Cut Copy | "Need You Now"

February 21, 2011 in Music

The new Cut Copy album, Zonoscope, is way better than I hoped for. Great follow up to In Ghost Colours. Here's a curious video for "Need You Now" off Zonoscope...

Music Monday: Cheap | New | Soon 2.21.11

February 21, 2011 in Music

CHEAP

Iron & Wine: Our Endless Numbered Days ($3.99)
Blonde Redhead: Penny Sparkle ($3.99)
Caribou: Swim Remixes ($3.99)
Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More ($5.99)
Green Day: Dookie ($3.99)
Destroyer: Kaputt ($5.99)

$5 ALBUMS

All my favorite $5 albums for February
Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
Once Soundtrack
John Legend & The Roots: Wake Up!
Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs: God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise

NEW

PJ Harvey: Let England Shake (WOW, this is good, streaming FREE)
Bright Eyes: The People's Key (better than I expected)
Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots
Radiohead: The King of Limbs (streaming also)

COMING SOON | STREAMING FREE

The Low Anthem: Smart Flesh (MUST LISTEN, buy 2/22)
DeVotchKa: 100 Lovers (buy 3/1)
Papercuts: Fading Parade (buy 3/1)
Eisley: The Valley (buy 3/1, listen to "Ambulance")
Lucinda Williams: Blessed (buy 3/1)
Check out all NPR streaming albums

Delta Spirit | "Golden State"

February 21, 2011 in Music

You've seen lots of videos for songs about bands on the road with crowds, backstage goofing off, etc. This is Delta Spirit's road song, "Golden State." It's not only a great son, it comes from one of the best live bands I've ever seen. I can't recommend their music enough: History From Below | Ode To Sunshine.

Radiohead: Lotus Flower

February 21, 2011 in Music

Thom Yorke, uh, dances and sings "Lotus Flower." Dude, The King of Limbs is a great Radiohead album. Buy it | Stream it FREE.

Music Monday: Mumford | Avett | Dylan | Grammys

February 14, 2011 in Music, TV & Film

Here are the performances of Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, and then both of them backing Bob Dylan at the Grammys. Love it...

Music Monday: Sojourn EPs Video

February 14, 2011 in Music, Worship

Love this new video preview for Sojourn Music's new duel EP release from Brooks Ritter and Jamie Barnes (I posted on it last week). It's beautifully done. (via) If you are looking for a church to be an example of leading in the arts and developing a community of artists without bailling on the gospel or deep theology, look to Sojourn & Sojourn Music.

Music Monday: Barnes & Ritter (Sojourn) EPs

February 07, 2011 in Music, Worship

On February 22nd Sojourn Music (Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY) is releasing a dual EP with two Sojourn artists, Jamie Barnes and Brooks Ritter. It's 10 new songs available for download on the 22nd, 2 EPs of 5 songs each: The War (Ritter) and The Mercy Seat (Barnes). I've had it for a week and have listened multiple times through the whole thing. It's exactly what I've come to expect from Sojourn and these two great artists -- truth, beauty, creativity, worship. It's just great & already a family favorite.

Here's an interview of both artists (via) which includes a song from each EP. MJ Butterworth already has a review up, and check out the great artwork...

Music Monday: New Pornographers "Moves"

February 07, 2011 in Music

If you know The New Pornographers, this video will be hilarious & awesome. If you don't know them, it will be hilarious & awesome...and this song will probably win you over to their music. One of the best music videos I've seen in a long time. Some famous folks throughout and a fake movie trailer to start.

Here's the video for "Moves" from the excellent album, Together.

Music Monday: Cheap | New | Soon 2.7.11

February 06, 2011 in Music

CHEAP

February $5 Albums (Includes: Arcade Fire | The Black Keys | Once Soundtrack)
Avett Brothers: Live, Vol 3 ($5) | The Gleam ($1.99) | Four Thieves Gone ($3.89)
Two Door Cinema Club: Tourist History ($3.99) indie pop
Beach House: Teen Dream ($3.99) dream pop

NEW

The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow ($7.99) long awaited
The Go! Team: Rolling Blackouts ($7.99) BEATS!

STREAMING FREE / COMING SOON

Over the Rhine: The Long Surrender (buy 2/8) produced by Joe Henry | Paste 9.2/10
Telekinesis: 12 Desperate Straight Lines (buy 2/15)
Cut Copy: Zonoscope (buy 2/8)
Bright Eyes: The People's Key (buy 2/15)

$5 Albums for February

February 02, 2011 in Music

Another month, another great list of $5 albums from Amazon. My favorites...

Arcade Fire: The Suburbs | My #3 of 2010
The Black Keys: Thickfreakness | My fav Keys album
The Avett Brothers: Live, Volume 3 | Dude, it's the Avetts
True Grit Soundtrack | One of the best I've heard
Once Soundtrack | Heartbreaking yet hopeful
Gillian Welch: Revival | Genius
Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning | Epic songwriting
Sleigh Bells: Treats | Crank. It. Up.
Regina Spektor: Begin To Hope | A fav album & beloved by the fam
Justin Townes Earle: Midnight At The Movies | Love his stuff
John Legend & The Roots: Wake Up! | I dig The Roots
Dr. Dog: Fate | Gotta like the dog
Ray LaMontagne: God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise | I dig Ray
Frank Sinatra: Songs From the Heart | Dude, it's Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin: Amore | Dude, come on
Buddy Guy: Living Proof | Dude, it's Buddy Guy
Amos Lee: Supply & Demand | Smooth, baby!
REO Speedwagon: Ballads | You can't fight this feeling

Check out the rest of Amazon's 100 $5 albums for February.

Delta Spirit on Kimmel

January 26, 2011 in Music

One of my favorite bands (and favorite live bands), Delta Spirit, showed up to play "White Table" on Kimmel. It's from their album History From Below, my #4 album of 2010. Ode To Sunshine, their debut, is also outstanding. Their latest is The Waits Room EP. Oh, how I wish more folks would find this band. Crank it UP!

A Few Great New Albums

January 25, 2011 in Music

January has set a standard for new music that the rest of 2011 is going to have to live up to. Try out something new. Stretch your music-loving horizons.

Out Today

Destroyer: Kaputt ($5.99) - Paste 8.6/10 | Pitchfork 8.8/10
Iron & Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean ($6.99) - 81/100 Metacritic

Out Last Week

The Decemberists: The King Is Dead ($7.99) - A/V Club 100/100
Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde ($7.99) - Pitchfork 84/100
Dolorean: The Unfazed ($7.99) - Paste 7.8/10
Tennis: Cape Dory ($7.99) - Consequences of Sound 4.5/5

Music To Study To

January 25, 2011 in Music

Joe Thorn is talking about music to study to. Yesterday, film scores. Today, jazz. Tomorrow, I'm assuming it'll be black metal. We'll see.

Go and comment on your favorite music to study to.

Music Monday 1.24.2011

January 24, 2011 in Music

$5 Albums: My Favorites for January | Don't Miss: The Black Keys: Rubber Factory | Avett Brothers: I and Love and You
Great New Albums: The Decemberists: The King Is Dead | Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde | Dolorean: The Unfazed | Tennis: Cape Dory
Daytrotter: Mt Desolation | Matmos & Dan Deacon
Streaming FREE: Iron & Wine | Demdike Stare: Tryptych (eerie, ambient) | Deerhoof | Wanda Jackson | Fujiya & Miyagi
Deals: John Vanderslice: White Wilderness ($3.99)
ON ALERT: Destroyer: Kaputt | getting buzz | Pitchfork 8.8/10 | releases tomorrow

Wanda Jackson on Letterman. Jack White plays on, and I believe produced her newest album, The Party Ain't Over. He's with her for this fun, live performance of "Shakin' All Over"...

Check out this father-daughter rendition of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes song, "Home." If you don't have it, their self-titled album is so good & only $5.

Lots-o-Links 1.21.2011

January 21, 2011 in Books, Church Planting, Family, Food & Drink, Music, Preaching, Revival

I'm reading Joe Thorn's new book, Note To Self, right now. Go pre-order it. I'm really liking it. Helpful for my soul.

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals: III/IV is $3.99 today. (21 tracks)

My family is headed tonight to the Crossway Books premier book reception and art exhibition for the publication of the FOUR HOLY GOSPELS (leather or cloth), featuring paintings by the renowned artist Makoto Fujimura. Check out some of it. More in a mini-documentary...

Makoto Fujimura - The Art of "The Four Holy Gospels" from Crossway on Vimeo

Before visiting the exhibition we are eating at the new Wheaton Chick fil-A and perusing books at Richard Owen Roberts Booksellers. We are leaving early as I'm going to try to meet with Mr. Roberts for a bit. He is a well-known speaker, writer, and editor specifically on the issue of revival, which is what I'm preaching on. He was also interim pastor of the church I currently pastor and I have received good advice during sit-downs with him before. So I'm going to look for books on revival and speak to an expert on the subject. It's going to be a great night!

Oh, and if you haven't seen my post on John MacArthur's uncharitable response to Darrin Patrick's excellent book, Church Planter, you should go check it out.

Music Monday 1.17.11

January 17, 2011 in Music

$5 Albums: My Fav January $5 Albums | Don't Miss: J. Tillman: Cancer & Delirium | Arcade Fire: Funeral | Best Coast: Crazy For You | Buke & Gass: Riposte | Dawes: North Hills
Streaming FREE: Smith Westerns (Dye It Blonde out tomorrrow!)
Daytrotter FREE: Dirty Beaches | Iron & Wine
Bits & Pieces: Highly anticipated albums from Chicago artists | Sarah Jaffe on World Cafe | Sharon Van Etten full live show download & Tiny Desk Concert (her 2010 album, Epic, is wonderful)

The Low Anthem had my #5 album of 2009 called O My God, Charlie Darwin. Their new album, Smart Flesh, comes out on February 22nd. Here they are singing "Ghost Woman Blues" on Letterman. What a great band...

Okkervil River was the indie band that in many ways started my love for indie music. They were the first indie band I saw in concert a few years back because of their The Stage Names album. Their new album, I Am Very Far, is still very far off (May 10th) but it's great to get a listen to what's coming via Fallon (and a little AC Newman)...

Ligonier Ministries $5 Friday | 1.14.11

January 14, 2011 in Books, Conferences, Music, Theology

$5 Friday deals at Ligonier this week...

Books: Living by God's Promises by Joel Beeke | Five Things Every Christian Needs to Grow by RC Sproul

Teaching Series: Truth (CD) | Classic Collection (download, 10 best known messages) | Oaths & Vows (download)

DVD: War on the Word (2002 Natl Conf)

Audio: Scenes from the Life of Christ by Tom Howard (CD w/ narrations by Begg, Mohler, Piper, Sproul, several others)

Check out all the books & resources at Ligonier.org and the Ligonier Store.

Black Dub

January 13, 2011 in Music

Black Dub's self-titled debut album is only $3.99 and the sale could end at any time. Get it! PopMatters says...

Black Dub’s self-titled album is one of the most delightful and eclectic mixes of sleek and seductive music produced in quite some time. A perfect combination of rock, blues, jazz, funk, dub, reggae, gospel and soul, the band demonstrates unique musicianship in each song while never losing the listener in transition from track to track, constructing a seamless sequential flow. This album exemplifies Black Dub’s diverse talent while giving the listener what they crave: lyrical poetry and beautiful melodies. Infested with artistry and emotion, each song illustrates the epitome of passion.