and some of Judd & Maggie's songs that I didn't have.
Joia and Brad gave me an iTunes giftcard for my birthday and I haven't gotten a single song yet! I am always perplexed despite usually having a mental list. I need to write it down because of course now I can't remember what albums I wanted to buy.
LOVING the Rich Mullins' records Mr. Clayton lent me.
Also I was behind on the podcasts I listen to.

What's a girl to do?!

You And The Evening Sky

2008-04-14T14:33:00.004-06:00

So Alli's new album officially releases tomorrow and I hope that many people get to interact with her words, music, and emotion.

You and the Evening Sky opens with the kind of electone organ drama which is sure to ignite the excitement that any fan of Alli’s is sure to be feeling when they slip this CD into their car or computer. And the record lives up to its beginning.

The songwriting is a bit different than on her other albums which makes me curious about the ways she is evolving as a songwriter- are we seeing a truer voice, simply a movement away from conventionality, the influence of co-writers?

I think the reason I love Ms. Rogers’ songwriting is her strong use of imagery. In the interviews included on the bonus downloads from discrevolt.com Alli and Don discuss their differences as songwriters and Don mentions that Alli is a very visual songwriter. I would be interested to unpack that a little more (because Don Chaffer can conjure an image more realistically than any illusionist) because I think this album is even more poetic than her others. Poetic in the sense that images tell the stories and the songs are further stripped of narration than some of her previous. I think this works in varying degrees; it really works on “How Long Until We Get There” but (as I have already discussed ad nauseum) I think it detracts in “New Today.”

Not to say her songs are spastic leaps from vision to vision- some have explicit narrative progression (“Baby I Believe in You”) and my favorite marriage of ecstatic imagery and clear narrative has to be “Things We Can and Cannot Keep.”

I wanted to display some snippets of image but perusing the lyrics I’m delighted to say I don’t think it works to pull them out of context- this is so pleasing because it makes me feel like these songs are really tightly woven. In the interview with Don she talks a lot about the emotions poured into the songs and evoked in their completion and I think that gets more to the core of Alli’s songs- they resonate in ways that are abundant, the way the word “sun” barely captures the thing that warms and enlivens our planet, the way “wind” scarcely covers the phenomenon both of a warm and gentle caress of air and also the destructive power that can rip buildings apart and trees up by the roots.

I've been mulling over this record for a few weeks now and the more I listen to it the more I like it. It's artistic, thoughtful, and it's poetry continues to impress me more the more I get to engage it.

Carry A Light: Firstly, I want to know if the line about a ,i>gift on the riverbank is a reference to Moses or if I am (as usual) reading too much into it.

I love the images and ideas here, it's like skipping stones across water and ripples in the same way. I can't help but think of Galadriel's phial for Frodo, the dark places in all of our lives and how to bring the light there, I love the memory of this song. Also the hopefulness- that's what light is, right?!

Don't Wash Your Hands of Me: I like the narrative of this song; it's sort of ambiguous and I like that. Also! Includes a section of "lalalaladada"s that I like. The lyric that stands out is I don't need you to feel my pain/I just need you to know my name. I also appreciate the boldness of saying I am innocence and I am truth.

Closer to the Moon: Besides being on my own Buechner kick which makes me appreciate this song, I like the conversational tone. It's full of strong imagery and word choice, when the silence gets accusing, the word "accuse" just has such heft to it.

I like the stars as a sign, the way the music in the song changes- it actually reminds me of some of Don's songs, I love the way it sort of wanders. I love the building background vocals of a kind of chanting, I love the piano interlude, I like the lack of words following the questioning and gives the listener time to respond.

At Sea: As a FL girl living in two different COLD places these past few years I love the bend of the song- it reminds me of A Severe Mercy, there are some great adjectives and turns of phrase.

This was another song that was on the live album but immediately I noticed the SWEET addition of mandolin! I'm a total sucker. :)

Things We Can and Cannot Keep: WHAT WILL SHINE LIKE GOLD WHEN THE STORY'S TOLD- that is a great lyric and such a beautiful, important statement. We all are so starved for meaning- this is where I want Buechner's journey to have an influence. It's a great song of self-discovery. I like the homage to Tim O'Brien and the strangeness of what we end up keeping- what shines like gold retrospectively. To take the analogy further it tends to be the times where, as Christians, we might say we are bing "refined," always a surprise.

PLUS, the writing is so tight! The line breaks are so well engineered, I also like the musing spirit, in a way. WHY ARE THESE THINGS THE ONES WE KEEP? I like the combo of question and answer, authority and apprenticeship.

I Caught Sight: I love to come to songs like these!! It REALLY CAPTURES the joy of unexpected glimpses of divinity, childlike in a way; delighted. I like the bits of vocal padding- it really is working. The vocals have a splendid exuberance to them.

Baby I Believe in You: My only complaint about this song is that it is totally MARRED by the "boys" making fun of it on the bonus sections! :) I think I like the use of the word "sexy" in songs like this (see Derek Webb). I love the idea of being led into the sea, something is great in that.

More sweet mandolin. And Alli's brother (Michael?) does a great job on percussion. I also like the you're a good man. I want to pray that part alone over so many of my brothers- I deeply appreciate the underlying confidence in the song.

How Long Until We Get There: This song is downright seductive. In the best way possible; a great example of Alli's emotional vocal range. I love the simile, head bowed like a child reciting grace.

I'm not always like this/I can't always find something this good

As an artist, I LOVE that line, for some reason that lyric just condenses this whole song- it's so HEADY, the strings take it over the top.

Come Now, My Love: I'm really into the use of the first person in this song- something about the perspective is slightly different and challenging.

there's nothing to keep you from me

...it sort of changes the perspective as an invitation not an invasion. It's a genuine love (agape) song, I like that I feel it could be about marriage or Jesus could be sweetly singing this into each of our hearts.

Go listen.

song for the day

2008-04-13T11:50:00.006-06:00

I have been feeling recently the need to not be cool. Don't get me wrong, as this blog makes obvious, I am currently very uncool. But I still sometimes fight the desire to be cool. It's not a totally bad thing, we're made for community and I recognize the need to have commonalities and close relationships but I think there is a balance between that and the sometimes insidious lure of what C.S. Lewis describes as the "Inner Circle" (in his essay of the same name). I.E. to think oneself superior to others (for usually EXTREMELY superficial reasons) and create a sense of alienation and separation based on these things.

Anyway, to get away from this musically I've been adding in the really genuine (and, these days it seems, uncool) artists of the recent past to my repertoire, namely Keith Green and Rich Mullins. I've also been reading this book about Rich Mullins and, if it weren't on loan from my former roommate Liz's dad, it would be almost totally underlined. The funniest thing about it is how many songs of his I am familiar with but didn't realize he wrote, then I'm like, oh. I'm lame. This one, however, I hadn't heard before but am rapidly falling in love with.

Rich Mullins: My One Thing

Everybody I know says they need just one thing
And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more
And everybody seems to think they've got it coming
Well I know that I don't deserve You
Still I want to love and serve You more and more
You're my one thing

Save me from those things that might distract me
Please take them away and purify my heart
I don't want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing
'Cause what will I have when the world is gone
If it isn't for the love that goes on and on with

My one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
You're my one thing
You're my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God

Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus?
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth?
I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already, I'm sure I'd find

You're my one thing (one thing)
You're my one thing (one thing)
And the pure in heart shall see God
You're my one thing (one thing)
You're my one thing (one thing)
And the pure in heart shall see God

Every night and every day
You hold on tight
Or you drift away
And you're left to live
With the choices you make
Oh Lord please give me the strength
To watch and work and love and sing and pray

'Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus?
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth?
Well I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world, but I'd just be wasting my time
'Cause I'm certain already I'm sure I'd find

You're my one thing

the local "scene"

2008-04-12T22:59:00.003-06:00

Nick Carleton Band at the Steaming Bean

Last night I went to see the Nick Carleton Band at a Christian bookstore and coffee shop in Parker and it was a good night. I was introduced to their music by one of the girls I work with. She made me a mix CD that included their song, "Father of My Dreams." Which, despite some unimaginative lyrics, is really touching and honest. Anyway, I found out they are a local band and I had wanted to go see them and it worked out that I could go last night. I was really impressed. Nick has a really remarkable voice. They were just sound checking and he started singing "Here is Our King" and sounded excellent! I love David Crowder and the way he writes worship songs but, for better or worse, many people have a hard time sounding good when they sing his songs because his voice is so distinctive and unique. I don't believe that someone has to necessarily sound like the original writer or recording artist but Crowder's songs do present a unique set of problems. But I have never heard anyone sound as clear and on key! They were really personable, I liked their other original songs, and it was a really excellent low-key environment. My only gripe was that they took forever to transition between songs.

Vigil Praise

One of the great things we do here in the Archdiocese of Denver is have vigil praise once a month at the John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization. The seminarians do the music and, I suppose, plan the liturgy. Anyway, it consists of Eucharistic adoration, Night Prayer, confession, readings, exhortation, and music. Tonight a priest from the Community of the Beatitudes gave an AWESOME exhortation. The guys who do music do a really good job, too. When we chant it's so lovely to have hundreds of people participating, they play acoustic style: guitar, congas, and keyboard. I love the atmosphere at vigil praise because, as we prayed tonight from Psalm 24, I genuinely feel like it is a community of people who want to be purified and see the face of the Lord.

Recently we've been singing Chris Tomlin's "Wonderful Maker" and it's a song I really love to sing. I especially love the parallelism at the beginning and the little contradictory phrase "how majestic Your whisper." It's sort of a healing kind of song.

You spread out the skies over empty space
Said "let there be light"
Into a dark and formless world Your light
was born

You spread out Your arms over empty hearts
Said "let there be light"
Into a dark and hopeless world Your Son
was born

You made the world and saw that it was good
You sent Your only Son for You are good

What a wonderful Maker
What a wonderful Savior
How majestic Your whispers
And how humble Your love
With a strength like no other
And the heart of a Father
How majestic Your whispers
What a wonderful God

No eye has fully seen, how beautiful the cross
And we have only heard
The faintest whispers of how great You are

More Alli Rogers

2008-04-11T15:40:00.003-06:00

Not so long ago I wrote about Alli Rogers' song "New Today." A few days ago she told the story on her own blog.

I love her explanation- I especially appreciate her sharing the image of a young woman in her apartment. As soon as I read that it was like there were bricks and curtains and sunlight and breeze and Easter lilies and church bells, etc. I don't know if that's what Alli's image was but my point is that I appreciated the image. :)

Alli said:

While writing this song I had a strong image in my head that informed the lyric. It is of a girl in her apartment which is across the street from a church. It is Easter Sunday and she has picked out a new dress and new shoes and is trying to feel the way you should feel on Easter. Reborn, forgiven, new. But she feels draped in shame, aware of every ounce of evil she has proved capable of. I know this girl, I’ve been this girl.

At the end I saw one of the tags for her post was "shame." Something about that to me was perhaps the most striking of all. If only, as Christians, we would talk more about shame- the cause, the effect, and more importantly the SOLUTION!! I am going to posit that the antidote to shame is mercy, mercy, mercy. So let us all sing for new mercies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another snippet:

The new version ended up housing my favorite musical moment on “You And The Evening Sky”. It is at the bridge when the vocal sings “new mercies, new mercies, new mercies, I see...”. Don discovered that part of the original melody from the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” fit perfectly underneath my melody during that part. So if you listen carefully, you’ll hear the violin playing the tune to “all I have needed thy hand has provided...” and I tear up every time I hear it.

I think I laughed out loud when I read this: Don Chaffer is such a freaking genius! I love him! I promptly listened to "Great is Thy Faithfulness" a bunch of times and then listened to Alli's bridge about 14.7 more times, it brought me great joy.

More Matt Maher (and then I PROMISE I'll stop!)

2008-04-10T14:26:00.002-06:00

Matt is talking about his songs at Spirit & Song's "The Commons." (sort of like worshiptogether.com's "New Song Cafe")He has some really great things to say.

When I got my preordered CD it had an extra song booklet signed. I usually think autographs are stupid but I had to smile at the scribbled "Be God's." I only connected today that this was in homage to Rich Mullins and his model of humility and total devotion. Good job, Matt. :)

Matt Maher, Identity Politics, and some final thoughts

2008-04-09T23:05:00.005-06:00

Identity Politics

I was talking to one of my friends about this album yesterday and she brought up a contradiction of sorts. She was annoyed that in a review she had read of this album the reviewer had specifically noted that Matt was a worship leader at a Catholic Church. She felt like that might turn some non-Catholic Christians off by the possibility of their prejudices. At the same time she said she was disappointed that this album wasn't more "Catholic." I thought that was an interesting set of responses.

First, I am a proponent of Matt's affiliation with St. Tim's being known. I pointed out that, for most people, it's a major plus for a worship leader to actually have a home church where they are actually involved with leading an actual congregation in worship. So I think Matt's credibility is strengthened by that being known and celebrated.

Second, while there isn't a "Litany of the Saints" or a "Lamb of God" or "Adoration" on this album it seems laughable to me to question Matt's Catholicity. Apart from his extremely close relationship with organizations like LifeTeen, ADORE (and with that CRS), YouthArise, the Steubenville Youth Conferences, etc he is just totally Catholic! I don't know what else to say! It's so much a part of his identity and work, it seems like a step in the wrong direction to demand that his work have some sort of "Catholic" boundaries. I feel this way in general about all Christian artists: let's let them be ARTISTS instead of demanding some sort of saccharine, boxed-in, idea of what it means to express one's faith.

My point is that this brings up well the place Matt, his music, and his band find themselves in as minorities in the CCM scene. I rejoice, though, because it's so exciting to have the opportunity to build bridges in the way something as unthreatening as music allows us. I really celebrate the opportunities Matt has had to dialogue with people like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, JD Walt, and other influential Christian artists. Jesus prayed that we would be one and I think we're all called to find our commonalities and celebrate our shared faith in Jesus Christ.

A Few More Things

Here is the first part of an unabashedly Catholic (and candid, I did NOT need to know anything about Kenny's bowels...) discussion of Matt's new record; he talks with LifeTeen's Greg Iwinski. The thing this interview reminded me of was that a LONG time ago Matt had mentioned this album would have some thinking centered on Augustine and his Confessions. The first time I heard the album streaming on his website I thought, "I didn't hear anything about Augustine. Am I missing something?" Then I promptly forgot all about it. I was looking forward to hearing that song. Someday I think we will.

When I opened my jewel case and saw the actual CD I think I actually said, "Oh. Cool." out loud. I really like the design!

This recording is downright awful but it's SO "Catholic" that I couldn't resist adding it- Welcome to Life's thunderous opening of TRANSUBSTANTIATION! complete with band in front of crucifix and Our Lady of Guadalupe print? I love it.

Empty & Beautiful

2008-04-09T13:00:00.000-06:00

I have a love/hate relationship with St. Paul. Well, I guess it's something like I LOVE Paul and I hate that I am not more like him. Paul is probably the most fascinating Christian in all of history. That's a big statement but, lest we forget, this is the man who held cloaks while the first follower of The Way was stoned to death, purportedly dragged people out of their houses to denounce them as Christians, and then became the apostle most zealous that no law, minimum standard of behavior, or "sin-management" strategy could ever save us and, in one of the biggest turnarounds in all of history, rejected what he had been most passionate about in favor of TOTAL FAITH in the crucified and risen One who spoke to him, blinded him, and gave him sight again. For Paul there was no one and no goal but Jesus Christ. I love Paul.

So this song is quickly becoming my favorite on the album. There are so many brilliant things about it, some I already mentioned; Matt singing in a more intimate style, it's from the viewpoint of St. Paul, it is so relatable, it is so biblical. This is an example of Matt's poetic ability as an artist really shining through- to take one of Paul's epistles and inhabit it in a really emotional way, that is a gift.

Here Matt shares a snippet of his thoughts about this song.

Empty & Beautiful: Lay It Down

2008-04-09T11:30:00.000-06:00

You know, I haven't really had enough time with most of the songs on this album to be able to trace how they will influence my prayer or serve as a vehicle for the Lord to speak to me. I was driving to adoration last night and since I finally had the actual CD I was listening to it in my car and I just appreciated carrying it with me into the chapel. Also as I drove to mass today I had the same experience and a sort of nostalgia too; when Matt's last album came out I was still living in Florida and I would drive the five minutes from my apartment to church every morning for mass and very often his words on that drive were the beginning of my day and my preparation for the holy sacrifice of the mass. In that early morning space when I was trying to prepare myself these songs would really shape the thoughts I brought to prayer.

What I was getting to is that this song has been nestled in my heart longer than the others on this album- I think I first heard those simple and poignant words everything I am/ everything I long to be/I lay it down at your feet on retreat and we sang it as an extra verse and layer with Charlie Hall's "Prepare the Way." (To this day I think that is the best place to layer these words, but I am biased.) Here is a live recording from that very retreat. The amazing voice you hear is my dear friend, Marci Ovadia.

Lindsay Myers – prepare the way/lay it down

I understand that this probably needed a little more to be an actual full track on this album (although I would ask why we couldn't have "On the Third Day" and this as a hidden track or something) but I think these words are strong enough without the bridge. It's not that I dislike the bridge I just don't think it's necessary. I think the image of finding life in the gaze of Christ is rich, I'm not sure that it furthers the heart of this song which is simply to surrender.

This song is just so powerful and I think that power lies in it's ability to clearly convey and say aloud something so many of us have such a desire for and can't quite articulate before the Lord in a way that feels as monumental as the reality is. I think the fact that this song can really facilitate that repetition helps people overcome that cultural bias that because something doesn't feel true means it isn't real. I'm so glad to have this on an album so even more people can add it to their worship.

Empty & Beautiful: Unwavering

2008-04-09T11:15:00.000-06:00

I remember reading Matt's notes on the evolution of this song when he first released it as a fundraiser for Katrina victims and I resonated with his discussion of the poor we saw literally struggling for life in New Orleans and the nudge of the Spirit (I think somewhere he said he was at a gas station in AZ) that these people too were the poor, in a different way.

And I love the way he takes the lyrics both ways in this song. I think my favorite lyric has to be alive in the promise/to be dead to the world. I like the unexpectedness of it, the PARADOX (my favorite thing after concrete imagery and possibly even more appropriate for anything dealing with the Christian life), and, let's admit it, "unwavering" is good word choice, it's straightforward and interesting at the same time.

I also appreciate the way this song evolves from the teaching of the beatitudes to the sending out. I read Dallas Willard's The Divine Conspiracy recently and as he outlined his reading of the sermon on the mount I couldn't help but think back to this song. Willard's discussion of this teaching contradicts the common interpretation of these sayings as some kind of injunction to be poor, meek, in mourning, etc in order to be blessed and receive good things by God. He even rejects the idea that there is some kind of cause and effect at work within the dynamics of the beatitude. Rather, he reads these as completely counter cultural to the crowd Jesus was speaking to (not an uncommon observation) and completely turning their world upside down by announcing that EVEN the very least and most shattered, most rejected have a place in the fold of the kingdom, and not just standing room but a place of honor and abundance. All of this is based on faith and discipleship, just an extra thought.

Empty & Beautiful: Shine Like the Son

2008-04-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

My missionary heart LOVES this song. :) Seriously, it fills me with joy. Perhaps because it brings to mind my friends involved in full time mission work, those I know working in the darkness of America's inner cities, people flung across the globe to joyfully proclaim good news to the poor, those working with young people to give them hope, and people whose hidden lives of prayer, sacrifice and SATISFACTION in Jesus Christ make their lives radiant.

here is my friend KT, a missionary in Venezuela. This song makes me think of her the most.

I love all of Isaiah but I really love Matt's decision to wed the scripture of beautiful hands and feet with the great commission- in my mind there is a flow of something like the beauty of the apostles feet even though they didn't even take sandals, the beauty of Mother Theresa's gnarled hands, the beauty of the light in someone's eyes when they really understand their freedom from captivity, the unglamorous and abundantly joyful lives of those who give everything they have to the Gospel.

Well, I could gush about all the lyrics. I like the celebration of the BEAUTY of being in love with... someone so much greater than themselves. I like the discussion of equipping in the second verse; we will never be ready to be missional on our own. This is on ongoing discussion in my life, definitely, a classroom, more scripture study, even more prayer cannot totally prepare you for hitting the pavement, the dirt road, the airport terminal and starting to genuinely share the truth of God's rescue with people. Only God can give us words and the Spirit to make those words fruitful.

Also, anything remotely quoting Isaiah 61 is automatically awesome in my book. I love not just the emphasis in the last verse on FREEDOM but on freedom coming through the WORD- which in my mind is not just the living and effective word of scripture but the living and effective WORD made flesh who dwells among us and in us.

Finally, this song is best listened to LOUD. :) And I love the little pause at the end and fill of...violin? It almost makes me giggle because I just think it's a bit of pure fun and I could even go on and say how that little musical arrangement within the greater context of the song could be seen as a clever mimic of the Christian walk. But I'll spare you.

Empty & Beautiful: Leave a Light On

2008-04-09T10:30:00.001-06:00

I have to admit that this is actually my least favorite song on this album. I think it's a great idea and I like the tensions that Matt is trying to explore but... I don't know. Call me hypercritical but the opening line just feels...sort of lame. Maybe it's because it asks these questions without any context so immediately someone like me rolls their eyes and starts the sarcastic-hypothetical-answer reel. My other annoyance with the lyrics (I actually quite like the music) is the give me oil in my lamp bridge. I get what you're saying, Matt, and it's a good sentiment but I just know I will never be able to sing those words to this melody without being thrown out of prayerfulness and into the land of am I really singing this.... I even like the other lines in the bridge! Just something about that image is not creative enough. Plus I know the song grew out of this "Leave a Light On" line and idea but it just seems cheesy to me to apply a cliched American expression to this parable.

So now that I have expressed those dissatisfactions I will say that I LOVE the line we worship and we doubt. Now we're dealing with contradictions and paradox and I appreciate putting those two sentiments together- we CAN worship and doubt, and sometimes it happens at the same time. I also really like the proclamation of FINDING Christ in the breaking of the bread and behind the poor man's eyes.

I think this song would have benefitted from a stronger narrative, a few different word choices, and just further editing. On an album that I think is pretty tight, (not in the slang sense, but in the tetris sense) this song just sticks out to me as needing a little more refining.

Empty & Beautiful: Great Things

2008-04-09T10:00:00.000-06:00

I like what Matt says in the video here about reclaiming this prayer as personal. On some retreat Br. Ted told us (or maybe he just told me, I can't remember) to rewrite the Magnificat in our own words with what the Lord has done for us. It was a really good task.

I'm also reminded of reading this post from the Whispers in the Loggia Blog and how moved I was that Kenya's new cardinal John Njue's first response to the news was to burst into song. And what did he sing? My soul praises the Lord because He has lifted His humble one. What a beautiful witness!

Anyway, this is a great song to sing corporately. Any song where you get to sing Holy is His name! and I can't boast of anything and it's Your name we're shouting out, shouting out loud is totally fine with me. In fact this is what I meant when I discussed earlier worship that was "God-centered," singing to God how great He is and how mighty He is? Awesome. To channel Louie for a second, God is into God, He wants us to know His power so we can rely on it!

Finally, I totally dig the chorus at the end where the guitars, etc cut out for that nice strictly percussive section.

Empty & Beautiful: Maranatha (Come Again)

2008-04-08T19:03:00.003-06:00

I love it when Matt sings about the Kingdom.

Okay, I love it when anyone sings about the Kingdom, but STILL!

Once again, I like the overtones of justice.

Echoes of Psalm 24 and 1 Corinthians 13:12 and St. Theresa of Avila? Sweet. (Okay so that last bit I only caught because Matt mentioned it in his blog.)

There is this weird sound at the end of the chorus- I don't know what that sound is but I like it!

I feel like the themes that develop through this album are distilled well here.

It's a short song, so I'll keep it short. :)

Empty & Beautiful: I Rejoice

2008-04-08T18:52:00.004-06:00

Well, folks, when I thought Matt's new release was setting me up for disappointment this song utterly won me back. I think it is one of the songs that really showcases Matt's artistic "voice" in that it is a song he owns. I mean this in the sense that if I heard someone else try this song I think it would be impoverished and I appreciate Matt's unique imprint.

I really like the insistent go-for-broke vocal quality (reminiscent of the "I will run to You" that I love in his cover of "Come to the Water"), the music is among the most interesting on this album, and the words are perfectly non-linear. I think his choice to alternate simple and effective words of praise with really strong images and theological truths is working extraordinarily well.

Empty & Beautiful: As It Is In Heaven

2008-04-08T17:21:00.003-06:00

This is one of those songs I am really glad that Matt blogged about and gave some reasons for the editing he chose to do. I was prepared to declare this song as grounds for feeling that Ed Cash had failed me (he produced this song and helped in the reshaping), but in light of Matt's thought changing directions from a song about the in-breaking kingdom through the incarnation and more about the out-breaking kingdom through giving and receiving mercy, doing the will of God "on earth as it is in heaven"...it makes sense and it feels laden and abundant as only scripture-rich songs can.

(original Advent-themed lyrics)

The rocks are crying out
for your glory to come down
and the whole world waits for you.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen the light of your holiness
and the whole waits for you, for you.

I will sing, sing a new song.
I will sing, sing a new song.
I will sing, sing a new song to the Lord.

Let your kingdom come!
Let your will be done!
On earth as it is in heaven!

Every heart proclaim the mercy of your name, on earth as it is in heaven!

The rocks are crying out for your glory to come down
and the whole world waits for you.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen the light of your holiness
and the whole waits for you, for you.
I will sing, sing a new song. I will sing, sing a new song. I will sing, sing a new song to the Lord.

Let your kingdom come!
Let your will be done!
On earth as it is in heaven!

Every heart proclaim the mercy of your name, on earth as it is in heaven!

Let it be, let it be, be done unto me. Let it be, let it be, be done unto me.
Let it be, let it be, be done unto me. Let it be, let it be, be done unto me.

I really miss this last part, one of my favorite ways to pray this song was Mary's fiat here at the end. But the lovely piano melody stays. Bottom line: I am glad I have both of these songs.

Empty & Beautiful: For Your Glory

2008-04-08T16:00:00.004-06:00

These kids love their baby sister...and Matt Maher :)

This song is on Matt's previous album so I don't feel the need to delve but I will add that I converted my friend Carolyn's entire family to Matt Maher (her husband, John, came into the building one day and was like, "Lindsay, I love Matt Maher but if I hear any more of him I'm going to flip out. The kids are even requesting him in the car.")

Carolyn and I would have "guitar lessons" in their basement, which was 1/4 guitar lesson and 3/4 much needed fellowship! I think she was teaching me (an extremely simplified version of) "For Your Glory" and she was sharing what the song meant to her and she mentioned that she had been frustrated with the kids, questioning how significant her role could be when she has three children under 5 (at the time, now it's four children under 7!). Anyway, in that place, this song really spoke to her about living her life, in whatever way possible, for the glory of God and just surrendering the rest.

Empty & Beautiful: Look Like a Fool

2008-04-08T11:15:00.008-06:00

Look Like a Fool

Okay, I'm sort of embarrassed to admit that I love this song but I CAN'T HELP IT! I don't know why it sort of initially makes me cringe. Is it because there is something reminiscent of Matt West that rubs me the wrong way or is it because the opening verse is catchy but the lyrics are, like, what?! Apparently we have Bill Staines and his perky banjo to thank for this but I would be quite interested to know where that came from!

I really like the sentiment of the words (I can't sing so I like it when Matt says things like, "sing louder! God gave you that voice, so He deserves to hear it!" to people like me.) but am I the only one who thinks of this when I hear the words "bird on a wire"?

So despite that this song makes me really happy and, trust me, when I am in my car there will be car-dancing!

Plus after the cartoony lyric, I really like the words to this song. I like the emphasis on community (something I feel like Matt has always managed to describe well) and JUSTICE! Yes! I am so often turned off by singing "worship" songs that are all about our inner, individual relationship with Jesus with no context for finding Jesus in the least of these. Instead of praising the Lord joyfully I find myself stewing over scriptures like:

Amos 5
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, ^[b]
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Isaiah 10

1 Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2 to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
and robbing the fatherless.
3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,
when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
Where will you leave your riches?
Isaiah 5
8 Woe to you who add house to house
and join field to field
till no space is left
and you live alone in the land.
9 The LORD Almighty has declared in my hearing:
"Surely the great houses will become desolate,
the fine mansions left without occupants.
12 They have harps and lyres at their banquets,
tambourines and flutes and wine,
but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD,
no respect for the work of his hands.
15 So man will be brought low
and mankind humbled,
the eyes of the arrogant humbled.
16 But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice,
and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.

So I like the final verse which point us to what worship is really about- if we follow Matt's injunctions throughout the song (lay down our sin...remember the day our freedom began) we can't help but be moved in this direction.

I appreciate the upside-downness of this song; that's what the Kingdom is about! And, yes!, it's absurd!

Finally, despite the uncertain beginning the song ends up rocking and I can't wait to hear Matt and the guys rock it live. I especially love the drums towards the end. Plus it has that extremely reckless, joyfully vulnerable, lack of pretension a la Crowder's "Undignified."

One of my roommates once declared that even King David would be embarrassed to dance with me (thanks Ronnie.) but with this song we could definitely give it a shot!

look like a fool
matt maher

all God's creatures got a place in the choir
some sing low and some sing higher
some just hang out like a bird on a wire
waiting to fly home

all God's children are the apple of his eye
even the ones we can't stand sometimes
but because [...] just to go outside
and i need something to sing with this neighbor of mine

and that's why grace is so amazing!
that's why love is so absurd!
and that's why i sing for a God of changing
that's why i don't care if i look like a fool!

all God's people got a reason to live
joy for the hard days and true love to give
and we raise our hands and lay down our sin
and remember the day our freedom began

(chorus)
foolish grace is so amazing!
that's why love is so absurd!
that's why I sing for a God of changing!
that's why I don't care if I look like a fool!

feeding the hungry, clothing the naked
giving the homeless a place to rest
visiting the prisoner
lifting up the lowly
by our fruits may you shine on us!
shine on us! shine on us!
Lord, shine on us!

(chorus)

woo! it's Matt Maher CD release day!

2008-04-08T09:32:00.003-06:00

A day long-awaited if you're as dorky as me! My mail here is dumb so I probably won't get my CD until this evening but I will celebrate by going to Starbucks and playing guitar.

My dad set up a lesson while I was in FL with the guy he takes from (and who my sister learned from before that!) and we learned the afore discussed "New Today." When I told him that there was another version after we listened to the stripped down "At Sea" to learn he wanted to hear it so I played it and was quite excited that someone else cared about the differences. Except he discussed the production values knowledgeably, declared it an entirely different song, and proceeded to transcribe it on a different piece of paper. Good stuff.

Marathon "Empty & Beautiful" breakdown to come!

Empty & Beautiful Part 2: a few thoughts (really)

2008-04-07T23:12:00.003-06:00

Because New Music Tuesday is only an hour away I found new music reviews from Christianity Today on my google reader and when I saw Matt Maher I clicked on the headline so fast I frightened even myself.

I think Russ Breimeier's years of experience with music make him a pretty accurate ear, he was especially spot on in pointing out that "Empty & Beautiful" plays it a little too safe and doesn't adequately showcase what Matt Maher is really capable of.

AMEN.

As I was flying from Charlotte back to Denver today I embarked upon one of my favorite traveling past-times: listening to an artist's complete discography chronologically. As I watched stars come out, lightning exploding under the clouds beneath us, and more clouds stretch on and on I was really struck by how different Matt's earlier songs are from this album I hope to be in my car's CD player within the next 24 hours. That train of thought went as far as me seriously considering how I could get my hands on unreleased songs Matt has written!

My point is that along the way there has been a shift (perhaps totally natural) away from writing more first-person, searching, vulnerability-tinged songs and towards more congregation and CCM friendly pop praise. I have to admit that I am as psyched to sing "Look Like A Fool" and "Great Things" as anyone (and probably moreso, despite the unlikelihood of that actually happening) but I also miss the wandering songs filled with lovely concrete images and narrative like "Wonderful to Me," "Jesus, My Everything," and "Lead Me Home."

I don't know what to attribute this shift to: settling more into the role of "worship leader" as opposed to songwriter, interest in hows and whys of Christian songwriting, a desire to be more accessible?

Back to the album at hand: I am excited for the mail later today. When I first saw the album's track list I was slightly annoyed that four of the songs are already released (albeit some have been made over). I mean, c'mon, that' s a quarter of the record! As soon as I heard "I Rejoice" I was unabashedly won over again. It's so intense! This is what I miss in some of the other songs, though. "Lay It Down" is a song whose lyrics unfold in my prayer every time I approach the tabernacle to pray and yet this recording of a song Matt has sung live for years doesn't really build with the kind of strength I would like to see until the very end. That aside, I'm ecstatic it found its way onto an album. I can't wait for the ripples of this song to crest in many many people genuinely finding in it a vehicle to surrender. That's the power of music and the Holy Spirit.

I also have to highlight that I really love the title track. This song is just interesting. The lyrics are personal in the way I mentioned above, I love it when Matt sings with his head voice (see "By the Rivers of Babylon," the final stroke on Matt's last release and one of the gems of that album), there are VIOLINS, it's piano driven, and best of all it feels TRUE.

I really said this was just going to be a few thoughts. The more I listen to this album, though, the more Matt's music converts me all over again, in every sense.

Empty & Beautiful Part 1: YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH

2008-04-06T20:45:00.004-06:00

The bottom line: this song rocks and you can pray it too! Or, why you should spend 99 cents on a song you have three copies of already.

I wanted to really dissect this song and exuberantly exclaim why I love it so much but the reasons aren't very complicated- the words are great, it's fun to sing, it has strong imagery, it makes an excellent prayer. I guess a lot of it hinges on this last bit because it is a good mix of worship.

I'll poke my head in a conversation worship leaders have with themselves and the Lord about how to balance songs that are introspective in the sense that we like to "pray" very me-focused songs. ("I Could Sing of Your Love Forever"? Great song, but also very self-centered in a certain sense.) The psalms have this tension as well; how do we pray GOD centered prayers that plausibly come from a human heart? Matt's lyrics in this song really hit a nearly perfect balance on this problem because it biblically describes God's personality and activity and then turns it around with a plea and praise in response. Great is Your faithfulness Oh God, You wrestle with the sinner's restless heart...so remember your people, remember your children...your grace is enough, heaven reaching down to us...your grace is enough for me.

Not to add to what has to be the stupidest "controversy" ever but this song instead of being "better" or "worse" than Matt's original or Chris Tomlin's cover, genuinely feels like an organic evolution that weds the strengths of both versions. Chris' is slightly simpler and more singable (VERY TOMLIN), Matt's original was a little wordy for some people to catch on quickly and not quite as polished.

The Lyrical Breakdown
Matt's original had the opening of the verses going "Great is your [attribute of God] Oh God of Jacob." Tomlin removed this, the E&B version omits it in the first verse and restores it in the second- what a happy compromise! Tomlin also changed Maher's original "You wrestle with the sinner's restless heart" to simply say "You wrestle with the sinner's heart." Matt's newer version reinstates that line. My only beef there is that it makes more sense to restore the "God of Jacob" in the FIRST verse where it is weightier with the lyrics he originally wrote (it makes the clever "you wrestle with the sinner's restless heart" line have more of a biblical context and emphasizes the double entendre).

And finally what I've been waiting to say for this whole blog: I LOVE THE BRIDGE!!! This to me is what makes this particular recording unique. It shouldn't surprise you that I have been trying to find a version of this song that includes the bridge I have heard Matt and Chris sing live (actually Tomlin's live recording on Passion's "How Great is Our God" has the same words but I have heard them both use interchangeable phrases here, which is another great thing about the bridge- it's extremely flexible) and have not been able to. Therefore I exhort all of you to listen (and more importantly, SING) to this recording, the bridge really does its job on multiple levels. It's a nice break in the song musically, it nicely wraps the song emotionally, and even though the words are simple they are true. your grace is enough/heaven reaching down to us/we're covered in your love/your grace is enough for me

introducing Ed Cash

2008-04-02T23:15:00.006-06:00

This quote should tell you enough about why I like Ed Cash:

Anytime you mix art and commerce, the potential for danger is just enormous…To me the great challenge is, in some sense, being a liason between the deepest art and trying to get records out there. Rather than talking about ‘hit songs’ or ‘radio songs,’ I love the word ‘connectivity.’ How does this song connect?’ There are a lot of ‘hit songs” out there that, to me, don’t connect – to the heart, anyway. I’m just more and more drawn to those tunes that not only have a catchiness and a hookiness, but a real vibrancy and a life behind them.

In case that doesn't convince you his behind-the-scenes credibility will. I wish I had a comprehensive list of his work (the man doesn't have a page on wikipedia, that is unfathomable to me, I may correct this supreme oversight when I have more time one day) but if most people knew the snippets of songs he's written and his sheer giftedness for collaging with music I hope he would be greater appreciated.

For example: did you know that Christ Tomlin thought he had finished "How Great is Our God?" when Ed suggested to insert the words and melody name above all names/worthy of all praise/my heart will sing how great... That's one of the best parts of that song!

I can't find any verification right now but from memory (of things like the passion podcast and worshiptogether.com's new song cafe) I know he has also written some of my favorite parts of songs by Monk & Neagle and Kristian Stanfill.

What I'm trying to say is, this man should need no introduction, he has produced, written, and inspired amazing songs.. I'm doing it anyway so that when I reference him later we will be on the same page. :)

New Mercies for Divine Mercy Sunday

2008-03-30T12:07:00.000-06:00

I've been trying to write a review of Alli Rogers' newest album (which I realized the other day isn't officially released until, like, April 15th?) but I've been stuck and the reason is simple and not-so-simple. It all centers on her beautiful, aching song "New Today." I love this song, really love it. After seeing her last year in Chicago I listened to "At Sea" so many times in our living room and on my ipod and this song was the most poignant that I had never heard before.

There are so many reasons this song reaches so deep but for me I think it's just that I relate to the core of the song- what does it mean to be made new? where are the places in me that crave new mercies? I know all too well the experience of loneliness, shame, and despair and this song captures those feelings and distills them into a single narrative peppered with strong images and vulnerable searching questions.

So when I heard the further edited version of this song on "You and The Evening Sky" I was really saddened. I have thought about what caused this reaction, because I don't want to be someone who isn't artistically flexible (later entries will discuss the changes I do and do not like in the editing of songs on Matt Maher's new album) but my point is I know what it is like to write something, create something, and need to edit it. There are many reasons to change things (one of my friends even pointed out that it might be as simple as the words being easier to sing because of their shape) and I would really like to know what influenced the editing of this song- in her interviews with Don, Alli mentioned that this song went through some of the most editing and I was very intrigued by that statement. So, without being reactionary, I tried to pinpoint some of the reasons I feel like the newly released studio version of this song feels watered down.

My friend, Amanda, and I have had more than one long discussion about this song and its narrator. Who is the main figure and what is the song narrating? What is the song even about or trying to say? Is it a woman going to a friend's wedding? Her own wedding? A funeral? Simply a Sunday morning service? Is it about weariness? Sin? Desperation? Renewal?

Songs have to stand on their own so I believe any of the above interpretations can be "right" even without definitive information on what the artist's intent was. However, in the interest of full disclosure I will say that I want the song to be about a woman at her own wedding and, among the really interesting implications that has about the song as a whole, I based this partially on the lyric about "staring at the beads sewn in my dress" and the undercurrent of the song's narrator begging, "all I want is everything new today" pitted against the statement "I don't know if anything feels new today." Anyone who has heard the "new" version of the song might be confused- because ALL of these lyrics have been edited out!

On the other hand, in the later version everything is implicit and I am conflicted on if this is working or not. I know it's implicit because in the earlier version it's explicit: all I want is everything new today. With that statement edited away and the other one changed ("I dont' know if anything feels new today") it's replaced by the stronger statement, "nothing feels new today." I like that it has more teeth, in a sense, because it's less questioning- wow! NOTHING feels new today? But it leaves OUT the sentiment that makes those teeth sharp- that the opposite is what the narrator wants most! Without this does it matter that "nothing is new today"?

So we get to ask my favorite question: WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE?

How I feel about the later version of the song is directly related to how I answer this question. I think what is at stake in this song is the very concept of what it means to be treated with "new mercy." New MERCY is what makes all things new today. Which brings me to the other lyrical edits that aren't working for me. In the second verse where the narrator is on the church steps with her companion of shame she voices this in the two different ways:

and I'm wondering if Jesus
could even love me now
when I'm covered in a shame I can't let go
(earlier)

vs.

I'm wondering what Jesus
thinks about me now
still carrying a shame I can't let go
(later)

I admit that the change seems minor but I think it's important because of what is underneath. The SCANDAL of Christianity and the Incarnation is that God LOVES humanity and is willing to sacrifice everything He has to redeem us with "new mercy." In today's Christian culture we're almost inundated with the heartbreaking cliche that "Jesus loves you!" So to me the first version asks the question at the heart of the matter- Christianity hinges on this question and it is THE question Christians have to reconcile in their hearts, not just their heads. We are presented with the answer in the scriptures and then we have to accept or reject the truth there provided and learn how to live under that truth and have it influence everything about our lives. What is the impediment to easily feeling like Jesus (who called all creation good and loves even the tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes) must love us? John states simply that God IS love, so shouldn't the answer be pretty obvious? Anyone who has struggled with the question should offer at least a wry smile because the enemy of allowing the love of God to be our deepest reality is exactly what Alli pinpoints in this song- shame. In a talk I heard John Piper give at Passion07 he discusses shame and how to deal with it, one of the things he talks about is how the only thing that can keep us from heaven is unforgiven sin. The only thing that really keeps us from asking for forgiveness and accepting Christ's perfect substitution is shame and despair. So, although I will admit it's mainly semantics here, I think the image of being covered in shame is stronger and more visceral than "carrying" that same shame.

Here are the lyrics of both versions in full:

New Today (You & The Evening Sky)

new shoes in the closet, box is on the floor
dress is laid out nicely on the bed
a song is singing slowly
across the street and through my door
and turning over memories in my head
nothing feels new today
I'm just trying to catch the words
before they float away
they're singing

great is thy faithfulness
great is thy faithfulness
great is thy faithfulness
morning by morning
morning by morning
morning by morning

walking up the church steps
I stop to look around
people seem to stare just like they know
I'm wondering what Jesus
thinks about me now
still carrying a shame I can't let go
nothing feels new today
I'm just trying to catch the words
before they float away
they're singing...

mercy sounds so holy
for people who are wise
and tears are falling softly on my dress
I feel like an imposter
wearing someone else's prize
and my heart's about to beat out of my chest
nothing feels new today
I'm just trying to catch the words before they float away
don't float away keep singing...

new mercies I see
could you sing some mercies over me?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Today (At Sea)

new shoes in the closet, box is on the floor
dress is laid out nicely on the bed
a song is singing slowly
one I've heard before
the tune is playing over in my head
and I'm sitting here all lonely
just trying to catch the words
before they float away
but I don't know if anything feels new today

I'm walking up the church steps
I stop to look around
people seem to stare just like they know
and I'm wondering if Jesus could even love me now
when I'm covered in a shame I can't let go
and I'm standing here all lonely
just trying to catch the words
before they float away
but I don't know if anything feels new today
they're singing...

great is thy faithfulness
great is thy faithfulness
great is thy faithfulness
morning by morning
morning by morning
morning by morning

but mercy sounds so holy
for people who are wise
and I stare down at the beads sewn in my dress
I feel like an imposter
wearing someone else's prize
and my heart's about to beat out of my chest
oh, and I'm standing here all lonely
I'm just trying to catch the words before they float away
'cause all I want is everything new today
they're singing...

new mercies
new mercies
new mercies I see
could you sing some mercies over me?
could you sing some mercies over me?
oh, 'cause all I want is everything new today.

Besides the lyrics already noted I mainly feel that the images are stronger in the "At Sea" version, with the disclaimer that concrete imagery is basically my favorite method of writing.

In order to not sound like I'm totally downing the version on the new album I do think there are some cool things about- most notably I love the way the music swells during the first chorus, the sound mimics well the emotion behind the lyrics of hopefulness and I really like that. I also really like how clean the newer version is- again I can't decide if it's at the cost of greater complexity, but if the "At Sea" version shows up on my doorstep out of breath, with haunted eyes, the "You and The Evening Sky" knocks exactly on time, with perfect makeup, and everything in its place.

I still love this song, I still find it incredibly interesting and important. I believe many listeners will really connect with the desire to accept the "new mercies" God is constantly singing over us and that is a powerful thing.

Maybe now that that's off my chest I can tell you about the rest of the album. :)

a good song for my drive this morning

2008-03-29T12:23:00.000-06:00

I caught myself
Looking in the mirror
Wishing I was someone else
Cause I was born
With a bleeding heart
And veins of loneliness

And I know it, I’ve seen it,
I’ve held it in my arms
But love can’t seem to break me down

And I’ve pleaded, I’ve begged
And I’ve bloodied my eyes
Just to feel it
To believe it will stick around

Swing wide the glimmering gates

I told myself
The habits and secrets
Were just to get me through
To get me through the nights
But I got lost
In a world of angles
In a city of greys and lies

And I feel it, I taste it
This longing to be free
Oh, the joy of believing like a child

So you, you there listening
Will you send up a prayer
For me
To help me find the light

Swing wide the glimmering gates
Leave your pride and pain
Swing wide the glimmering gates
And be innocent again

One day I believe
I will open up my eyes
To see the good work that was begun
And I’ll be the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be
And I’ll know that I belong

Swing wide the glimmering gates
Leave your pride and pain
Swing wide the glimmering gates
And be innocent again

God, help Andy find the light, help ME find the light...

songs i don't get tired of

2008-03-28T13:35:00.000-06:00

You know there are certain songs that have played a special role in your life or taught you something really true and those are the songs I never get tired of, a few of those songs for me are:

Like a Child: Jars of Clay

I don't think I've really listened to this song for years but I put it on in my car today and it was crazy to me that I used to listen to that song sitting in my same car back in 2001 and it was deeply my prayer: dear God, don't let me fall apart...

Maybe There's a Loving God: Sara Groves

Of all the songs I've "kidnapped" people to listen to this one is probably number one for forcing people to soak in. Stephanie from my freshman women's Bible study gave me this CD and this song was so transformative to me because it bravely asked questions I struggled with and had answers I was only beginning to learn to hope for: am I the chance result of a cosmic accident? ...maybe it's a selfish thought (I have never prayed a lot), but maybe there's a loving God.

Isaiah 61: Matt Maher

I tried to memorize the 61st chapter of Isaiah for a long time. It was part of reading Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" and I recognized the power of this scripture and wanted it to dwell in me richly. I wrote it down, I carried it in my pocket, I could NOT memorize more than "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me."

And then I heard Matt sing it. Forget lyrics, go look it up in your Bible!

Come and Listen: David Crowder Band

My senior year of college after a very transformative summer I heard this song and it so perfectly encapsulated what I wanted to say with everything in my life. I wanted to shout these words to sit everyone down with my earbuds and say, "this is me, this is my life, don't you want to hear what God has done?! Because it's unbelievable." I would stop in my tracks when it came on my ipod and it was hard for me to not lift my hands in praise or just weep for joy. I love the simple authenticity.

let me tell you what He has done for me, let me tell you what He has done for me, come and listen, come and listen to what He's done

Mercy Moves Me: 100 Portraits

It's the utter intensity in this song that makes it so relatable because it's desperate and so am I.

I was hiding in the dark
when they found the body

I was swearing by the truth
I was living a lie

I was holding out a hand
to take what was not mine

O You found me
could not lift my head

Love is Patient
Love is Kind
Your mercy moves me everytime

chords and anticipation

2008-03-27T12:55:00.000-06:00

I mentioned on my personal blog a while back the redemptive qualities of Matt Maher's forthcoming album, Empty & Beautiful.

get excited.

and if you, like me, would like to learn how to play this song before the record is even released the good people at worshiptogether.com have posted a downloadable chord chart. Awesome. :)

Lifest08!

2008-03-26T22:08:00.000-06:00

Many of you are probably familiar with the phenomenon of summer Christian music festivals. Whoever decided that what Christians REALLY wanted to do as singles, families, and youth groups for a week of their summer was camp in a field, eat unhealthful food, and listen to tons of music was a GENIUS.

Last year my friend Anne, got me the hookup to work the sweetest job (mainstage crew!) at the Lifest festival in Wisconsin. We are going back again! I just bought my plane ticket into Chicago and am psyched for July to come so we can be crazy music fans again. Whilst, of course, excelling at stage set up, which we undoubtedly do. :)

i'm just trying to find those words

2008-03-23T10:31:00.000-06:00

I got Alli Rogers' new CD in the mail yesterday!!! I'm currently listening to the bonus material: interviews with Alli BY DON CHAFFER!! (who produced the album!!!) I cannot wait to get this all in my head...

my new hero

2008-03-22T17:15:00.000-06:00

Isaac Watts. Dude wrote over 600 hymns! Including "When I Survey..." which purportedly Charles Wesley himself said he would trade all *his* hymns to have written. Also wrote one of my favorite songs on Sandra McCracken's "Builder and Architect" album, "I Boast No More."

He wrote "Joy to the World"- have you BEEN to a Christmas service that doesn't sing that song?

Oh, and he died almost 300 years ago.

i'm just trying to make you sing

2008-03-22T16:40:00.000-06:00

I few days ago I saw someone had posted some of their top favorite songs for worship and that made me think about some of my favorite songs. I am going to be thinking about my favorite for corporate and personal worship but these past few days made me think about my favorite songs for the Easter triduum. (This year's songs for lent are here)

1. How Deep the Father's Love For Us: Stuart Townend
Nothing does this song justice except to listen to it. It's the kind of song that makes me feel like writing anything is just in vain. Watching The Passion makes me hear this song.

why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. but this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.

2. Sweetly Broken: Jeremy Riddle
Last night this song just started going through my head as I thought about what it means to be drawn into Christ's sacrifice.

At the cross You beckon me,
draw me gently to my knees
and I am lost for words, so lost in love,
I am sweetly broken- holy surrender.
I am broken before You, Lord.

I was under You wrath, now through the cross I'm reconciled!

3. The Wonderful Cross: Chris Tomlin & JD Walt (based on Isaac Watts' hymn)
I love theologically deep hymns, they are the best.

See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Oh the wonderful cross! bids me come and die so that I may truly live.

4. Fairest Lord Jesus: (translated by Joseph Seiss from the original German, written by Jesuits- sweet!) I'm listening to Christy Nockels.
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, Who makes the woeful heart to sing. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!

5. Surely We Can Change: David Crowder
Watching The Passion last night I couldn't help but hear an echo of this song when Judas kisses Jesus on the cheek.

And the problem is this: we were bought with a kiss.
But the cheek still turned, even when it wasn't hit.
And I don't know what to do with a love like that.
And I don't know how to be a love like that.

6. Beautiful Jesus: Kristian Stanfill

Your love oh God displayed for us
As crimson covered over sin and shame
Your majesty for all to see
In raging storms and quiet cloudless days

Beautiful Jesus
Beautiful Savior
Nothing is greater, brilliant Creator,
Friend of mine!

These are just the songs that have been running through my head these past few days...

don't wait for tom

2008-03-18T17:24:00.000-06:00

A guy came into my starbucks today and ordered a tall mocha and he was wearing a fedora and seemed unkept in a way that I always find intriguing. The hat and the fact that he favored Linford Detweiler made me immediately think of OtR's fascinating song, "Don't Wait For Tom." I couldn't help it so I mentioned this song to the guy and he immediately asked if it was about Tom Waits.

I was momentarily at a loss. WHY HADN'T THAT OCCURRED TO ME YET!? I'm *sure* the song is partial homage to Waits! I could have kicked myself.

He's got the hands of a blind piano players/he's a feel for the dark like a soothsayer/he takes a little bow and tips his fedora...

(verification)

I hope we plant a seed

2008-03-12T11:03:00.001-06:00

I drove out to Boulder this past Sunday to be in the audience to see Over the Rhine be a guest on Boulder based ETown radio variety show.

It was a day of the sort I love, a nice drive in the car, beautiful Colorado weather, plenty of time to relax, drink coffee, sit in the sun reading Lord of the Rings, shop and people watch at the Pearl Street Mall, have a nice Indian dinner and glass of wine alone, all followed by Over the Rhine. :)

When I bought my ticket in the afternoon I asked the underwhelmed cashier what time I ought to arrive since it was general admission. He said at seven, as if that was obvious- I thought it started at seven? But maybe that means doors. SO when I got there promptly at seven and it was already packed I was only mildly surprised. Still I went and ordered a Fat Tire draft at the bar just as they closed and the lights went down. Crap. The theater looked pretty full and now it was also dark and I had only my chill glass to comfort me.

So I approached one of the volunteers sheepishly and asked him to help me find as seat.

"You're alone?"

I nodded.

His face lit up, "I have a great seat for you."

And he did- he led me to the second row of the mid section, a stone's throw from all the mics and guitar stands. Yes! I knew there was a reason I'd decided to do this solo.

The lineup was three acts- the musical group the BoDeans (you would recognize their three-years-after-the-fact hit which was the theme song for Party of Five), I'll stick to Over the Rhine except to say that one of them had an Our Lady of Guadalupe sticker on his guitar and that, as they wailed their harmonies I glimpsed Karin and Linford stage right who became engrossed as the song progressed, nodding their heads together exactly in time. Next was OtR and also author, Doug Fines.

The setlist was minimal, being just a one hour edited program, and all from "The Trumpet Child." They started, as with the album, with "I Don't Wanna Waste Your Time" (the youtube at the top, a concert in Chicago which was coincidently the first time I saw them), then added "Trouble," "On A Roll," and "If A Song Could Be President."

In their interview they shared a little about the album (as much as they've shared in interviews elsewhere and on their website) which I enjoyed even though I didn't hear anything new. I love the idea behind "The Trumpet Child." What will that final trumpet sound like? And the song itself is so yearning, I love that. The mouthpiece is a glowing coal... I don't know if that is a Jeremiah reference or not but it's beautiful. There are so many apocalyptic songs that are Biblical or storied and yet don't have the poeticism of St. John himself or a Spirit-filled imagination. I think Karin and Linford have both.

All their music is infused in that way but this album just weds their talents in really abundant ways. I love the inspiration for "I Don't Wanna Waste Your Time," the idea that if we don't go deep it's really not even worth the going. It leads to some interesting questions for those who love music- what constitutes music we don't need? What sort of music do we need more of?

My favorite songs on "The Trumpet Childs" are definitely the title track, "Trouble" (because a 5 o'clock shadow is indisputably sexy and this displays Karin's voice so well), "On a Roll," because i could wake up that song and be prepared for an amazing day, "Don't Wait For Tom," I told Linford I loved this song because the imagery is so beautiful and powerful, it's just a very unique song and I love that its quirkiness and there is something seductive about it too. Finally, I also really enjoy "If a Song Could Be President." I think along with Derek Webb's "Savior on Capitol Hill" this is my favorite election year song.

Overall this CD is just so wonderful. It's supremely listenable- from the elliptical machine to a book and a glass of wine, to a night of hopeful yearning and romance.

I'm so glad I got to see them once again live, I know I'll always jump at the chance in the future. And I know my time will be anything but wasted.

and you have no excuse NOT TO!

2008-03-12T10:49:00.000-06:00

Two albums I am currently loving- Matt Maher's to-be-released-April 8th- "Empty & Beautiful" and Over the Rhine's latest offering "The Trumpet Child."

Both albums can be listened to in their entirety at the links posted above. I listened to both many times streaming for free. I also have purchased both albums. That is good marketing AND good music.

keeping up

2008-03-12T10:08:00.000-06:00

My friends sometimes tease me about spouting information about musicians, albums, concerts, etc and where I manage to compile all this information. I don't have some secret source! I just read blogs!

At Passion07 my sister went to a late night breakout hosted by David Crowder and Mike Hogan wherein the students were invited to ask questions. I didn't go to the session despite my deep love for the Crowder band because I didn't want to fight the crowd and didn't want to go to a discussion of their book before reading it myself. I ended up being glad I didn't go- she came back from the Q&A and announced that they should have made me screen the questions because she claimed I could have answered 90% of them. "I found myself thinking, geez, don't you read his XANGA?!" she exclaimed. Doubly hilarious because she *doesn't* read his xanga; I do.

So here are the musical blogs currently on my google reader:

A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook
A guitar teacher who shares music lessons and thoughts- I picked this up due to my newfound guitar playing.

Alli Rogers' Blog

AndrewOsenga.net

CaedmonsCall.net

Charlie Hall & Co's Xanga

Chris Tomlin Blog

David Crowder Band's MySpace Blog
This one is updated weekly by Hogan.

David Crowder's Xanga
Intermittently updated by Crowder- pretty interactive and with the semi-creepy and compelling LiveTV broadcast.

DerekWebb.net

Steve Fee and band blog

Jars of Clay Blog

Leeland Blog

Matt Maher Blog

Matt Maher Blog 2
Matt has tried blogging a few times...

Matt Maher MySpace Blog
Sometimes duplicate, generally updated by Kemi but, more recently, discussion of the new album has been presented here too.

Phil Wickham Blog

Judd & Maggie's MySpace Blog

WorshipTogether.com Blog

Caedmon's Call Review

2008-03-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

About two hours into Caedmon’s set on Saturday I glanced over at the friends I was with and their almost-two-year-old Goddaughter was sprawled across their laps fast asleep as Andy and Derek wailed the harmonies of “Hold the Light,” and that moment encapsulates the beauty of the evening for me: the combination of love and familiarity mixed together with new things that fit as if they’ve been long worn in.

As soon as Derek walked on stage and picked up his 12-string to start playing I felt the expectancy in the whole room spill over and wash towards the front and it was like all of that energy was precisely funneled back in the howling acoustics of the songs. I thought Derek nailed his set 100%- reformed theology! wry humor! powerful vocals! intense guitar! convulsive twitches away from the mic! By merit of being a popular favorite I sometimes resent the seeming omnipresence of “Wedding Dress” as part of Derek’s set but hearing it Saturday night the sound was so fresh it was like walking in my homeland, along the Gulf of Mexico at night with the air so full and the pulse of waves at my side, it was that good.

When the “small army that is now Caedmon’s Call” came out together there was a palpable rising of excitement which finally bubbled over when everyone stood up to clap and dance to “Two Weeks in Africa” which was great. I was so happy to be part of a crowd who seemed to feel the joy I did at getting to be a part of this tour- I bought tickets months ago which was just the culmination of my excitement that Derek collaborated on this album at all. My enthusiasm for Derek’s presence noted, Andy Osenga brings something undeniably awesome to the band.- he writes songs that are slightly different for them, he ROCKS and writhes with the guitar, when he hammers on a string you can’t help but take some serious notice, and when he talks he’s hilarious, to boot. As delighted as I was to hear Derek blended with Danielle and Cliff again, the truly thrilling thing for me (on the “Overdressed” album, too of course) was getting to hear Derek and Andy together. I already mentioned the wonder of “Hold the Light” but Andy’s solo set was superb too and made all the more elegant by Derek’s slightly wandering presence stage left nodding along, totally immersed in the music. Not to mention one of the hands-down highlights of the show was the power combo of Andy, Cliff, Danielle, and Derek totally soaring through the harmonies of “Expectations.” So hats off to Andy O.

There were so many other great moments though- there is something so lyrical and primal about Garett on percussion, as someone else noted Josh totally filled in when Derek was doing some crazy multi-tasking after breaking a string on “Faith My Eyes,” it blows my mind to have as much percussion as Caedmon’s does but what would the sound be like without Todd?! A few songs in I started to feel the bass through the pews and have to reiterate my earlier question in regards to Jeff who just manages to make the songs feel so much fuller. I agreed with whoever commented that Danielle seemed under-utilized. Her voice is so much that trademark Caedmon’s sound and I don’t think she actually spoke at all. Someone noted that during their first show Andy seemed to sort of be the extra guitar player on the side and I couldn’t help but feel like Cliff and Danielle didn’t get to carve their unique places. The trio of voices during many of the “old” songs was exhilarating but I would have liked to get more personality coming through. My most outstanding memory of Cliff during the show was his hilarious “transition” to talk about DFN and analogizing the possibility of forgetting the words of “This World” to when your kids run around the corner and you can see in their eyes that they’ve chosen the moment to poop. “Anybody been to India?!”

As others mentioned it was definitely a long set but I was engaged during every song and walked away in disbelief that I only paid $15 for the ticket- who gets a three hour concert for that!? Once again Caedmon’s established LIVE why they have remained one of my favorite bands for the past ten years. Two things would have made that show better (1) SANDRA (2) Far from stoning whoever suggested it, I agree that a song or two off of “Long Line of Leavers” (which I still maintain is their most underrated record!) would have rounded out the set- we’re not all married and settled yet!

Overall, though, left me thoughtful, joyful, and content- who can ask for more than that?

originally published here