Music Monday 4.19.10

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Mixtape

Miranda Dodson releases "Too Late" single. Her new album releases on June 15th. Check out more at MirandaDodson.com and follower her @MirandaDodson.

Video below. From Miranda's bio...

Miranda's innovative folk winds through guitar strings, around vintage horns and forward-thinking synths, through wide-ranging-heart-filled vocals to turn listeners into believers. With lyrical images that reach right into the imagination, Miranda draws the listener into story and into sound. From impassioned alt-country ballads to fun head-bobbing folk-pop each track of her album "Change A Thing" stands strongly on its own but also hangs together united by collaborative creativity.

The Flaming Lips remake Dark Side of the Moon ($9.99). Here they are on Fallon (via)...

Music Review: Melanie Penn - Wake Up Love

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Darryl Dash recently met Melanie Penn and told her about music stuff on Reformissionary. He kindly encouraged her to send me her new CD. I checked out some of her music online and liked it. So Melanie sent me a CD for review.

I have other reasons to be connected with Melanie. She is on staff with Redeemer City to City and is a friend of and has played with Mike Cosper (Sojourn, review of Wake Up Love) and Tim Smith (Mars Hill). 

I get way too much downloaded music lately, and miss having the artwork and lyrics in my hand. The artwork is well done having the lyrics handy is always helpful for understanding and appreciating good music. Melanie's voice is just gorgeous. It's sweet and powerful, yet she knows how to be whispery and fragile. It's perfect for lyrically rich songs...which is exactly what she delivers.

I absolutely love the first three songs in sequence: "Circus Song" is the opener. It starts the album with anxiety over relational dependence: "I thought I was over you / But I'm not I'm really not // How long, how long until love's gone?" But the sound It's followed by "Wake Up Love" that seems to take the next step toward healing and finding love. It's hopeful but cautious. In the beautiful, light-footed "Ordinary Day" Penn explains, from the perspective of the Holy Spirit (?), His daily dance in the world and in our lives. Much like our common experience of personal pains and struggles with the eventual reawakening to God's presence and providence right in the middle of them.

The album continues through some wonderful tracks. "A Star's Lament" is still opening up to me and worthy of mediation. "Daydream," a Lovin' Spoonful cover, is delightful. I'm a big fan of the simplicity of and Penn's range in "Glass Pane." Rich storytelling. 

Melanie said on her blog recently...

I’m glad the Christian community has embraced this album – although I have not tried to be a 'Christian Artist.' I’m not even sure what “Christian artist” means. Undeniably, I am a Christian…and on my good days I am an artist.

I think understanding Melanie's approach to art is helpful. This album is good art, Christian or not. And there's a nice fullness to Wake Up Love. There's sadness and struggle, but there's also great hope and thoughtful Christ-haunted lyrics throughout. 

From "Sorrows"...

Rumors of a man of sorrows
Circulatin' far and wide
That He'll come back again
But I won't wait until then
I just passed by the town limit line

I walk east leaving Sorrow behind me
Maybe that Man of Sorrows will find me
Won't you find me?

From "Train"...

Please say something
But I don't either
The train is coming around
So why don't we?

I'm still hoping
The end is so much sweeter
We'll start trusting
That Holy Ghost healer

As a whole Wake Up Love is poignant. It's never lazy. It will resonate with people who like music about relationships, who've lost in love, and who are looking for hope through the pain. Many songs circle there. It's a very accessible album that rewards the first listen. It's only better now that I'm near my 15th. It's has musical touches throughout that please discerning ears that like to find layers and sound decor. And please don't think this is only for Christians. It will be a joy to many who love all sorts of music.

I should also add that unlike some albums I love, Wake Up Love is great for playing in the house with the family around. 

Wake Up Love is easily the one album I've been caught humming or singing when no music is on. This is one of my favorite albums of 2010 so far. Buy it. I think you will fall in love with it too.

NPM: Walt Whitman - "A Clear Midnight"

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"A Clear Midnight" by Walt Whitman

This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,
Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson
     done,
Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the
     themes thou lovest best,
Night, sleep, death and the stars.

Music Monday 4.12.10

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Review of Melanie Penn: Wake Up Love coming this week. Our whole family is really enjoying it. Christianity Today digs it. Watch her sing "Ordinary Day" below. I've provided some of the lyrics.

It's me when you catch the fragrance of spring
When tall trees sway
It's me in the cold winter sting
In the alleyway
I am the sigh
While all creation groans and waits

You can hear me speak
If you're listenin'
I will always be
And I have always been
You can hear me blowin'
Although you don't know
Where I'm comin' from
Or where I go

Doug Burr is a new name for me, and that's a shame because his music is outstanding. His new song "Red, Red" can be downloaded free. Here's "Should've Known"...

NPM: Billy Collins Interview

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Billy-collins Listen to this interview of Billy Collins by Christy Tennant of International Arts Mission (IAM). You should subscribe to the IAM podcast. One of the best things on the arts from a perspective of faith out there.

Also check out the most touching Billy Collins poem (to me) "The Lanyard." It's something I like to point to each April in remembrance of my Mom, who died of cancer in April of 2007.

NPM: Wendell Berry

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Teach me work that honors Thy work,
the true economies of goods and words,
to make my arts compatible
with the songs of the local birds.

Teach me patience beyond work
and, beyond patience, the blest
Sabbath of Thy unresting love
which lights all things and gives rest.

NPM: Job Confesses & Repents

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Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

(Job 42:1-6, ESV)

Michael Spencer: 1956-2010

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128989091_44448341efI found the Internet Monk website of Michael Spencer years ago. His words about Jesus and His Church, spirituality and truth have been deeply encouraging and helpful in my discipleship and as I work as a pastor. We soon connected and I had the privilege of speaking at his school in 2006 and my family enjoyed the Spencers & the whole experience. Michael Spencer died today in the presence of his family in his home in Oneida, Kentucky. I have this picture with Michael (left) and Matthew Smith (center) from our time there. The photo below is the bridge I took from the home we stayed in to the the school where iMonk served.

I thought it would be fitting during National Poetry Month and the day after Easter to give you a poem from Michael's wife, Denise, posted in 2007.

For Holy Week - Denise Day Spencer

THREE-FOLD TORMENT

Let me share with you His pain,
Who for all our sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

– Stations of the Cross, St. Ann Roman Catholic Mission

He stumbles ‘neath the load.
It is not heavy, yet it crushes.
Merely a mangle of thorns
Woven as a crude crown.
Thorns that boldly dare to mock their Maker.

He stretches out His hands,
Ready to embrace, but not fondly.
Only the ore of iron
Hammered into soiled spikes.
Iron dares to agonize its Author.

He writhes upon the tree.
Alone, and utterly forsaken.
Simply a structure of wood
Fashioned as a cruel cross.
Splintered wood now dares murder its Master.

He gazes on the crowd.
Mankind, pinnacle of creation.
One whispered word could destroy
Thorn, iron, wood, mad men.
Yet the Savior dares to speak:
“Forgiven.”

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NPM: Joanna Newsom Song

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"On A Good Day" by Joanna Newsom: Have One On Me. Song with lyrics below.

Hey hey hey the end is near
On a good day you can see the end from here
But I won't turn back now though the way is clear
I will stay for the remainder

I saw a life and I called it mine
I saw it drawn so sweet and fine
And I had begun to fill in all the lines
Right down to what we'd name her

Our nature does not change by will
In the Winter 'round the ruined mill
The creek is lying flat and still
It is water though it's frozen

So, across the years and miles and through
On a good day you can feel my love for you
Will you leave me be so that we can stay true
To the path that you have chosen?

Music Monday 4.5.10

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Wilco does a Take Away Show. This band is always good. (via)

Wilco - Country Disappeared - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

NPM: John Donne for Easter

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If you are suffering this Easter, read and be encouraged.

Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness by John Donne (via)

Since I am coming to that Holy room,
   Where, with Thy choir of saints for evermore,
I shall be made Thy music; as I come
   I tune the instrument here at the door,
   And what I must do then, think here before;

Whilst my physicians by their love are grown
   Cosmographers, and I their map, who lie
Flat on this bed, that by them may be shown
   That this is my south-west discovery,
   Per fretum febris, by these straits to die;

I joy, that in these straits I see my west;
   For, though those currents yield return to none,
What shall my west hurt me? As west and east
   In all flat maps—and I am one—are one,
   So death doth touch the resurrection.   

Is the Pacific sea my home? Or are
   The eastern riches? Is Jerusalem?
Anyan, and Magellan, and Gibraltar?
   All straits, and none but straits, are ways to them
   Whether where Japhet dwelt, or Cham, or Shem.

We think that Paradise and Calvary,
   Christ's cross and Adam's tree, stood in one place;
Look, Lord, and find both Adams met in me;
   As the first Adam's sweat surrounds my face,
   May the last Adam's blood my soul embrace.

So, in His purple wrapp'd, receive me, Lord;
   By these His thorns, give me His other crown;
And as to others' souls I preach'd Thy word,
   Be this my text, my sermon to mine own,
   "Therefore that He may raise, the Lord throws down."

NPM: Billy Collins - The Golden Years

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Billy Collins is my favorite contemporary poet. He is accessible, humorous and often slyly profound. Here one of his for day 1 of National Poetry Month.

The Golden Years by Billy Collins

All I do these drawn-out days
is sit in my kitchen at Pheasant Ridge
where there are no pheasants to be seen
and last time I looked, no ridge.

I could drive over to Quail Falls
and spend the day there playing bridge,
but the lack of a falls and the absence of quail
would only remind me of Pheasant Ridge.

I know a widow at Fox Run
and another with a condo at Smokey Ledge.
One of them smokes, and neither can run,
so I’ll stick to the pledge I made to Midge.

Who frightened the fox and bulldozed the ledge?
I ask in my kitchen at Pheasant Ridge.