Music Roundup (10/25/09 - 2 Comments)
I realized the other day that I have a growing stack of CDs around here awaiting some kind of attention on the blog. So today let me draw your attention to a few noteworthy new albums. Nate Fancher: The Cross of Jesus - I wasn't quite sure how to describe the sound of this EP, but found some help at Nate's site: "A catchy and classy pop/rock genre graced with rhythmic arrangements, ambient guitars, percussive...
My Top 8 Albums of 2008 (12/16/08 - 38 Comments)
Tuesdays are usually the day that I publish a book review. Today I am going to break form and will instead fulfill a request by listing my favorite albums of the year. Now I will say off the top that I am no authority on music. In fact, I may be among the least-qualified people to discern good albums from bad. So do understand that this is a list of personal favorites. I am in...
Music Miscellania (08/17/08 - 10 Comments)
Every now and again I bring news of a few of the albums that have crossed by desk (or my copy of iTunes) in the past few weeks. Today I bring news of three notable albums. Evangel Rapper Evangel has just released a new album titled Expository Journey. At the web site for Lamp Mode Recordings, the label that released the album, you'll find this: "Many of you know him as a founding member of...
Hymns & Worship (03/19/08 - 28 Comments)
I wanted to draw your attention to a few albums that I’ve been enjoying recently. Each of these albums features music that is appropriate for corporate worship and each features selections of modern or ancient hymns. Each of them is worth buying and listening to. All of the albums are available through iTunes (where I generally purchase my music these days) but they should also be available elsewhere. In Christ Alone: Modern Hymns Of Worship...
Music Miscellania (01/20/08 - 11 Comments)
Today seemed like a good day to share a few music-related notes that I’ve been saving up to post together. I am no authority on music but I do listen to a lot of it and always enjoy finding new albums or new bands that are worth listening to. Here are a few suggestions. Reilly Reilly is a band hailing from Philadelphia that plays what they term “symphonic rock.” Largely acoustic but with some strains...
Hymn Revival (11/12/06 - 32 Comments)
There is an old phrase which states "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Yet this is no mere cliche when it comes to hymns. Over the past few years worship music has taken the Christian music world by storm. Artist after artist, band after band fed the craze by releasing albums of praise music, some filled with original songs and some with songs that had been previously-recorded. But with such a finite number of songs...
Album Preview - All I Owe (10/15/06 - 4 Comments)
Matthew Smith is the "Indelible Grace guy. He is the man behind Indelible Grace Music, which has brought us four albums featuring new recordings of old hymns. These are among my favorite albums and they are equally appropriate to times of worship as they are to just good listening. Smith has, at long last, released his own full-length album, All I Owe. The album features ten songs, only one of which has been featured on...
Hymn Revival (09/06/05 - 0 Comments)
There is an old phrase which states "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Yet this is no mere cliche when it comes to hymns. Over the past few years worship music has taken the Christian music world by storm. Artist after artist, band after band fed the craze by releasing albums of praise music, some filled with original songs and some with songs that had been previously-recorded. But with such a finite number of songs available, and with so many of them sounding just about the same, this got old quickly. At one point I compiled fully sixteen different versions of "Shout to the Lord." It is a fine song, but it can only be recorded so many times before it begins to lose its lustre.
CD Review - Everything Inbetween (08/03/05 - 0 Comments)
For many Christians, and perhaps even the majority, God's sovereignty is a doctrine of the head but not of the heart. Most of us never have our faith tested in such a way that we have to lean hard on the promises of God that He knows best, that He is in control, and that everything works for the good of those who love Him. I have been a Christian for many years, and while I trust that I would be able to rely on God's promises during times of great pain, I will not ever know for sure until I face a time of great difficulty.
CD Review - Songs For The Cross Centered Life (07/26/05 - 0 Comments)
For many believers, and especially those who are conservative in their theology, contemporary worship music has become nearly synonymous with theologically-shallow, emotion-filled content. These Christians may look to the great hymns of the past and see in them a depth of content that escapes most modern music. Much of the music that does exist is simply inconsistent with Reformed theology or talks far more about personal experience than the transcendent truths of God's Word.
Another Switchfoot Concert (07/10/04 - 0 Comments)
Last night, as you might know, I went to see Switchfoot for the second time on their Beautiful Letdown tour. I wrote some thoughts about their Toronto show here. Last night they played in Hamilton, a city about half an hour from home. While the tickets said the show began at 8 PM we found out when we arrived (a bit before 7) that it actually didn’t begin until 9, so we had lots of...
Album Review - The House Show (07/05/04 - 0 Comments)
A man and his guitar. On the surface, that is all you are going to get with Derek Webb’s album The House Show. There is no production, no percussion, no backing vocals. Dig deeper and you will find an outstanding album featuring one of Christian music’s most honest and outspoken voices. The album seamlessly weaves segments of speaking with singing – sharing in music with spoken teaching. Webb decided that in support of his acclaimed...
Album Review - Revenge of the Supertones (06/15/04 - 1 Comments)
I think the Supertones may be gunning for the record for the greatest amount of turnover of any band in Christian music. * Of the seven originals I believe only two are left. Several replacements have also come and gone. However, with singer/songwriter Mojo (Matt Morginsky) still firmly at the helm, their sound and general feel has not changed a whole lot. Their newest album, Revenge of the Supertones, (released June 15, 2004) reaches into...
Antediluvian (06/09/04 - 0 Comments)
I bought a CD the other day that uses the word "antediluvian" in one of the songs. I think I have now, officially, seen everything. Care to hazard a guess what album it was and who the artist is? If you are not familiar with the word antediluvian it means "of or relating to the period before the Biblical flood."...
Petra Interview (05/21/04 - 2 Comments)
Michael Janke at CMCentral has just posted an excellent interview he did with Petra during GMA week. At first he speaks just with Bob Hartman but about halfway through John Schlitt comes in and it's just great to read the banter between the two of them. Are they really talking about looking forward to Petra's 40th anniversary!? You can read the interview here....
Review - Pivitplex: Under Museum Quality Glass (05/10/04 - 2 Comments)
With so many new artists vying for a place in the Christian industry it is becoming increasingly difficult for new acts to set themselves apart from the crowd. When every week seems to deliver at least one or two new rocks bands it is refreshing to find one that features a truly unique sound. Adding 60’s and 70’s sensibilities to a modern rock sound Pivitplex manages to offer something original to the genre with...
Preaching U2? (05/10/04 - 11 Comments)
This morning I came across a book entitled Get Up Off Your Knees which is subtitled Preaching the U2 Catalog. It is a collection of sermons based on the songs of U2 that was compiled by authors Raewynne J. Whiteley and Beth Maynard. Eugene Peterson wrote the foreward. Here is a description of the book: A thoughtful and provocative collection of sermons by a group of preachers from across the international church spectrum who have...
Review - Third Day: Wire (05/09/04 - 10 Comments)
Seven albums into their careers, the members of Third Day do not have a lot left to prove. They have four gold albums and one platinum and have established themselves as one of Christian music’s premier bands. Perhaps all that was left for them to prove was that they had not forgotten what made them so popular in the first place. Since the release of Offerings: A Worship Album in 2000, Third Day has concentrated...
My (Mostly) Christian Music Collection (01/26/04 - 33 Comments)
I have a large collection of Christian music. I received my introduction to Christian music in 1990 when my friend had me listen to a Petra tape. Just for historical purposes, that album was Beyond Belief. I was intrigued by the music and shortly after purchased Beyond Belief and Petrafied (a Petra compilation). That was the beginning of something of an obsession with Christian music. Though I cannot afford to buy as much as I...
