Music

Lots-o-Links 12.30.09

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Music Monday 12.28.09

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Clap-hands  If you are considering downloading any albums right now, I encourage you to go to Amazon and grab them. If you buy one $7.99 or more, you get a free download of a $5 album (there are 800 right now). And it works for multiple purchases (so, buy 3 $7.99 or more and get 3 $5 albums). Here's a selection of some great $5 albums...

Vic Chesnutt died on Christmas day after 2 days in a coma following an apparent drug overdose. He was paralyzed since he was 18. Still he has made some great music. This outstanding song was recorded in November. Be aware: there's a little language at the beginning before the song starts. (buy it)

Lissie's music is great. Her glasses are stupid. Remember the dude who ripped his face off in Poltergeist? Yeah, that's Lissie in those glasses. But, you know, her music is great. (buy it)

Best Albums of 2009

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It's always difficult to choose my favorite albums at the end of the year. My favorite part is getting to revisit some albums that get dusty from early in the year. My least favorite part is trying to say one album is better than another. They are better at different times for different reasons. I just want to spread my enjoyment of music onto you and so I'll give ranking art my best shot. Hope you discover some new music here.

I also hope you will comment on your favorites, offer links to your lists or tell me what you think of mine. Discovery of and discussion about art is a worthy exercise. If you are interested you can check out my previous lists: Best Albums of 2007, Best Albums of 2008. By the way, none of my album comments should be taken in a negative way. "Sad" means awesomely depressing, etc. Be aware: some albums contain colorful language. 

Honorable Mentions: 

  • Them Crooked Vultures: Them Crooked Vultures - Fun, loud rock. Way better than expected. 
  • Swell Season: Strict Joy - Just haven't heard it enough to list.

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25. Megafaun: Gather, Form & Fly - Folksier, Funner Fleet Foxes.

24. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Chew-gum shoegaze. Would be used for a remake of The Breakfast Club.

23. Sufjan Stevens: The BQE - Unquestionably Suf. Suf you can work to. Music that moves. Fluttering.

22. Grizzly Bear: Veckatimest - Grand yet feels restrained. Sad at times. Beautiful.

21. Volcano Choir: Unmap - Inventive, from the talents of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and Collections of Colonies of Bees. It may take some work to enjoy, but enjoyable it is.

20. Passion Pit: Manners - Party time! Let's dance! Crazy falsettos on this one. Super-duper. Snazzy.

19. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Grab a tamborine and sing along as we drive to the coast in our VW van. Not always that simple, but close.

18. Antony & The Johnsons: The Crying Light - Sad. Hopeful. Yeah, basically the title. Antony's trembling voice sounds and resonates with the broken.

17. Atlas Sound: Logos - Etherial. Layered. Wonder at the collections of sounds.

16. Regina Spektor: Far - Sing-songy pop music that makes you think. 

15. Other Lives: Other Lives - Epic. Soaring. Room-filling sounds. Sad. Haunting.

14. D.M. Stith: Heavy Ghost - Beautifully creepy. Haunting. Creative. Textured. 

13. Metric: Fantasies - Fun. Foot tapping. Heart pumping. Head bobbing. Uh...fun!

12. Karen O and The Kids: Where the Wild Things Are - Great soundtrack from a great movie. Truly makes the movie better. Stays with you.

11. Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Red Bull music. Cross-country road-trip music. Take-video-going-down-slides-and-replay-it-at-twice-the-speed music. 

10. The Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca - Quirky. Complex/complicated. Everywhere, and then together again. Harmonious. Rewarding to those who dare to try.

9. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone - Storyteller. Strong. Siren. Warm and inviting amid the crashing waves and rocks.

8. A.A. Bondy: When The Devil's Loose - Simple, acoustic, folksy music with a voice that longs for something. The voice makes the music. 

7. Brandi Carlile: Give Up The Ghost - Powerful voice and powerful music. Some of the best indie songwriting on my list with a wide appeal. If some of my musical tastes don't work for you, try Brandi. 

6. The XX: XX - Dream pop. Calm vocals with twisty tunes. Understated. Coolest of the cool. Has a beat, but you can chill out to it.

Oh-My-God--Charlie-Darwin-by-The-Low-Anthem_GBf0UlEJ7kYx_full 5. The Low Anthem: Oh My God, Charlie Darwin - From delicate epics to strummy Americana to rollicking Avett-like folk/rock. This is a great album full of life and rooted sounds. Homespun goodness and full emotions.

Manchester-orchestra-mean-everything-to-nothing-2009 4. Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything to Nothing - Rock music with something to say. Some of my favorite "crank it up" moments in my music library are on this album. Surprisingly some of the quiet are here too.

6a00d8341c974f53ef011572250dac970b.jpg 3. The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You - It wasn't until I was listening through to see some of my favorite songs of the year that I realized how much I do love this album. Just beats out Manchester Orchestra at the end.

Animalcollective 2. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion - It's hard to discount this album. It's creative and hip and thoroughly enjoyable. Mesmerizing. Spinny. Trippy. Full of sounds and melodies and colors and unicorns. Ok, that's too far.

Antlers 1. The Antlers: Hospice - Living up to its name, this is solemn and heartbreaking. And brilliant. A running narrative often moves through this literary work. Stop, listen, experience.

Music Monday 12.14.09

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Spin's 40 Best Albums of 2009

Curator: The Disintegration of the Music Industry and the Road to Distributism

Kevin Twit of Indelible Grace reviews Bifrost Arts: Salvation Is Created (Buy)...

This is a record that aches with longing and invites us to take off our shoes and lower our voices to a hush as we behold the wonder that is Christmas.

Swell Season's  "Low Rising" (via, buy it)...

Pomplamoose with "O Come All Ye Faithful"...

Remember Run DMC's "Christmas in Hollis?" Classic hack of Simon...

Music Monday 12.7.09

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My Best Albums of 2009 list is in the works. Look for it near the end of the year. A fine year for audiophiles. Go check my 2008 and 2007 lists.

Avett Brothers are getting some end of the year, end of the decade love.

The Swell Season, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, make beautiful music. If you haven't seen the movie Once where Hansard and Irglova first captured the world's attention, I highly recommend it. Their new album, Strict Joy (7.99 version - 12 songs, deluxe version $11.99 - 31 songs), is very good. "High Hope" is a new song that I've only seen in this video. Glen uses colorful language, but I hope that won't keep you from hearing this beautiful song. Also, take note of the harmonies from the crowd and one woman in particular...(via)

If you haven't read them yet, go read my reviews of the two new Christmas albums from Daniel Renstrom (download) and Bifrost Arts (download/CD). Both are great albums. I also recommend Folk Angel: Christmas Songs EP (3 songs) from Jeff Capps (@jeffcapps) and others at The Village Church.

Serena-Maneesh = cool. Liked their debut album. Next one should be good. Yes, this is a crank it up moment...

Good, cheap music...

Music Review: Bifrost Arts - Salvation is Created

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Biofrost-arts-Salvation-Is-Created-300x300  Bifrost Arts is "a sacred music non-profit that exists to enrich the church and engage the world with beauty and truth." A variety of musicians are involved including like Sufjan Stevens, Isaac Wardell, Derek Webb, The Welcome Wagon, Denison Witmer, and J. Tillman among many others.

Salvation is Created is the new Christmas album from Bifrost Arts. It's their second album, following the release of Come O Spirit! Anthology of Hymns and Spiritual Songs Volume 1. 

I love this Christmas album. The overwhelming feel of this CD for me is haunt. It's dark. Bing Crosby is about to get a beat-down. Don't let that scare you away! It's unique and beautiful. Song list...

  • O Come O Come Emmanuel - Instrumental lead-in to the album. Anticipatory. Eager.
  • Joy Joy!!! - Best song on the album. A spooky, Advent lullaby written by Isaac Wardell based loosely on a 17th century French tune. Wow. Just gorgeous. Download/listen here.
  • Bring the Torch Jeanette, Isabella - Originally published in 1553 in France. Two milkmaids stumble across Jesus as they go to milk their cows. They run to town to gather people to come, quietly, and see the Christ child sleeping (more at Wikipedia). Sufjan does a lo-fi version of this on Volume II of his Songs for Christmas. Many other versions are out there. This is the best I've heard. Simple and lovely. 
  • O Little Town of Bethlehem - Traditional lyrics with a curious arrangement. Not a favorite for me, but should raise an eyebrow. Still fits the style of the album.
  • Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - 4th century. The haunting continues with this wonderful old song. Rich text...

    • Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand
    Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in His hand
    Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand.

  • O Come, Messiah, Come - Isaac Wardell song. Simple, acoustic strums and harmonies. A piano humbly joins in. The last 45 seconds seems to be a musical interlude prior to Silent Night. 
  • Silent Night - So familiar. Yet so different. It's Silent Night at the prom during the slowest of the slow dances. Some Motown in there somewhere. Played just after "Earth Angel" at the Enchantment Under the Mistletoe dance.
  • Out of Heaven - Derek Webb and Evan Gregory sing a combination of lyrics from a 1678 song and Isaac Wardell. In the middle there's a gathering of sounds, a mingling, much like the unfathomable coming together of God and man in Christ, which is the theme of the song.
  • Veiled in Darkness Judah Lay - As mysterious as it sounds, there's a haunted house sound in the background. Have to hear it. I think the musicians may have been listening to a slowed down version of The Munsters theme song just before recording. Anyone else hear that? It's way cooler than I make it sound. Trust me.
  • Salvation is Created - A chilling falsetto building into "Hallelujahs," strings, jingle bells, drums, and voices. A great capstone.

This album is about letting the imagination run to the manger scene, and contemplating the theological and practical realities of God made flesh. Sometimes these realities are captured by marionettes in muted colors on a dimly lit stage. Sometimes they are found in the march of wooden soldiers who never show their faces. Sometimes they are expressed in a solemn dance. This is music more inspired by Tim Burton than Frank Capra. It's the subversion of Christmas as we know it, and it's wonderfully dark.

All of these songs are quite singable in their own way, though at times (Silent Night, for example) not as much as in the traditional versions. With candles lit and friends gathered 'round, I think these songs will make your Christmas more thoughtful, meaningful, and lovely. I'm sincerely thankful for folks like Bifrost Arts who are making winning efforts to restoring beauty and truth to songs we can sing together. And through this album in particular, they help restore the melody of Christmas to sounds of mystery and awe. A sound found in our Scripture but too often missing from our Season. 

May your Advent season be haunted by this beauty. Spread it around.

Salvation Is Created: A Christ...

Music Monday 11.30.09

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"Love Song for Buddy" by Headlights might be one of the saddest videos I've ever seen.

I'm intrigued by whatever Devon Sproule does now that I've heard her amazing song, "Joy Joy!!!" (listen to/download "Joy Joy!!!" for free) from the new Bifrost Arts Christmas Album, Salvation is Created. A review of that album very soon. But first, here's Devon Sproule on Jools with "Stop By Anytime"...

In closing, the Muppets do Bohemian Rhapsody...

Tons of Great $5 Amazon Albums

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Music Monday 11.23.09

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New (or new to me) albums I'm enjoying...

Bowerbirds put together a beautiful Tiny Desk Concert

Current: The Decemberists, Passion Pit and Bon Iver in one video. It's all good, but the best part is Bon Iver in the last few minutes singing and wandering in Paris.

We Were Promised Jetpacks (album) new video for "Roll Up Your Sleeves"...

Like this song from Charlotte Gainesbourg and Beck, "Heaven Can Wait." The video is a little odd...

Music Review: On The Incarnation by Daniel Renstrom

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Danielrenstrom christmas Daniel Renstrom (Twitter) contacted me early last year and asked if I would be willing to review his EP, Adore and Tremble. Not knowing Daniel or his music I emailed and said I would listen and say something on the blog if I liked it, but no promises since I don't like much Christian music. He kindly sent the CD anyway and I really, really liked it and still listen to it. Check my brief take on Adore and Tremble from March of last year.

Daniel contacted me again a few weeks ago and told me he has a new Christmas album called On The Incarnation (OTI). I can't listen to Christmas CD's before Thanksgiving. I mean, seriously. But after enjoying his previous album I couldn't say no. My only stipulation for the review was that it couldn't include "My Favorite Things." Robert Goulet, after all, offered us the definitive rendition.

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On The Incarnation released on 10.29. Eight songs, obviously selected and written to encourage worship and not just good seasonal feelings. This is a theology-minded Christmas album. Reflective. 

First let me talk about a few Christmas staples on the album. "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" is joyous and upbeat. The popping strum of a mandolin colors this song folksy and fun. Love it. "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" surprised me. I'm used to it being a collective, jolly sounding song like at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. Daniel offers a beautiful, quieter, more contemplative version. Just great. "Angels We Have Heard On High" has an updated, worship band feel to it. It feels like a Sojourn song, which I mean as a high compliment. I'm not a musician and I don't want to explain this wrong, but it seems to have a minor key worked into the song that isn't in the traditional version. That tweaks the feel of the song which I think is pretty cool. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is a short, music-only song leading into Daniel's song, "Rise and Fall."

The new songs written by Renstrom are excellent. The album begins with "His Company," calling us to sing because Jesus is our Immanuel...

Who has believed
This message we have loved
Invisible God, came in flesh from above

Mighty, wonderful God, Prince of Peace
Bringing sight to the lost, calling us to sing

Join oh join the angel melody
God with man is pleased to dwell
Sing confess, with all His company
Jesus our Immanuel

"Rise and Fall" will likely be the most recognizable song off the album. It's the most curious sounding. I can't listen to it without cranking up the volume and bass. What a great reminder, missing in the consumer Christmas world as well as too often in our churches, that the birth of Jesus wasn't just about joy. It threatened those who oppose. Here's the whole song...

The dawn of the light
Is breaking tonight
At the birth of this dangerous King

And shepherds and kings
Bow down and sing
At the birth of this dangerous King

Many will rise and fall
At the birth of this King, the birth of this King

Those who oppose
Stumble on this stone
The birth of this dangerous King

But many will hear
Believing in fear
Will hope in this dangerous King

"Comfort Ye" has a more traditional sound. It starts acoustic and quiet with a hint of a rising and fading ambient sound behind it, eventually leading to the mountaintop of music and lyric that deserves exclamation points...

Immanuel / God with us / Son of God / Hallelujah 

But the worshipful conclusion above doesn't come without a recognition of our responsibility to the world. It's preceded by...

In Christ we know hope for the hurting
In Christ we know love for the lost
In Christ we know no other one can save

The short, closing song is "Divine Messiah." It's a simple, short and quiet piano song expressing a longing for Messiah. 

The truly great thing about On The Incarnation is that it doesn't repel you when you are not in a Christmas season mood. It's a gift from Renstrom that we can hear it outside the season and still enjoy it. I played the album for the kids in the car on the way to Louisville two weeks ago. Four songs in they said, "Are you sure these are Christmas songs?" The answer is yes, in the best sense. 

On The Incarnation will make a great addition to your music library. It will be a blessing for Sunday morning worship in the weeks to come. You may want to give it as a gift to a Christian who needs to get beyond "Winter Wonderland" or a non-Christian who needs the Gospel. 

The lyrics and chord charts are available for free. Download the album for $7.12 at Amazon. 

Music Monday 11.16.09

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Don't miss the $5 albums this month at Amazon.

I've been wanting get the Megafaun album, Gather, Form & Fly, for some time. Finally got it at Ear X-tacy in Louisville. And it's outstanding. Here's "The Fade"...

New video for Animal Collective's opening song from Merriweather Post Pavilion, "In The Flowers." Trippy & weird video. Hard to believe from AC, I know...

Monsters of Folk have a new video out for "Say Please"...

Music Monday 11.2.09

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A bunch of great $5 albums available today. Reformissionary recommends...

I can't say enough about Mumford & Sons. I'm telling you, might be my new favorite band. They might be the greatest band ever. They sound like a mix between and Irish band and The Avett Brothers. They are in fact from England and have me gushing. Thanks to Heather and her website I Am Fuel You Are Freinds, which also has 4 downloads. Here are two videos. Tremendous!

Paste lists their 50 best albums of the decade. Some great albums here.

Music Monday 10.26.09

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Quick hits...

A thoughtful and woeful video for the gorgeous song "Charlie Darwin" from The Low Anthem. Their album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is outstanding. (Download)

I just can't say enough about Brandi Carlile's newest album, Give Up the Ghost. This is Molly's favorite song that she keeps on repeat: "Pride and Joy"...

Music Monday 10.19.09

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Bon Iver is on indefinite hiatus. Steve is in definite depression.

Check out The Swell Season's new album streaming for free.

Saw Where the Wild Things Are on Saturday with the family. We enjoyed the movie and the kids loved it even more having heard several times the excellent soundtrack from Karen O and the Kids. You should own it.

Dave Grohl, John Paul Jones, Josh Homme = Them Crooked Vultures. They can play rock music, like this. This would be a good time to crank it up.

Hope you didn't miss the $0.99 album (The Second Gleam) I mentioned on Twitter yesterday from The Avett Brothers. You can still pick up Emotionalism for $5.

Built to Spill was excellent on Letterman recently with "Oh Yeah"...

Music Monday 10.12.09

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As people listened to music "The inner lining of the blood vessel relaxed, opened up and produced chemicals that are protective to the heart." Call me the music doctor. Here we go...

Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack is still streaming free. I've probably heard it 5 times and the movie doesn't come out until Friday. The soundtrack is by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The Avett Brothers performance on Craig Ferguson was fun. It is exactly what I love about the Avett's.

Brandi Carlile's new album, Give Up the Ghost, is out and it's outstanding (download for $9.99, buy CD).

I just found this April performance of Manchester Orchestra on Letterman. When these guys rock out, they ROCK OUT! Love it...and the fact that Letterman can barely talk.

Music Monday 10.5.09

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Good, cheap music... 

White Rabbits: It's Frightening for $5
Avett Brothers: Emotionalism for $5
Josh Garrels: Over Oceans for $6.99

Stream the entire new Brandi Carlile album, Give Up the Ghost before the release tomorrow. It. Is. Outstanding. So then you should go buy it tomorrow. Brandi is one of our family's favorite singer/songwriters. Also out tomorrow is the new Built to Spill album, There Is No Enemy.

Thom Yorke doing a live, acoustic version of "Reckoner." Very cool. "Because we separate like ripples on a blank shore//In rainbows." At the end, Thom gives you his thoughts on economics. :)

I recently posted the REN3W Campaign video from Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC (which seems to be missing at the moment). I love the video, and this song is at the center. Here's Carla Bruni (yes, that Carla Bruni) with "Quelqu'un m'a dit"...

Music Monday 9.28.09

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The Avett Brothers' new album, I and Love and You (download), is out tomorrow. My CD is on its way in the mail. If you haven't heard it yet, you can stream the entire album at NPR. Are the Avetts on the verge of stardom? Here's the official video for the song "I and Love and You"...

Ran across this cover of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" from Pomplamoose (also see YouTube & MySpace for more songs). Don't just shrug it off. It's very fun. (via)

Paper Route popped up on my radar recently, and I'm really digging it. Their album Absence is only $7.99 to download. Here's their song "Carousel"...

Music Monday 9.21.09

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Some good-n-cheap music...
Out tomorrow: Volcano Choir -- streaming free at NPR. Very excited for this one. Also check out some new music streaming from Built to Spill, J. Tillman. Download a few free songs from Glass Ghost's Daytrotter session.


New, odd & interesting video from Grizzly Bear for "While You Wait for the Others"...

So excited for the new Avett Brothers album, I and Love and You. Releases next week on Tuesday (Sept 29th). A handful of short videos are linked at TheAvettBrothers.com to get us ready for the album. Here's a live version of the song, "I and Love and You"...

Lots-o-Links 9.16.09

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Brief Molly Update: Molly has no issues on her new MRI/xrays according to her surgeon. So no surgery at this point. Symptoms will be treated medicinally, but it's a guessing game as to what to try and we aren't sure if the medicines will help. I should add that her symptoms, generally speaking, have improved a bit on their own over the last 6-8 days. We are very thankful things aren't continuing to get worse, and that no surgery is needed. But living with sypmtoms may be a permanent thing. Thanks for your prayers. I'll let you know if anything changes.

I hope in the next day or two to finally review Fight Clubs by Jonathan Dodson. I've been putting it off, and I've been rethinking some small group stuff in my own church and was doing some processing. If you haven't read this great gospel-centered book (55 pages) you can download it free and/or buy it at Resurgence.

Hopefully you are becoming very familiar with the great new missional resource, Rethink Mission, from Jonathan McIntosh. Check out his roundtable discussion on Leading from the Second Chair.

Stream the album from Volcano Choir: Unmap (including Justin Vernon, the voice of Bon Iver). It's really good. Also worth checking out is the Monsters of Folk album, streaming in full.

Always thankful when people write about how to help your pastor. A series of posts at Resurgence: Healthy Pastors.