Tim Keller recently spoke at Christ Presbyterian in Nashville on the Parable of the Two Sons. It's probably similar to his other talks on the subject, but always helpful to hear it. (Audio source. Thanks to Casey, old seminary friend, who passed on the link.)
Since we have 6 more weeks of winter on the way, we need something to do to keep warm and shake the winter blues. To that end I submit this post.
I guess I should start with an apology. I don't think I mentioned on the blog that Bon Iver's new EP is out, Blood Bank. I think I mentioned it on Twitter and Facebook. My bad. It's a wonderful follow-up to For Emma, Forever Ago. Only $3.89 for Amazon download. What? That's not enough to merit your love? Ok, how about 7 free live tracks of Bon Iver at the Rock & Roll Hotel in D.C. There. Now we can be friends again.
High quality Avett Brothers video for "Go To Sleep"...
Here's some M83 with their wonderful retro 80's sound on Conan...
The Gaslight Anthem rocks, as usual, on Letterman. Love this song...
And Andrew Bird on Letterman is spectacular as usual...
How about we finish with a super-cheap download from Amazon. It's MGMT's 2005 Time to Pretend EP for $0.99.
As always, you can visit my Tim Keller Resources page for more from Dr. Keller.
Great meeting and discussion today with a group of pastor/church planter friends here in suburban Chicago. Thanks to Joe we get some details.
Boom! It's Music Monday!
I got Animal Collective's Feels (MP3 download) a couple of years ago. I found it weird and difficult to enjoy. It's grown on me and I like it now. The new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, sounds absolutely glorious. The reviews are very good. If you are an MP3 downloader, you can get it now, and you should. It's $8.99 at Amazon. I'm waiting until tomorrow when the CD is officially released. You need to watch this outstanding video for "My Girls" off the new album...
Arcade Fire is one of the best bands in the world. I have no doubt about that. Here they are with what I think is their best song, "Intervention," at Obama's Inauguration staff ball. It's an in-crowd camera, but it turned out pretty good...
If you have never gotten The Velvet Underground's classic album, Loaded, it's only $6.97 as an Amazon MP3 download. It's a great album. Pitchfork gives it 10/10 and says "there's no excuse for not owning this album." Get it.
Kent Shaffer over at Church Relevance has determined that Reformissionary is the #27 church blog in the world. Some good blogs on the list, and I'm honored to be there. It's the best system of measurement I've seen for judging the popularity of a blog. Impressive, Kent.
I've started a new church blog (Doxa Blog),though I don't know exactly the role it will play yet. Working on it. I have the domain doxablog.com, but right now it's only masking the link to this blog and it's a headache. Also working on a Facebook group for Doxa.
My new article: When Doctors Are Stumped
Two talks on Questioning Evangelism
Paste Magazine anticipates 29 movies in 2009
Scot McKnight says some nice words about my photography, which I have long neglected
In April of 2004 we came to Calvary Baptist Church of Woodstock, Illinois. It was a small church that had serious issues. I told the Pastor Search Committee before the church called me here that it sounded like a dead church that needed to restart. They called me here and it's been an uphill battle ever since. But we are finally in the place of working through the transitions we know we need.
A little more background. Just under a year ago our church chose to start heading in a new direction: adopting a new name, constitution, and leadership structure, possibly selling our property and more. The church then chose an Interim Leadership Team (ILT) to replace the "church council," which was the leadership group the church had for several years before I came. The ILT has been put in place to work through the transitions above and lead the church until eldership can be adopted in our constitution and elders are installed.
The first of the changes the ILT is working through is adopting a new church name. We chose "Doxa Fellowship" on Sunday. Doxa is the Greek word for "glory" and is found in words like "orthodoxy" and "doxology." "Doxa Fellowship" won't be officially/legally adopted until we adopt a new constitution and choose a restart date and do all the crap needed to make it legal, but we are going to start using it immediately.
The ILT came up with this name after working through the following criteria. I said more about each point during our discussion, and some points overlap and fit in similar categories, but these are the points I made to explain why the leadership chose "Doxa Fellowship."
1. Identity, Calling, & Mission – We want our name to have meaning, to help identify us by our calling & mission. To mention our church is to mention our mission.
2. Unique in McHenry County – It’s best if people outside our church hear our name and have no other church in mind.
3. Not Location Focused – We are a church for McHenry County, not just Woodstock. A name describing us in Woodstock will be too narrow. A name describing us in McHenry County may make people think of the city of McHenry. So a non-location specific name will work best.
4. A Brief Identifier – For both church members and folks who live in McHenry County, it’s helpful to have a name they can say in 1 word, though our official name will be longer.
6. Creativity in Branding – Church branding is often based on name & mission and we want a name that gives some freedom for creatively branding our church.
7. A Name Worth Discussing – When people hear of our church we want the name to peak their interests, draw out questions about the name and/or church. A typical church name often leads to no response from people. A more unique name, based on identity, calling, & mission, opens doors for conversation.
It's been a while since I gave you a full update of how Molly is doing. If you don't know, my wife was diagnosed in 2007 with Chiari I Malformation. You can catch up here.
This is as good as Molly has felt since surgery in September of 2008. It seems that the neurologist's effort to get Molly sleeping has worked wonders.
Molly is taking medication every night just before bed and she is sleeping much better. The neurologist thinks that the very difficult post-op problems and the rounds of steroids she took got her inner sleep clock way off. He also says she likely has "brain damage" both from the surgeries (as with any surgery) as well as from the scar tissue that forms from exposing the brain and other tissues to the outside world. She's in bed every night at right about 9pm and up at 6am or so. Over the past few weeks there is a marked difference in how good she feels, which is obvious to me as well.
Mol's balance issues are still there a bit, but not too bad. She hasn't used a cane for many weeks now. She is able to go to the gym and do low-impact stuff. She also uses the treadmill at the house. The neurologist doesn't want her running, though she really wants to. She does power-walking. She has also just started using a Wii Fit, which is pretty cool. It's really helpful for her with balance issues as well as other exercise.
The brain issues, including finishing her thoughts and doing more complicated mental calculations and similar stuff is still obviously there. She is playing Brain Age daily on the Nintendo DS Lite that I got her for Christmas, as the doc recommended. She is also, almost daily, playing some games (like Mancala) that require her to use fine motor skills. Her ability to do simple things, like pick up a penny, has been finally improving.
All-in-all, Molly has been greatly improving and now has a bunch of energy and motivation. We really want to thank everyone who has been praying for her recovery.
We are still looking to a second opinion in February, if that appointment works out. It may be pushed back. That's the next step, and it will determine the steps after that.
New Beirut. Zach Condon and the boys are headed toward a Mexican sound. Very cool. New video...
Fleet Foxes were on SNL...
I've been looking into some new stuff. I found Ezra Furman and the Harpoons through Filmspotting. I like their sound (MySpace). Joe Thorn has led me to Isis (MySpace). I like them so far, as does Pitchfork (also). After discovering my need, Cameron Mizell threw me a copy of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Awesome! Thanks Cameron. It will help me practice (fool around) with my harmonica.
Amazon MP3 downloads worth checking out:$5 --> Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack & Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. $1.99 --> R.E.M's Automatic for the People.
Sam Storms on p34 of One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God.
I've enjoyed everything I've heard from the dreary and dark Woven Hand. Biblically and theologically haunting music/lyrics. Check this Tiny Desk Concert.
Here's a video (not great quality) of Jeff Tweedy, some Radiohead guys, and Liam Finn playing Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees." Because of the quality, it will probably only be really enjoyable for folks who already love Tweedy/Radiohead/Finn or who have "Fake Plastic Trees" streaming constantly running through their heads (like me). But as a fan of all, it's very cool. (via)
The Black Cab Sessions are always fun, and a great way to find new-to-you artists or some of your favorites singing newer songs. Ryan Adams...
I've been discovering some 2008 albums that are high on 'best of' lists but I hadn't heard. I mentioned Welcome Wagon last week, but now I have video...
Ra Ra Riot is a ton of fun. Try them out at Daytrotter and enjoy this Letterman appearance...
Let me end with The Gaslight Anthem. Matt Redmond commented on my blog last week, curious about what I think of The Gaslight Anthem. Having never heard of them I checked their MySpace and loved it. Pitchfork does too. Early Springsteenish. The title track is really great and I want to share it with you. Check the lyrics as you listen/watch...
If you live in or near the Chicago suburbs, there is a great opportunity to learn about and discuss suburban life and ministry, as well as network with other suburbanites. Our first sub•text forum with Al Hsu, author of The Suburban Christian, is coming on Saturday, January 17th at Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL from 10:30am - 2:00pm.
It's free and anyone can attend. Check out the rest of the info at sub•text.
At the Dallas 2008 Acts 29 Boot Camp Elliot Grudem and Matt Adair spoke on church replanting. Grudem's talk was really outstanding and convicting. Adair's talk was helpful as well, and includes the QnA session. As someone working on a replant, this is good stuff. Here's the audio from the whole conference.
And if you are in the area and/or looking to plant, you should attend the Raleigh, NC Boot Camp next month.
My buddy, Kevin Cawley, has listed his favorite 20 albums of 2008. Some good stuff on there, including The Welcome Wagon. I totally missed this album and just ordered it online because I love their stuff at MySpace. Paste has a nice article. Sufjanesque sound. From their label, Asthmatic Kitty...
Bon Iver covers The Outfield's 1985 hit "Your Love." Cooler than cool...p>
Alaska in Winter with "Berlin." Crank it!
If you like Conor Oberst, and you should, then you probably will like David Dondero's Tiny Desk Concert. For a taste, here's his video for "Rothko Chapel." You may want the lyrics nearby.
I've identified 10 changes I want to see in my life in 2009. Call them resolutions if you like. I have much more I could say about them, but I wanted them to be somewhat brief here. The first 3 are general and pervasive through the next 7, and are things I've been working on for years (ordering not important). The last 7 are more specific (and in order). I know that it's really God who works change, and that everything below should say "Lord-willing" after it, but just accept that up front if you would.
10. A year of clearer boundaries. I'm thinking of several areas here including the areas of hospitality (more at #6), personal organization, what I do in my different workplaces, time with my wife (more at #2), what we let our kids do and not do, etc. This isn't about "tighter" boundaries necessarily (well, maybe in a few areas). But muddy boundaries make for a muddy life. Clarity is, well, clarifying.
9. A year of fewer excuses. I'm sick of my mind running to look for better excuses for why things aren't different, better, possible. I've been working on this area for some time because it's a tough one for me. I'm going to work at dropping excuses, admit when I'm wrong, and press on. "Do or do not. There is no 'try.'"
8. A year of greater risk. Comfort is an easy default mode for me. Risk is a sexy word to me, and a sexy idea. But all too often it's a word and idea and not much else. This year when I catch myself being too protective or fearful (also see #7) I'm going to try and let go and go for it. I'm still going to count the cost, I'm just going to try and not selfishly count the cost.
_____
7. A year of saying what needs to be said. I'm a prophet-type guy. I used to be the guy who would say things and then find out later that I was actually very bold and courageous and truthful and transformational, though at the time it didn't feel at all courageous. I've been tamed a bit, and I'm sick of it. This year I'm going to speak when I feel led to instead of feeling later on that I should have said something. This will result in things from more direct evangelism, to more regular meetings with church folks who are slacking, to a louder public voice in my city, to many other things.
6. A year of expanding our "public" space. I'm thinking mostly hospitality and relational discipleship here. Some things have led us to restrict levels of private space and too rarely invite people in. Most of those things are stupid and selfish. We are going to try to open our home more, enjoy the company of friends and strangers more, etc. We used to influence people more through things like letting them be around parenting situations. This worked especially well with university students. We don't do that enough anymore. We have been really changed over the years by hanging around older Christians, pastors, and others and watching their life, asking questions, and just sitting and soaking in the relationship. We need to be more intentional about being there for others.
5. A year of scheduling mission. This has always been something I've done, but it's waned and I want to get serious about it again. Unscheduled mission is always easier for me (ALWAYS!) when scheduled mission is happening. So really this will help scheduled and unscheduled mission. I've already added some significant chunks into my winter schedule. I'm going to vary the locations, means, and approach. Along with this I have some ideas from last year that we shelved until some core changes happen at our church, which are coming very soon (see #4).
4. A year of church transformation. Starting in a few weeks the changes I've been working for at my church for more than 4 1/2 years are finally going to start happening. We are working on reconstituting, restarting, and renaming our church. That's just the beginning. Last year we made some important decisions and went through some real pain to make what's happening in 2009 a reality. Should be a busy, fruitful, exciting, and risky year. I'll try to keep you posted here.
3. A year of discipling our children better. Last year discipleship was just ok. We are still not close to what I want for my kids. I have a picture of what I want to see in their lives, of how I want them to experience the gospel, truth, faith, ministry, and compassion. Now we will day-by-day begin, one stroke at a time, to paint that picture.
2. A year of rediscovering my wife. The end of 2008 was really difficult for my marriage. We never grew apart or stopped loving or liking each other or anything like that. But most of my readers know how really tough these last few months have been. When you spend all the time thinking about how your car isn't working right you never get to experience the joy of being on the road. You get too focused on the problems. Same with our relationship. We need to get out and feel the wind in our hair and hug a few turns on the country roads again, even if Molly's issues mean it will be at a slower speed. This means things like getting date nights back in order, finding more time in the evenings to just hang and talk about something other than what's wrong with Molly, and me stopping being such a jerk. :)
1. A year of responding better to the Holy Spirit's promptings. I've noticed, especially over the last half of the year, some things in my life that just aren't in order. They get better, and then worse again. I going to spend more time preaching the gospel to myself. I'm going to refresh the disciplines while also simplifying things a bit. I'm going to be more protective of times of silence and solitude. I'm looking forward to a growing intimacy with the Lord over 2009.
Amazon's Top 2008 MP3 Albums for $5 sale is a good one. Five of my top 21 are there (Bon Iver - #1, Portishead - #2, Fleet Foxes - #8, Cut Copy - #10, and Vampire Weekend - #12) as well as several others I'd recommend and a few I'd like to check out (like M83, Calexico, The Hold Steady, She & Him, TV on the Radio, and others). A few other good deals: Liam Finn - #5: $5.99, Elbow - #11 = $7.99.
Brief Molly Update: Mayo Clinic has turned Molly away. Twenty minutes before leaving for my Dad's house for Christmas Molly received the letter saying that they turn down a lot of people and that Molly isn't a good candidate for an appointment. Essentially they don't think they would find a solution to Molly's Chiari issues. Maybe it's because they know Molly's surgeon is already a recognized expert and he would know more than they would. Dunno. We can appeal that decision by sending any info that may change their minds. I don't know that we have anything like that. Still looking into it, and other options. Molly has been sleeping a lot better with her new sleep meds. Glad for that.
Two quick prayer requests...
Links...
Run to Amazon to download The 99 Most Essential Beethoven Masterpieces for $1.99. World class orchestras and artists in this collection. I'm listening to it now and it's wonderful. C'mon, 2 bucks! Go get it now because the SALE ENDS TODAY!
2009 is the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, so decorate your church stage with tulips! Or maybe make it a year of reading Calvin. Here's a year through the Institutes reading guide. The Reformation 21 guys are blogging through Calvin's Institutes in 2009 (You can request a reading schedule). John Piper's new book John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God is officially released tomorrow. Piper's pastor's conference message on Calvin is also worth a listen (or re-listen).
I don't think I've linked to this yet (and it's late), but Tim Keller had a Christmas article in Christianity Today: "The Advent of Humility."
JD Greear:
Todd Hiestand: Books of 2008 - Leadership
Barnabas Piper: 22 things I admire about my parents on their 40th anniversary
Tim Chester has a new book coming out - The Ordinary Hero: Living the Cross and Resurrection
Virtual church leader hangout at www.churchstaffbreakroom.com
Here are my best 21 songs of 2008, each with a lyric snip and brief comments. I have an iMix of my Best Songs of 2008, though iTunes missed 2 tracks (#6 & #15). I'm trying to fix it, but not sure if I can. Shoot, you can search for them. C'mon!
I have to say this list was nearly impossible to form. It's easier to pick favorite tracks from albums. I like different songs during different moods, at different times of the day, etc. I should also add that great albums don't always produce the most or best stand-alone tracks. So while my Best Albums of 2008 list often coincides with this one, that isn't always the case. So here's my list of the Best Songs of 2008, starting with honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions (in no particular order): "You're Not Broken" and "Baker Lake" by Sera Cahoone, "Wucan" by Black Mountain, "American Hearts" by AA Bondy, "Tornado Longing for Freedom" by The Music Tapes, "My Backwards Walk" by Frightened Rabbit, "Godspeed" by Jenny Lewis, "Nine in the Afternoon" by Panic! at the Disco, "Old Enough" by The Raconteurs, "For Emma" by Bon Iver, "Soul on Fire" by Spiritualized
21. "Out There on Thin Ice" by Cut Copy -- "If that's what it takes, then don't let it tear us apart, even if it breaks your heart." -- Fun and relational. What? Yeah, fun.
20. "The Rip" by Portishead -- "Through the glory of life, I'm scattered on the floor, disappointed and sore." Starts sad and introspective and rolls into a cool synthesizer (not an oxymoron). And of course it's trippy, it's Portishead.
19. "The Snow Leopard" by Shearwater -- "Well, i've had enough, wasting my body, my life. I'll come away, come away from the shallows." I don't know what this song is about (more here?). But it's beautiful and a bit enchanting to me.
18. "Furr" by Blitzen Trapper -- "And now my fur has turned to skin. And I've been quickly ushered in to a world that I confess I do not know. But I still dream of running careless through the snow." I see this as a coming-of-age story of a young man who loses ties with mom and runs wild until he meets a girl, who tames him. Love it.
17. "White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes -- "And, Michael, you would fall and turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime." No idea what this song is about, or if they intend to say anything. Whatever. Gorgeous.
16. "Lost Coastlines" by Okkervil River -- "And every night finds us rocking and rolling on waves wild and wide, well we have lost our way, nobody`s gonna say it outright." Boundaries? Morality? Politics? What it means to tour as a band? A great song featuring both Will Sheff and Jonathan Meiburg on vocals.
15. "The Wolves (Act I and II) by Bon Iver -- "Someday my pain, someday my pain will mark you." I'm a sucker for a slow build. Sadness. Mourning. Love lost. Icy cold in a grey world. This was stunning in concert. It still gives me shivers.
14. "I'm Alright Now" by David Ford -- "And television is just some weak anesthetic to numb the senses til you're out like a light. Like all these drugs they seem to promise you the earth and then they don't keep you warm in the night." Ford knows he is seriously flawed, yet holds a sense of hope.
13. "On the Death of the Waters" by Shearwater -- "Turn your bow to the biggest wave, but your angel's on holiday and that wave rises slowly and breaks." First delicate, then in your face, and then hyper-delicate. True Shearwater.
12. "One Day Like This" by Elbow -- "So throw those curtains wide! One day like this a year'd see me right!" Feel good song of the year. Easily. "Cause holy cow, I love your eyes."
11. "Song for the Road" by David Ford -- "For this evening i will play back every message that you sent so i can sleep to the sound of your voice." Titled well, it's about Ford missing his girl while on the road. A truly lovely song that almost hurts with longing.
10. "Only as the Day is Long" by Sera Cahoone -- "All my insecurities are breakin' me up inside. You light another cigarette and my eyes are on fire." I think this is about a crappy relationship. Sera's voice is haunting to me.
9. "Bob" by Drive-By Truckers -- "Bob ain't light in the loafers, he might kneel but he never bends over." A descriptive song about a single man who lives life his own way. It's not an appealing lifestyle, but we've all probably met "Bob" before.
8. "Grounds for Divorce" by Elbow --"There's a hole in my neighborhood down which of late I cannot help but fall." <<< Tremendous lyric. A rocking song worth an upgraded subwoofer.
7. "Murder in the City" by The Avett Brothers --"Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name." A quiet, simple acoustic ballad about family, fathers and brothers.
6. "Wise Man" by Liam Finn --"He's a coloring in book that's been all colored in." Is this John Lennon? Holy cow. I play this one over and over. A fun beat and curious lyrics. About his dad? The transition from father to son?
5. "Oxford Comma" by Vampire Weekend --"Why would you lie about something dumb like that? Why would you lie about anything at all?" Despite the f-bomb, this is a catchy and playful song that keeps you thinking.
4. "Goodnight Girl" by The Nadas -- "Crumpled up and thrown away, to resurrect another day. Goodnight girl. Say goodbye." A rock ballad about the closing of the bar where The Nadas were the house band. I really dig this tune.
3. "Blue Tulip" by Okkervil River -- "Hats off to my distant hope, I'm held back by a velvet rope, and he's behind the wall the smoke machine has made between us." A soaring ballad apparently about groupies. Whatta song!
2. "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver -- "In the morning I'll be with you, but it will be a different "kind." I'll be holding all the tickets, and you'll be owning all the fines." Could be #1 on a different day. Sounds like a Justin Vernon hasn't gotten over a past relationship (album is For Emma, Forever Ago, a former flame). It's painful and he's vulnerable. Powerful.
1. "Flume" by Bon Iver -- "Only love is all maroon." While I flip-flopped my #1 and #2 for a long time in creating this list, I went with my gut on this one and think I have it right. But I'm still trying to figure this song out, which is a part of the intrigue. It has some pregnant lyrics (pun intended). I hope Bon Iver keeps this kind of magic around for the next handful of years. It's a beautiful thing.
Despite a pretty lousy year for our family (for obvious reasons) we are enjoying the beginning of our Christmas break. And during this Christmas we are especially thankful for the birth of our Lord, who gives us peace in our difficulties, hope for tomorrow, and joy in the forgiveness we don't deserve.
This photo was put into our Christmas cards and we wanted to share it with you here. You can also view our Christmas card from 2007. That's a tough one to top.
Merry Christmas to all!
The McCoys.
I'm not a music critic, and I don't (can't) buy & listen to all the good stuff out there each year. But it's an enjoyable hobby for me and so I make my best effort to search out, find, and enjoy good music. It's a wonderful bonus for me to then share that good music with you. I gave you my best albums of 2006 & 2007. Metacritic is now listing many "best of" lists for 2008. All of the albums on my list below are linked for purchase through the Reformissionary Music Store at Amazon (which also has a special page for 2008 best albums). Here are my 21 best albums of 2008 with brief comments. First let me start with a few regrets and honorable mentions.
I REGRET (haven't heard these albums): TV on the Radio: Dear Science (on many year-end lists), Girl Talk: Feed the Animals, Deerhunter: Microcastle
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Calexico: Carried to Dust, Sam Phillips: Don't Do Anything, Spiritualized: Songs in A & E, British Sea Power: Do You Like Rock Music?, The Avett Brothers: The Gleam II EP, The Walkmen: You & Me, Juno Soundtrack
21. Quiet Village: Silent Movie -- Mood music. This stuff is a vibe, a feeling, an emotion, a moment in time made into music. It may be perfect for changing your mood, remembering, or seeing yourself in a place you've never been. Being lyric-less, it's also good for listening while reading or working.
20. Black Mountain: In the Future -- I love this band. This is thoughtful, heavy rock music with a psychedelic twinge. This is classic rock after hitting refresh. It's creatively-crafted rock music. It's thick rock music. It's very good rock music.
19. Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue -- I didn't expect a lot from Lewis' follow up to her stellar Rabbit Fur Coat with the Watson Twins (#12 in my 2006 list), but I like this album a lot. As usual she speaks to the brokenness of humanity and humans...a lot.
18. My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges -- I really tried to avoid this album. I'm glad I caved. This is a band worth following if only to see what they do next.But they are never as good as so many say they are.
17. Okkervil River: The Stand Ins -- Not its equal, but a worthy follow-up to The Stage Names (my 2007 #1). I'm not sure I could shrug my shoulders at anything from this very talented, lyric-driven rock band.
16. Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely -- I'm pretty sure The White Stripes can't compare to the Raconteurs. These guys are really exciting. Lots of talent. Lots of fun. Plus, they make me turn it up to 11. It big music meant for big speakers.
15. The Music Tapes: Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes -- Not what I expected, and still unwraps my expectations when I put it on. It's just different, sometimes spooky, sometimes curiously antiquated. Yes, the saw is still an instrument. Always a feast for the ears.
14. Blitzen Trapper: Furr -- A fun mix of sounds, from southern rock to piano ballad, from trippy Beatles to straight-up Wilco to a Conor Oberst ditty. I'm always intrigued how their music come across on my subwoofer. Interesting beats. A great album by a band that's going places.
13. Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark -- At times full of energy southern rock. At other times sad or frustrated or lonely. When I want country music to be so much better than it is, this is where I often turn. They are coming to Milwaukee soon. I hope to be there.
12. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend -- Melodic post-punk songs full of energy and spunk. You don't rock out, but your heart beats quite a bit faster. Tons of fun throughout this literary album. You will hear stuff that just doesn't fit in your musical categories, and that's a good thing.
11. Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid -- Elbow makes good albums. Always solid. Never the best I've heard, but always very good, enjoyable, interesting. And always with a standout track or two (see: "Grounds for Divorce").
10. Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours -- This whole album is like a post-Red Bull heartbeat. If you ever need to wallpaper a room...or a whole house!...just throw on Cut Copy and do it while singing and dancing and letting the time fly by. Zoom!
9. The Nadas: The Ghosts Inside These Halls -- The definition of "bar band" has a pic of these guys. More accessible than The Hold Steady and more straight up real. Nothing fancy here. It's just good ol' rock music meant for people who drink beer and still high-five.
8. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
-- There is no lack of love for Fleet Foxes out there. If you aren't a
fan yet, you should be. These guys are the real deal. Melodies and
harmonies abound. Did I mention harmonies? These guys float in the
ether. I will get grief for putting this album this low on my list, but it's my list so deal with it.
7. Sera Cahoone: Only As the Day Is Long -- Hard for me to not put this album higher. I'm entranced by Sera Cahoone, the slow build of her songs, the heart-wrenching lyrics. I'm always pulled in and involved with each song. I can't wait for what she does next.
6. Shearwater: Rook -- I own both versions of Shearwater's powerful last album, Palo Santo (my #1 in 2006). This band is a staple in my music diet, and this album is no let down. The expressive vocals of Jonathan Meiburg is the band's best instrument, but that is no dig against these excellent musicians. One of the best bands working, and they are just getting started.
5. Liam Finn: I'll Be Lightning -- A late addition to my list, I picked this up recently and have been playing it almost daily since. Liam is the son of Crowded House singer, Neil Finn. I liked Crowded House, but this is a whole other category. His style has been built on a steady diet of The Beatles, to be sure. And it's fantastic.
4. David Ford: Songs for the Road -- Though a 2007 UK release, it was available in the U.S. in April. And it's hard for me to believe this album hasn't been discussed more. This talented singer-songwriter has packed together a creative set of heart-on-his-sleeve songs about love, longing, and love lost. At times I get a Josh Ritter feel.
3. Frightened Rabbit: The Midnight Organ Fight -- There are many fun and shockingly frank (!) tunes on this upbeat album. This Scottish band is an instant favorite for me. I can listen to this album again and again without growing tired of it. It reminds me a bit of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah without the crazy vocal extremes.
2. Portishead: Third -- This was my introduction to Portishead, but I beg them to not let it be farewell. What an album! Full of fuzz and clanging and creepy-crawly things. It's gorgeous, thickly layered, and deeply trippy (even hypnotic). An enjoyable album from beginning to end. It may not be immediately accessible to Portishead virgins, but it's brilliant.
1. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago -- Self-released near the end of 2007, but most are putting it on their lists for this year after a label release. For me there is no competition for #1. I had no other options. This wintry album from Wisconsinite Justin Vernon is just about as good as it gets, this year or any year. It's cozy but not always comfortable. Light up a crackling fire to thaw out your frostbitten fingers and toes and experience these songs without distraction. Bon Iver, you complete me.
