You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2008.
You have one more day to vote on Round 2, Group 3, but here are the bands for the final group in Round 2:
Anathallo - Cuckoo Spitting Blood (Download - Streaming)
Agents of Future - Sewn in My Skin (Download - Streaming)
Psalters - Hosanna (Download - Streaming)
Vigilantes of Love - Tempest (Download - Streaming)
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Anathallo vs. Agents of Future
2) Anathallo vs. Psalters
3) Anathallo vs. Vigilantes of Love
4) Agents of Future vs. Psalters
5) Agents of Future vs. Vigilantes of Love
6) Psalters vs. Vigilantes of Love
All votes must be received in the comments by 7:45 am CST on Saturday, February 2, 2008.
Official Links
Vigilantes of Love MySpace
Buy Vigilantes of Love MP3s on iTunes
Buy Vigilantes of Love CDs at Amazon
Anathallo MySpace
Buy Anathallo MP3s on iTunes
Buy Anathallo CDs at Amazon
Psalters MySpace Page
Download Psatlers MP3s at Potter Street Records for free
Agents of Future MySpace Page
Get MP3s on their site
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
You have one more day to vote on Round 2, Group 2, but if you’re ready for more, here are your bands for today:
The Cold Comfort Band - A Heart Unseen (Download - Streaming)
Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You (Download - Streaming)
Derek Webb - Mockingbird (Download - Streaming)
Destroy Nate Allen - Come to the Mountain (Download - Streaming)
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) The Cold Comfort Band vs. Sufjan Stevens
2) The Cold Comfort Band vs. Derek Webb
3) The Cold Comfort Band vs. Destroy Nate Allen
4) Sufjan Stevens vs. Derek Webb
5) Sufjan Stevens vs. Destroy Nate Allen
6) Derek Webb vs. Destroy Nate Allen
All votes must be received in the comments by 7:30 am CST on Friday, February 1, 2008.
Official Links
The Cold Comfort Band MySpace
Derek Webb MySpace
Buy Derek Webb MP3s on iTunes
Buy Derek Webb CDs at Amazon
Sufjan Stevens Website
Buy Sufjan Stevens MP3s on iTunes
Buy Sufjan Stevens CDs at Amazon
Destroy Nate Allen MySpace
Download all Destroy Nate Allen’s songs for free
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
You have one more day to vote on Round 2, Group 1 and Round 1, Group 16 but if you’re ready for more, let’s move on… Your bands today:
mewithoutYou - In a Sweater Poorly Knit (Download - Streaming)
Keith Green - Make My Life a Prayer to You (Download - Streaming)
Jars of Clay - Jealous Kind (Download - Streaming)
Doug Burr - Slow Southern Home (Download - Streaming)
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) mewithoutYou vs. Keith Green
2) mewithoutYou vs. Jars of Clay
3) mewithoutYou vs. Doug Burr
4) Keith Green vs. Jars of Clay
5) Keith Green vs. Doug Burr
6) Jars of Clay vs. Doug Burr
All votes must be received in the comments by 8:00 am CST on Thursday, January 31, 2008.
Official Links
mewithoutYou MySpace
Buy mewithoutYou MP3s on iTunes
Buy mewithoutYou CDs at Amazon
Keith Green and Last Days Ministries Home Page
Buy Keith Green MP3s on iTunes
Buy Keith Green CDs on Amazon.com
Jars of Clay MySpace
Buy Jars of Clay MP3s at iTunes
Buy Jars of Clay CDs at Amazon
Doug Burr MySpace Page
Buy Doug Burr MP3s on iTunes
Buy Doug Burr CDs on Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
You can still finish up voting for Group 16 of Round 1, but for those of you ready to move on…
Welcome to Round 2, where the action gets really heavy and the voting gets even tougher. Rules are a little different now. First thing you’ll notice is that there will be matches every day from now until the Superbowl, and then on the Superbowl, there’ll actually be two matches, a morning one and an evening one. Next thing is that instead of having 5 days (120 hours) to vote, now you’ll only have 2 days (48 hours), so that I can squeeze it all in by the time of the Superbowl.
There are four groups in Round 2, each made up of the winners in Round 1, with order randomly selected. Each group has 4 artists competing in 6 head-to-head matches, just like in Round 1. Vote for the winner of each head-to-head match, just like you did in Round 1.
If that all makes sense, let’s see who we’re voting on today:
Over the Rhine - Don’t Wait for Tom (Download - Streaming)
Waterdeep - Everyone’s Beautiful (Download - Streaming)
Half-Handed Cloud - I Got a Letter (Download - Streaming)
Jeremy Casella - Distress Signal (Download - Streaming)
Download the MP3s if you need ‘em, but judge the artists and not just the song I put up.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Over the Rhine vs. Waterdeep
2) Over the Rhine vs. Half-Handed Cloud
3) Over the Rhine vs. Jeremy Casella
4) Waterdeep vs. Half-Handed Cloud
5) Waterdeep vs. Jeremy Casella
6) Half-Handed Cloud vs. Jeremy Casella
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 8:00 am CST on Wednesday, January 30, 2008.
Official Links
Half-Handed Cloud MySpace
Buy Half-Handed Cloud MP3s on iTunes
Buy Half-Handed Cloud CDs at Amazon
Over the Rhine MySpace Page
Buy Over the Rhine MP3s on iTunes
Buy Over the Rhine CDs on Amazon.com
Jeremy Casella MySpace Page
Buy Jeremy Casella MP3s on iTunes
Buy Jeremy Casella CDs on Amazon.com
Waterdeep MySpace Page
Buy Waterdeep MP3s on iTunes
Buy Waterdeep CDs on Amazon.com
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
Here we are with Group 16 - the final group to battle in the preliminary rounds. Be sure to invite people for Round 2, when the voting gets tougher and the rules will change slightly (less time to vote, etc.), but for now, vote on these four bands:
Ecstatic Sunshine - Freckle Wars (Download - Streaming)
Vigilantes of Love/Bill Mallonee - Blister Soul (Download - Streaming)
Fine China - The Unsuccessful (Download - Streaming)
Lorien - You Got Me Down (Download - Streaming)
Download the MP3s if you need ‘em, but judge the artists and not just the song I put up.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Ecstatic Sunshine vs. Vigilantes of Love
2) Ecstatic Sunshine vs. Lorien
3) Ecstatic Sunshine vs. Fine China
4) Vigilantes of Love vs. Lorien
5) Vigilantes of Love vs. Fine China
6) Fine China vs. Lorien
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 8:30 am CST on Wednesday, January 30, 2008.
Official Links
Ecstatic Sunshine MySpace
Buy Ecstatic Sunshine MP3s on iTunes
Buy Ecstatic Sunshine CDs at Amazon
Vigilantes of Love MySpace
Buy Vigilantes of Love MP3s on iTunes
Buy Vigilantes of Love CDs at Amazon
Fine China MySpace
Buy Fine China MP3s on iTunes
Buy Fine China CDs at Amazon
Lorien MySpace
Buy Lorien MP3s on iTunes
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
I schedule most of my blog posts in advance for a week or two at The Blah Blah. Partly because I have a minor case of OCD and partly because it just makes my life easier so I don’t have to think at 6 in the morning.
I have a name I assigned to my Thursday posts, to help me figure out what sort of post would work well. After doing the Defining Christian Music series, I thought it would be fun to devote my Thursday posts to rants and random thoughts somehow related to music, where I can share a little bit about what I’m thinking and a little less about the facts. So I call it “Opinion Thursday.”
Being “Opinion Thursday,” don’t expect this post to be well-researched or thoroughly-investigated. These are my opinions (except for the Bible verses I’ll include), so I’m probably wrong on a few things, especially where I generalize.
I just added the option of listening to the files I host here without downloading them.
It’s amazing, I know.
Check it out in action here. As long as I remember, this nice little feature will be in all future posts.
Group 15 of the Preliminary Rounds is here! Only one more to go and then we go on to the real stuff in Round 2 of the Superbowl, where the winners of the Preliminary Rounds will battle each other to see who makes it to the finals. If you haven’t yet, please vote on Group 14, but if you’re ready to go here is Group 15:
Deas Vail - Shadows and City Lights (Download - Streaming)
Geology (formerly The Tourist) - Golden Morning (Download - Streaming)
Destroy Nate Allen - Don’t Walk Away (Download - Streaming)
Newsboys - Million Pieces (Download - Streaming)
Download the MP3s if you need ‘em, but judge the artists and not just the song. (Note the new option to stream the audio instead of download it, to save you some time.)
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Deas Vail vs. Geology
2) Deas Vail vs. Destroy Nate Allen
3) Deas Vail vs. Newsboys
4) Geology vs. Destroy Nate Allen
5) Geology vs. Newsboys
6) Destroy Nate Allen vs. Newsboys
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 7:00 am CST on Monday, January 28, 2008.
Official Links
Deas Vail MySpace
Buy Deas Vail MP3s on iTunes
Buy Deas Vail CDs at Amazon
Destroy Nate Allen MySpace
Download all Destroy Nate Allen’s songs for free
Newsboys MySpace
Newsboys MP3s on iTunes
Newsboys CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
This is great! With cell phones getting slimmer, radios getting sleaker, and MP3 players losing weight every day, you have to wonder - “Can things get any smaller?”
I don’t know, but I sense a reversal in the trend coming with this MP3 player fit for King Kong.
It’s made out of a pillow case, so you can drool on your iPod while listening to tunes. Of course, you can drool on your small, sleak iPod too, but it’ll leave a weird red mark on your face.
Find instructions on how you can build your very own Super iPod Pillow right here. And after that, the Super iPhone Bed, so you can dial friends as you toss and turn at night.
Sorry for the later post today… I blame the Packers, for losing to the Giants last night, and now the entire state of Wisconsin will be stuck in a deep depression until spring. Anyway, keep voting on Group 13, but if you’re ready here is Group 14 for Christian Music Superbowl I:
Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
Pushstart Wagon - Paul
Ponoka - September
Starflyer 59 - Good Sons
Download the MP3s if you need ‘em, but judge the artists and not just the song.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Sufjan Stevens vs. Pushstart Wagon
2) Sufjan Stevens vs. Ponoka
3) Sufjan Stevens vs. Starflyer 59
4) Pushstart Wagon vs. Starflyer 59
5) Pushstart Wagon vs. Ponoka
6) Ponoka vs. Starflyer 59
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 8:00 am CST on Saturday, January 26, 2008.
Official Links
Sufjan Stevens Website
Buy Sufjan Stevens MP3s on iTunes
Buy Sufjan Stevens CDs at Amazon
Pushstart Wagon MySpace
Buy Pushstart Wagon MP3s on iTunes
Buy Pushstart Wagon CDs at Amazon
Ponoka MySpace
Buy MP3s on YouMakeMusic
Buy Ponoka CDs at Amazon
Starflyer 59 MySpace
Buy Starflyer 59 MP3s on iTunes
Buy Starflyer 59 CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
The polls are still open for Group 12, but for the rest of you, here is Group 13:
Half-Handed Cloud - Let’s Go Javelin / Ezekiel Bread
This Beautiful Mess - Soundtrack of My Life
Kids in the Way - Scars that Save
Paper Route - MySpace only
Download the MP3s if you need ‘em, but judge the artists and not just the song.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Half-Handed Cloud vs. This Beautiful Mess
2) Half-Handed Cloud vs. Kids in the Way
3) Half-Handed Cloud vs. Paper Route
4) This Beautiful Mess vs. Kids in the Way
5) This Beautiful Mess vs. Paper Route
6) Kids in the Way vs. Paper Route
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 8:00 am CST on Wednesday, January 23, 2008.
Official Links
Half-Handed Cloud MySpace
Buy Half-Handed Cloud MP3s on iTunes
Buy Half-Handed Cloud CDs at Amazon
This Beautiful Mess MySpace
Buy This Beautiful Mess MP3s on iTunes
Buy This Beautiful Mess CDs at Amazon
Kids in the Way MySpace
Buy Kids in the Way MP3s on iTunes
Buy This Beautiful Mess CDs at Amazon
Paper Route MySpace
Buy Paper Route MP3s on iTunes
Buy Paper Route CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
As promised, here is my final (for now) installment of the Defining Christian Music series, a list of links to relevant blog posts, articles, movies, sermons, and books on the topic.
If you know of any more, please add a link in the comments. Some day, I will read all of these in one sitting, and my head will literally explode with all there is to know about “Christian Music.” I’ll be sure to take a video and put it up on YouTube for everyone.
Without any further ado (What the heck is an ado?), here is the list you’ve all been waiting for:
Movies
Danielson: a Family Movie
Blog Posts
What Qualifies as Christian Music?
Paul Tillich’s Theology of Indie Rock
Worship Wars
Christian (Fill in the Blank)
Defining Christian Music (wow, a shameless plug for my blog on my blog)
Blog Posts by Brent at Colossians Three Sixteen
Who Says What’s Christian Music?
Who Says What’s Christian Music? (Part Two)
Misplaced Boundaries
“Engage” by Being
“Christian” Rock, Sincerity, and “Engage” by Being, Part Two
How to Think Biblically About Christian Music (posted at Said at Southern)
Articles
What is Christian Music? by Terry B. Ewell of West Virginia University
Defining? Or Discerning? by Russ Breimeier
Glimpses of God in Seven Swans by Andree Farias
God Music or Good Music? by Drew Dixon
Books
Body Piercing Saved My Life by Andrew Beaujon
Simplicity by Mark Solomon
Walking on Water by Madeline L’Engle
Faith, God and Rock & Roll by Mark Joseph
Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music by Jeremy Begbie
Sermons
Cultural Evangelism: Acts 17 by Mike Feather (5-27-2007)
So, like I said, add your own links to books, articles, blogs, sermons, movies, whatever, as long as it’s related to defining “Christian” music.
Thanks for reading my posts, and I hope I provoked you to think of things in a new way, even if I left you as confused as myself on the subject.
Keep voting on Group 11, but if you’re ready to go on, below are your four artists for Group 12:
Skillet - Savior
Ester Drang - How Good is Good Enough
Danielson Famile - A No No
Anathallo - Don’t Kid Yourself, You Need a Physician
Download the MP3s if you need ‘em, but judge the artists and not just the song.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Skillet vs. Ester Drang
2) Skillet vs. Danielson Famile
3) Skillet vs. Anathallo
4) Ester Drang vs. Danielson Famile
5) Ester Drang vs. Anathallo
6) Danielson Famile vs. Anathallo
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 6:30 am CST on Monday, January 21, 2008.
Official Links
Skillet MySpace
Buy Skillet MP3s on iTunes
Buy Skillet CDs at Amazon
Ester Drang MySpace
Buy Ester Drang MP3s on iTunes
Buy Ester Drang CDs at Amazon
Danielson Famile MySpace
Buy Danielson Famile MP3s on iTunes
Buy Danielson Famile CDs at Amazon
Anathallo MySpace
Buy Anathallo MP3s on iTunes
Buy Anathallo CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
The band Overhang, coming from Chicago, IL, sent me their latest album recently. In a few short words, Another Hole for You to Crawl Into is amazing.
This was the first I’d heard of the band, and I sure hope they stick together for a long time and make more music, cuz now I’m addicted. I don’t know what I’d do without my Overhang fix.
I put up a lot of mellow, acoustic folky stuff here, but Overhang is none of that. The band does rock. Pure and simple rock. Loud and noisy rock. Raw and driving rock. Aching and groaning rock.
I was maxing out my bandwidth with the free file hosting at www.hotlinkfiles.com, so I just signed up for the $4.95 a month version with increased bandwidth and, apparently, increased download speeds.
I couldn’t notice a difference, but I was wondering if any of you guys could tell that things were downloading faster.
If you need ‘em, the official Superbowl I rules are here, but otherwise, below are your four artists for Group 11:
Derek Webb - Mockingbird
Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys - Shadows
Future of Forestry - MySpace only
Aaron Sprinkle - Sweeter than Me
Download the MP3s if you need to, but judge the artists and not just the song I uploaded.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Derek Webb vs. Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys
2) Derek Webb vs. Future of Forestry
3) Derek Webb vs. Aaron Sprinkle
4) Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys vs. Future of Forestry
5) Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys vs. Aaron Sprinkle
6) Future of Forestry vs. Aaron Sprinkle
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 7:00 am CST on Saturday, January 19, 2008.
Official Links
Derek Webb MySpace
Buy Derek Webb MP3s on iTunes
Buy Derek Webb CDs at Amazon
Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys MySpace
Buy Homer Hiccolm MP3s on iTunes
Future of Forestry MySpace
Buy Future of Forestry MP3s on iTunes
Buy Future of Forestry CDs at Amazon
Aaron Sprinkle MySpace
Buy Aaron Sprinkle MP3s on iTunes
Buy Aaron Sprinkle CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
I was thinking of deleting my list of “Music Style” categories to the left, since it’s getting obscenely long. What does everybody think? Any strong reactions one way or another? Let me know if you want me to keep ‘em or I’ll delete them on Monday.
If you need ‘em, the official Superbowl I rules are here, but otherwise, below are your four artists for Group 10:
Bodies of Water - Our Friends Appear Like the Dawn
Delirious? - Rain Down
Edison Glass - Let Go
mewithoutYou - A Glass Can Only Sspill What it Contains
Download the MP3s if you need to, but judge the artists and not just the song I uploaded.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Bodies of Water vs. Delirious?
2) Bodies of Water vs. Edison Glass
3) Bodies of Water vs. mewithoutYou
4) Delirious? vs. Edison Glass
5) Delirious? vs. mewithoutYou
6) Edison Glass vs. mewithoutYou
Let the voting begin! All votes must be received in the comments by 7:00 am CST on Wednesday, January 16, 2008.
Official Links
Bodies of Water MySpace
Buy Bodies of Water MP3s on iTunes
Buy Bodies of Water CDs at Amazon
Delirious? MySpace
Buy Delirious? MP3s on iTunes
Buy Delirious? CDs at Amazon
Edison Glass MySpace
Buy Edison Glass MP3s on iTunes
Buy Edison Glass CDs at Amazon
mewithoutYou MySpace
Buy mewithoutYou MP3s on iTunes
Buy mewithoutYou CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
I know I promised the final post about “Defining Christian Music” today, but it’s just gonna have to wait. I wanted to get this post up while it was still relevant.
A few days ago (here), I posted about the band Synthar that I’ve recently fallen in love with. They’ve got a smooth and catchy synth-heavy folk pop sort of sound that’s real pleasing to the ears and fun to listen to.
Lead singer Johnny Bertram indulged my obsessive interviewing disorder and was kind enough to do an interview over e-mail for me.
So sit back, sip some coffee, and enjoy.
The Blah blah: OK, Johnny Bertram, who are you, in as many words as you want to use?
Johnny Bertram: I am a dude that grew up in the Northwest and moved to the south a few years back. I make music with my band SYNTHAR.
TBB: I gotta admit, I love everything about the band but the name. What’s the story behind the name “Synthar?” It sounds like a monster Godzilla would fight.
JB: I actually had nothing to do with the name of the band. Joel, Andrew, and Matt asked me to be a part of Synthar. I think the name was Joel’s idea… I wouldn’t mind seeing a Godzilla vs. SYNTHAR fight, though.
If you need ‘em, the official Superbowl I rules are here, but otherwise, below are your four artists (with sample songs) for Group 9:
The Cold Comfort Band - Awake in Me Oh Morning Sun
Brent Cashell - Better Me
Audio Adrenaline - Some Kind of Zombie
Brooke Fraser - Hymn
Download the MP3s if you need to, but judge the artists and not just the one song I put up.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) The Cold Comfort Band vs. Brent Cashell
2) The Cold Comfort Band vs. Audio Adrenaline
3) The Cold Comfort Band vs. Brooke Fraser
4) Brent Cashell vs. Audio Adrenaline
5) Brent Cashell vs. Brooke Fraser
6) Audio Adrenaline vs. Brooke Fraser
Now let the voting begin! All votes must be received by 7:00 am CST on Monday, January 14, 2008.
Official Links
The Cold Comfort Band MySpace
Audio Adrenaline MySpace
Buy Audio Adrenaline MP3s on iTunes
Buy Audio Adrenaline CDs at Amazon
Brooke Fraser MySpace
Buy Brooke Fraser MP3s on iTunes
Buy Brooke Fraser CDs at Amazon
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
Synthar. I first heard about the band a few months or so ago and my first thought was, “Oh, great, not another band named after Godzilla’s famous winged arch-nemesis.”
Then, after racking my brain (read this) and realizing that there never was (but should have been) a Godzilla vs. Synthar movie, my second thought was, “With a name like a Godzilla enemy, I hope this isn’t so bad I lose control of my body functions.” Or maybe something not quite so graphic popped through my head.
Either way, I didn’t expect much, but after listening to the album Evenings & Weekends, I’m very impressed. With a sound that runs from dutch pop to new wave to electronic to a sort of synthesizer-heavy folk, Synthar has become a new favorite of mine.
If you haven’t yet, check out the official Superbowl I rules here, but otherwise, here are your four artists (with sample songs) for Group 8:
Keith Green - The Prodigal Son Suite
Flatfoot 56 - Hold Fast
Steven Delopoulos - She Held My Hand
The Brothers Martin (all I’ve got is their MySpace Page - sorry)
Download the MP3s if you need them, but judge the artists and not just the one song I put up.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Keith Green vs. Flatfoot 56
2) Keith Green vs. Steven Delopoulos
3) Keith Green vs. The Brothers Martin
4) Flatfoot 56 vs. Steven Delopoulos
5) Flatfoot 56 vs. The Brothers Martin
6) Steven Delopoulous vs. The Brothers Martin
And let the voting begin! All votes must be received by 7:00 am CST on Saturday, January 12, 2008.
Official Links
Keith Green and Last Days Ministries Home Page
Buy Keith Green MP3s on iTunes
Buy Keith Green CDs on Amazon.com
Flatfoot 56 MySpace Page
Buy Flatfoot 56 MP3s on iTunes
Buy Flatfoot 56 CDs on Amazon.com
Steven Delopoulos MySpace Page
Buy Steven Delopoulos MP3s on iTunes
Buy Steven Delopoulos CDs on Amazon.com
The Brothers Martin MySpace Page
Buy The Brothers Martin MP3s on iTunes
Buy The Brothers Martin CDs on Amazon.com
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
Sorry for the late post today. Internet hassles… Anyway,let’s get on with Group 7, shall we? Check out the official Superbowl I rules here if you need to, and your four artists are right here:
Mute Math - Typical
Psalters - El Elyon (live)
Menomena - Muscle ‘n’ Flo
David Crowder Band - You are My Joy
Here are your six matches to vote on:
1) Mute Math vs. Psalters
2) Mute Math vs. Menomena
3) Mute Math vs. David Crowder Band
4) Psalters vs. Menomena
5) Psalters vs. David Crowder Band
6) Menomena vs. David Crowder Band
And let the voting begin! All votes must be received by 11:30 am CST on Wednesday, January 9, 2008.
Official Links
Mute Math MySpace Page
Buy Mute Math MP3s in iTunes
Buy Mute Math CDs at Amazon.com
Psalters MySpace Page
Download Psatlers MP3s at Potter Street Records for free
Menomena MySpace Page
Buy Menomena MP3s in iTunes
Buy Menomena CDs at Amazon.com
David Crowder Band MySpace Page
Buy David Crowder Band MP3s in iTunes
Buy David Crowder Band CDs at Amazon.com
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
I’m ready to close (for now) my series on Defining Christian Music, with a few last posts to summarize where I’m at. I definitely haven’t come to any real lasting conclusions, but I’ve realized a few things (I think). I haven’t had the chance to research things like I really wanted to do, so I’ll probably revisit the topic at a later date, after I can read and think some more.
But, at this point, here’s a few things I do know:
1. Whatever the term “Christian Music” means or should mean, Marilyn Manson does not qualify.
2. The “Christian Music Scene” is a lot of times neither Christian nor musical.
3. Defining “Christian Music” opens up a whole lot of problems, and even more questions.
4. Phillips, Craig, and Dean are heretics, whether they make “Christian Music” or not. (I really enjoy picking on these guys, probably more than I should.)
5. Christianity encompasses all of life, not just the “hyper-spiritual” God moments, and music by Christians should reflect this.
6. “Rawk Fist” by Thousand Foot Krutch is no more Christian than “We Will Rock You” by Queen.
7. The “Christian Music Scene” is largely ineffective in reaching beyond the Christian culture.
8. Though I want to (and probably will) delete the terms “Christian Music” and “Christian Musician” from my vocabulary, I haven’t found satisfactory terms to replace them yet.
9. It was dumb to start the first Christian Music Superbowl at a time when I’ve decided to delete the term “Christian Music” from my vocabulary.
10. Every list needs at least 10 points to sound official. See? Adding this last point really made me sound important, didn’t it?
Next Thursday I’ll put up the final post on “Defining Christian Music” with a list of books, articles, sermons, videos, and blogs to check out, in case you’re interested in researching the topic a little more.
Ready to vote on Group 6 for Superbowl I? Check out the official rules here if you need them, but otherwise, here are your four artists (with sample songs) for today:
Sleeping At Last - Tension and Thrill
Over the Rhine - Don’t Wait for Tom
John Davis - Nothing Gets Me Down
Switchfoot - Meant to Live
Download the MP3s if you need them, but judge the artists and not just the one song I put up.
Here are the six matches to vote on:
1) Sleeping at Last vs. Over the Rhine
2) Sleeping at Last vs. John Davis
3) Sleeping at Last vs. Switchfoot
4) Over the Rhine vs. John Davis
5) Over the Rhine vs. Switchfoot
6) John Davis vs. Switchfoot
And let the voting begin! All votes must be received by 7:00 am CST on Monday, January 7, 2008.
Official Links
Sleeping at Last MySpace Page
Buy Sleeping at Last MP3s on iTunes
Buy Sleeping at Last CDs on Amazon.com
Over the Rhine MySpace Page
Buy Over the Rhine MP3s on iTunes
Buy Over the Rhine CDs on Amazon.com
John Davis MySpace Page
Buy John Davis MP3s on iTunes
Buy John Davis CDs on Amazon.com
Switchfoot MySpace Page
Buy Switchfoot MP3s on iTunes
Buy Switchfoot CDs on Amazon.com
Note: All MP3s will be removed after one week
Way back in November, I did a post on one of my favorite new artists, Nate Allen, who goes by the ominous sounding moniker Destroy Nate Allen. His music is a simple sort of folk-punk with honest, singable lyrics. It’s stripped down and raw feeling. Just one guy, his voice, and a guitar. It’s not too “pretty” or “refined,” but it’s real and it’s catchy, and I like it.
Anyway, a few weeks ago, I sent Nate way too many questions over e-mail in order to do an interview, and he was nice enough to answer every one of them so that today you can all read the results, on this beautiful first day of 2008.
But before I go on to the interview, be sure you check out his website to download all the songs he’s ever recorded and his MySpace to get up to date on all things Nate Allen. If you like his music, be sure to give him a donation, to make his life easier.