Results tagged “music”
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...
When Trials Come (07/18/09 - 4 Comments)
Just a few weeks ago Keith and Kristin Getty released Awaken the Dawn, a new album of contemporary hymns. As I understand it, the album will be available on iTunes and other stores in a couple of weeks. For now you'll need to buy it direct. Many of the hymns are written by Stuart Townend, set to music by Keith and sung by Kristin (or that's how I understand the workflow). There are quite a...
A Man There Is, A Real Man (05/24/09 - 12 Comments)
There are a couple of songs we sing in church for which I've seen only the barest information. In our bulletin we generally record at least the author, composition date and name of the tune. For these songs we've got nothing (except, in one case,the author's name). I thought I'd put them up here today to see if anyone out there can point me in the direction of more substantial information about them. The first...
Free Stuff Fridays (04/24/09 - 11 Comments)
Today is Friday and that means it is time for another Free Stuff Fridays. This week's sponsor is Seeds Family Worship. "Seeds Family Worship was planted when worship leader, Jason Houser, was asked to write some songs to help kids remember the verses from his church's summer Bible school. Jason began writing songs and singing them for the kids and families at church. The songs were well-crafted, catchy, and taken straight from scripture. Families...
Free Stuff Fridays (04/10/09 - 0 Comments)
With a new Friday comes a new Free Stuff Fridays. We are once again giving away music, this time courtesy of our sponsor Blake Hicks (visit www.blakehicksmusic.com.). Blake is a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he is completing his second(!) Masters degree. One of those multi-talented types, he is also an excellent graphics artist and musician. He has offered 20 copies of his album Songs of a Pious Heart: A Tribute to...
Free Stuff Fridays (04/03/09 - 6 Comments)
It is Friday and that means it is time for another round of Free Stuff Fridays. This week's sponsor is Sojourn Music. Sojourn describes itself in this way: "New songs for modern missional worship, rich in Christian teaching and contextualized in modern culture. Contemporary hymns, psalms, songs of lament and praise written by members of the Louisville, KY-based Sojourn Community." Sojourn is currently putting the final touches on a new album, "Over the Grave:...
We Shall be Changed (12/22/08 - 12 Comments)
On Saturday night, Aileen and I joined some friends to take in a performance of Handel's Messiah. And what a performance it was. It featured the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. It was, in a word, sublime. Conductor Noel Edison clearly understood the piece (I guess I should say "the oratorio") and wonderfully separated gravitas from joy. As the piece moved from prophecy, to the life of Christ, to his death and...
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...
The Love of God (10/26/08 - 41 Comments)
Earlier today I was thinking about my favorite hymn lyrics (not hymns overall-just particular lyrics). I think my all-time favorite is and remains the final stanza of "And Can it Be?" The last two lines just grip my soul every time I sing them: No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine; Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th'eternal throne, And claim the...
Book Review - Lessons from the Road (08/22/08 - 4 Comments)
I still remember buying my first Third Day album. It was their self-titled debut album and I purchased a cassette copy of the original 9-song version released by Gray Dot Records. It was a bit rougher and, in my mind, a little bit better than the subsequent major-label re-release a year later. I loved the combination of Mac Powell’s voice with the southern rock and occasional bluesy melodies. I remained quite a fan of Third...
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...
Friday Miscellania (07/11/08 - 18 Comments)
On the last day of the first round of my summer vacation, I want to offer up some links that have been collecting in my Bookmarks folder. NoiseTrade NoiseTrade is a site co-founded by Derek Webb that offers good music for “a few friends or a few bucks.” Their music is free to download if you pass along information about it to three friends or if you pay what you think it is worth. There...
Friday Miscellania (03/28/08 - 15 Comments)
It’s Friday and there are a few things I’ve been saving in my Favorites folder that I’d like to mention today. The Internet Effect on News I say, without any hyperbole, that this article from TIME may be the most important you read today. In it Michael Scherer explains how news has become commoditized through the internet. Here is a basic shift that has occurred in the news business: Because of the Internet, you, the...
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...
Free CDs for Bloggers (02/16/08 - 3 Comments)
You and You Alone is a recent CD release from Sovereign Grace Ministries’ “Overflow Series.” The CD features songs written and performed by Pat Sczebel and his son Joel. It just so happens that I’ve got fifty copies of the CD to give away to bloggers. All Sovereign Grace asks is that if you request a copy of the CD, you think about writing a brief review or consider otherwise mentioning it on your blog....
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...
Christmas Music Favorites (11/23/07 - 33 Comments)
Every now and again I get concerned that people are going to think this blog is getting too commercialized—that I keep trying to sell you things. I’m not into blogging for that. But sometimes it’s fun to talk about things like this, so bear with me. Today I’m going to talk about Christmas music and offer up some suggestions. A few of my favorite blogs have been offering Christmas music suggestions. I don’t think lists...
Interview - Mark and Stephen Altrogge (08/01/07 - 20 Comments)
Would you like to win a great new CD? If so, get reading! Today I'm featuring an interview with singers and songwriters Mark and Stephen Altrogge. And at the end of it all I'll be giving away three copies of their new CD. Mark Altrogge is Senior Pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA, a position he has held for over twenty five years. Mark has written numerous worship songs that have been published...
Dear Bobbie (Do You Remember?) (07/26/07 - 6 Comments)
Aileen and I were blessed, when we first began dating, to be members of a church where there were many elderly couples. They were couples who exemplified so many beautiful qualities. Christians for decades, they shone with the light of Christ and were living proof that, though physical beauty fades with the years, true inner beauty grows with every year spent in and through Christ. They had a life, a glow, a presence that drew...