tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6590761188433709612024-02-20T17:01:25.058-08:00Ben's There & Nick Heard ThatAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-4420067278152188982011-11-12T12:47:00.000-08:002011-11-12T12:47:50.753-08:00Nick's Picks for the '80s<div align="center"><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/pattayarag/GAxLtmkLVHRyLNDJP5THVF9I13K0yQyCWYXseyhppk7qNtUVlQow3WKSd4mW/i_love_the_80s.jpg" /></div><br />
While I (Ben) have been consumed with listening to Western music (Country music's first cousin on both sides of the family!), Nick has been posting on his new blog site about the <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Top 45 80s songs of all time</span><br />
<br />
<br />
This website contains Nick's thoughts on culture, literature, and, as always music. It is called <br />
<a href="http://thecoldcomposure.wordpress.com/">The Cold Composure</a>.<br />
<br />
Here are his thoughts about the music of the 1980s:<br />
<br />
I picked only one song per artist. If I had not stuck to this, then the list would have been saturated by Stevie Ray Vaughn, U2, Metallica, and Tom Petty. I tried to pick a good mix of rock and pop. And no, Michael Jackson did not even crack the top 20. A few of the songs are from the late 70s or early 90s, but they fit the “80s sound.” If I feel like it I’ll put up commentary later.<br />
<br />
1. Any song performed by Stevie Ray Vaughn<br />
<br />
2.Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits<br />
<br />
3.With Or Without You by U2<br />
<br />
4.Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison<br />
<br />
5. I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers<br />
<br />
6.Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne<br />
<br />
7.Master of Puppets by Metallica<br />
<br />
8.Rock The Casbah by The Clash<br />
<br />
9.It’s Friday, I’m in Love by The Cure<br />
<br />
10.Love Song by Tesla<br />
<br />
For the rest of the list and for the brutal verbal argument between the Arkansas father and his Wheaton son as found in the comments, go to<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thecoldcomposure.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/top-45-80s-songs-of-all-time/#comment-19">http://thecoldcomposure.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/top-45-80s-songs-of-all-time/#comment-19</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-14708995810364814042011-10-22T15:30:00.000-07:002011-10-22T15:30:02.818-07:00Great October Music HaulNick and I are wondering if this blog is still read by anyone but us. Well, at least we enjoy trading our musical thoughts. What better audience for a father than his son? What better audience for a son than a father? Ah, family ties.<br />
<br />
Now to the Great October Music Haul:<br />
Once or twice a year, there is a large "garage sale" at the Texarkana Spring Lake Park. Today was the day for the fall sale, but sermon and church work kept me tied up until late in the afternoon. The benefit was that when I got there, vendors were cutting prices to half. <br />
<br />
Rushing past lots of clothes and trinkets, I thumbed through several stacks of books and glanced at quite a few DVDs, but found nothing. Then I came across a good selection of music. The original prices were one dollar each, a bargain, but now they were reduced to four bits, to use the term my father's generation was fond of.<br />
<br />
Here is what I found:<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><img src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm106454482/rca-years-elton-britt-cd-cover-art.jpg" /></div><br />
1. Elton Britt: The RCA Years. We don't often think of Elton Britt's RCA years for the simple reason that we don't think of Elton Britt at all. He was a yodeler whose best known song was "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere." An added personal benefit: He was an Arkansas man. In the tradition of Jimmie Rogers, Britt's pure country music should be a delight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens2382575_1232182704james_taylor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As Bill Monroe might say, "I think I've heard of him."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
2. James Taylor: Greatest Hits. I now have a James Taylor CD. I am only somewhat familiar with him (being that my expertise lies elsewhere), but I recognize several of the songs on the back cover, such as "Something in the Way She Moves," "Carolina in My Mind," and "How Sweet It Is To Be In Love With You."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="http://www.americanmarketexchange.com/thumbnail.php?pic=uplimg/img_100159_924746f11e002f3ec2311036f541fbc8.jpg&w=500&sq=Y&b=Y" width="320" /></div>3. Michael Martin Murphey with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra: Sagebrush Symphony. First, I am only slightly familiar with Mr. Murphey, but I think my wife, Stephanie, used to like his music. Second, these are western songs, made famous by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autrey, and other Western singers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="235" src="http://www.sweetslyrics.com/images/img_gal/1072_BellamyBrothers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With names like David <u>Milton</u> and <u>Homer</u> Howard Bellamy, I could grow to like this fellers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
4. The Bellamy Brothers: Greatest Hits, Volume II. Shhh. I got this CD for Stephanie. She said she used to like them too. I am only familiar with the name. (I would prefer a CD by the Wilburn Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, the Stanley Brothers, or the Willis Brothers.)<br />
<br />
<br />
5. Kathy Mattea: Love Travels. I know her from the radio. Many of these songs are sung along with other singers, such as Gillian Welch.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><img src="http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/k/kathy-mattea/album-love-travels.jpg" /></div><br />
6. Neil Diamond: His 12 Greatest Hits. I bought this one because it has the song "Sweet Caroline" on it. I want to learn that one for my youngest daughter. (TaraJane gets "Waltz Across Texas," which Neil Diamond did not record.) This also has "Song Sung Blue" on it.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31GPSCBQBSL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></div><br />
7. Larry Gatlin: In My Life. Of course I am familiar with Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. But this is the first CD I have ever owned by either Larry or his brothers.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><img src="http://img2.wantitall.co.za/images/ShowImage.aspx?ImageId=Larry-Gatlin-In-My-Life%7C41PGT74AMFL.jpg" /></div><br />
8. Gene Watson: The Good Ole Days. I have often wondered why Gene Watson was not a bigger name in the music world. He is a really fine singer.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><img alt="Gene Watson: 'The Good Ole Days' (Step One Records, 1996)" height="256" src="http://www.gene-watson.com/images/good_ole_days_cd.jpg" width="256" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gene-watson.com/good_ole_days.htm">http://www.gene-watson.com/good_ole_days.htm</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">9. Ferlin Husky: Signature Series. What a find. Mr. Husky (December 3, 1925 – March 17, 2011) is one of the country legends that we have lost this year. His voice was outstanding. He comic alter-ego, Simon Crum, was quite hilarious. Best known for songs like "Wings of a Dove" and "Gone," this recently inducted member of the Country Music Hall of Fame was truly a great singer.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41UwgaWfWpL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lists for $29.99 on Amazon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, by the way, I also picked up a copy of Robert Penn Warren's classic novel and greatest work, <em>All the King's Men. </em>It may be the best political novel ever. This edition has an introductory essay by Mr. Warren and has Clift's Notes in the back (?). Nick, do you remember us standing in front of the Warren statue at Vanderbilt some years ago? Hardback with dust jacket--25 cents.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And, I got a copy of Umberto Eco's novel <em>Baudolino. </em> George Grant so like Eco that I buy his books with the intention of someday reading some of them. Hardback, like new, with dust jacket--50 cents.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Total spent for the day: $5.25. Nick, what are you finding up at Wheaton to top this?</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-76145548271919504692011-09-15T16:43:00.000-07:002011-09-15T16:43:45.542-07:00George Jones' Top Ten...or Just Ten Greats Out of 160 Plus <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://image.pollstar.com/WeblogFiles/pollstar/0811090444371169485_3118_v1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Greatest Living Performers--George Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table> George Jones has had over 160 songs that have made the top of the charts. From the mid-1950s through the present, he has been recording and singing great songs, many of which became hits. Jones is a top country singer, a winner of many singing awards and honors, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, a newsmaker (not always for good reasons), and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. It is not all that easy to pick his top ten songs. I have enjoyed his music for decades, but I don't come close to even knowing all his songs. And some of his lesser known works are just as good as the big hits.<br />
<br />
Don't hold me too accountable for the order given below. I don't even agree with it.<br />
<br />
1. "He Stopped Loving Her Today." This is not only one of Jones' greatest hits, but it is one of the great all time country songs. It is so incredibly sad and moving that I can hardly ever listen to it without nearly breaking down. The perspective is that of a friend who observes a man's undying love for a woman who rejected him many years earlier. Only in death does his love for this woman end.<br />
<br />
2. "She's Mine." This is a less well known Jones song. I am not even sure if it was a top charted hit. This song is about a man who accepts the fact that this girl who is in his life will someday leave him and that her love is still with one who has left them. It seems to be an unusual romantic relationship, until the end of the song reveals the missing element. The song is about a girl, a daughter, whose mother has "left this world" and the accepting love her father has for her. "She's mine and yet, I know someday she'll leave me." "She's a baby, I'm her daddy, and she's mine." A sweet and moving work.<br />
<br />
3. "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool," with Barbara Mandrell. I strongly identify with this song. It is slightly autobiographical. Barbara Mandrell's portion is great, but the crowd explodes when George enters in and echoes that theme of being country when country wasn't cool. And there was something better about country music before "everyone" got in on the act.<br />
<br />
4. "I Don't Need No Rocking Chair." This is a much more recent Jones' song. It is in part a protest against so many country radio stations and producers who ignore the legends. It is also a testimony to both Jones' resilience and to that of many an older person who can still do great things. So many of my heroes have performed great feats in their older years: Jones, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, and Paul Johnson are just a few.<br />
<br />
5. "If Drinking Don't Kill Me, Her Memory Will." This is a traditional drinking, broken heart song. I don't like the taste of liquor, but it sure resonates with the soul to hear these kind of powerful lyrics. You feel the depth of pain that a person can go through in this world and understand why man in his sinful weakness so often seeks consolation in demon rum.<br />
<br />
6. "The Race is On." What makes this song so attractive is that it was perhaps the first Jones' song I heard. It was a hit way back in the 1960s. It is clever and, like many country songs, skillful in its replaying of emotions through metaphors.<br />
<br />
7. "We're Gonna Hold On," with Tammy Wynette. During the six or so years that Jones and Wynette were married, they produced a great number of wonderful songs. As it turns out, they were probably better at singing together than living together in marriage. Any Jones-Wynette duet is worth hearing.<br />
<br />
8. "Angel Band," with Ralph Stanley. Jones and Stanley have performed several songs together on a couple of albums where Ralph Stanley sings with friends. I wish they would produce a whole album together.<br />
<br />
9. "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes." This song is a tribute to many of Jones' friends, fellow singers, and heroes. It is another tear-jerker for me. When Jones speaks of Hank, Marty, and Lefty, I find myself saddened by their absence. And we all know that when George is singing this song, his shoes cannot be filled either. (Watch the video!)<br />
<br />
10. "Choices." I am painfully looking past quite a few other songs to chose this one. I heard it for the first time today. It is a powerful song that reflects on Jones' own life. Even for those of us who have been preserved from the problems and failures that Jones both experienced and sings about, we are reminded that we have all made painfully bad and foolish choices. This song reminds me of how thankful I am for a choice I did not make; in other words, I rejoice in the grace of God's electing love.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7npXuzPnI2xEfClIrPaCSLG4sk7J_4eJYghAtZazpTJ3fW-z3DtZPWjnNi3bFrMRTLgWcaA9wTmvtaEqi58Sk6Q574C-hE7Fceu-n3hdZNHAJoGgiwQhcmKX66LyK5Zf2ecvFaUgd9AZ/s1600/0320.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, "The Grand Tour" should be on the list.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-22453225607810645642011-09-12T13:22:00.000-07:002011-09-12T13:22:00.757-07:00Happy Eightieth Birthday to a Superstar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://valleysound.areavoices.com/files/2010/09/george-jones.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Jones celebrates his 80th birthday on September 12, 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Not many legends are still around. Johnny Cash, Porter Waggoner, Bill Monroe, and Patsy Cline are all gone. Elvis has been gone a long while, and old old Hank, Marty, and Lefty even longer. Thankfully, we still have George Jones and Ralph Stanley. (There are others no doubt.) God has been good to George Jones, even though Jones, just like every one of us, has not always been very good toward God. <br />
<br />
Jones's drinking songs, like his songs about heartbreak, blues, and dejection, are born out of his many miserable experiences. He has suffered from alcohol use and abuse, broken marriages, and at least one major wreck that should have ended it all. As he says in one song, "from the blood from my body I could start my own still."<br />
<br />
Just as those two great William's, Shakespeare and Faulkner, plummeted the depths of human tragedy and woes via their dramas and novels, so Jones has revealed the pain, misery, and struggles of man's failed efforts to find perfect bliss in this vale of tears. Country Music is truly a Saturday night honky-tonk and Sunday morning revival kind of experience. This is not to endorse every celebration of the honky-tonks, cheating songs, or drunkeness. It is to realize the depth of reality in so many of those songs.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the greatest song Jones ever did (and there are so many) is "He Stopped Loving Her Today." Unrequited love has never been so powerfully portrayed as in this song. It breaks my heart every time I hear it. When Jones first looked at the song, even he thought it was too **** depressing (to use his words, sort of) to appeal to people. But we are all depressed sometimes. The blues and their first cousin from the south, sad country songs, all bespeak the human condition. If you are not sad or heartbroken or lonely right now, someone in your family, neighborhood, or church is. And whether that sorrow is self-inflicted, the result of events beyond your control, or due to being sinned against, it is a glimpse into the abyss, a journey into the underworld, a vision of the heart of darkness. (Country music is, after all, great literature, sectioned up into 3 minute experiences with a fiddle and a steel guitar for emphasis.)<br />
<br />
Sometimes the fault of Jones and other country singers is the lack of balance in giving answers to man's plight and misery. Yes, this is a miserably depressing, lonely, heart-breaking world. We could all drink ourselves into oblivion due to the fallen condition of mankind and the miseries of our own hearts. But God has spoken. There is hope.<br />
<br />
Jones not only knows of the hope in this world, but he has celebrated it. After his near-fatal car crash some years back, he appealed to Vestal Goodman of the Happy Goodman Gospel Singers. Along with his fourth wife, Nancy, these two women helped George recover a vision of the Cross. Prior to that wreck, his wife worked to free him from his many years of alcohol and drug abuse. Like June Carter Cash's labors with her famous singer husband, George's wife exemplified the saving Gospel to his life.<br />
[For an amazing interview with George Jones about his life and faith, see <a href="http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/george_jones_080603.aspx">http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/interviews/george_jones_080603.aspx</a>] <br />
<br />
Not all country songs are about the tragic dimensions of life and love. Jones has had several hits that celebrate women. Songs such as "She's the Rock that I Lean On" and "A Picture of Me Without You" are fine examples of a woman being man's source of stability, a true help-meet.<br />
<br />
God's blessings on dear old George Jones on his eightieth birthday. I hope he continues to sing on this side of eternity. I can also hope to meet him on this side as well. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://elitelimochicago.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/george_jones_chicago_limo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Jones at age 80--"Still Doin' Time"--on the stage</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/29949235/George+Jones++Tammy+Wynette.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jones' marriage to Tammy Wynette resulted in many a fine duo, but that marriage of two great singers did not last. They sang, "We Gonna Hold On," but they didn't.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-76091265038835635832011-08-10T14:29:00.000-07:002011-08-10T14:29:35.857-07:00Album of The Year: "Helplessness Blues" by Fleet FoxesHelplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes<br />
<br />
Article written by Nick House.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thefoxisblack.com/blogimages//Fleet-Foxes-Helplessness-Blues-576x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://thefoxisblack.com/blogimages//Fleet-Foxes-Helplessness-Blues-576x576.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the album cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<em>Helplessness Blues</em> is the best album of 2011. It could have passed as being the best album of 1968; perhaps a lost Simon and Garfunkel world music album. I've taken the liberty of naming it Album of the Year even though the year isn't over yet, because unless Johnny Cash comes back from the grave to record a new record I doubt I'll hear anything better than this.<br />
It is hard to follow up a breakthrough album. If the band sticks with the formula that made them innovative in the first place, they might end up with a second album that sounds just like the first. That’s not always a bad thing, but <em>Great Album II</em> is never quite as good as the original. If they try to strike out in a new direction, they could end up being a band with no defined style that constantly reinvents itself. The ideal is for a second album to build upon the first, without being either a radical departure or a carbon copy. <br />
Fleet Foxes has achieved this ideal. Their first album was very minimalist, precise, and vocal oriented. The new record focuses more on instruments than the band’s trademark harmony. The music on<em> Helplessness Blues</em> is less precise than that on <em>Fleet Foxes</em>, but it is more exploratory, boldly going where no foxes have gone before. It is also a more personal album. On <em>Fleet Foxes</em>, lead singer Robin Pecknold’s voice always seemed to blend into the band’s harmonies and on some tracks it was almost completely drowned out. (Think “White Winter Hymnal”, “Sun It Rises”, “Quiet Houses”) The lyrics, while beautiful, seemed rather detached, like looking at a picture rather than looking at the thing itself. <br />
Things are much different here. Unlike the rather random collection of songs from<em> Fleet Foxes</em>, <em>Helplessness Blues</em> falls into a sort of pattern, telling the story of the singer’s emotional journey. It’s not a concept album per se, but one can see a sort of storyline emerge from the songs. Every storyline has a cast of characters. In <em>Helplessness Blues</em>, there are two main characters: the singer (played by Robin Pecknold) and his woman, whom he is having problems with. There are also a host of supporting characters: a mysterious man in “Sim Sala Bim” who is described as a “gentleman tied to the Oceanside,” a “stranger” who stands on the girl’s doorstep in “Battery Kinzie” and ominously says “nothing good.”, a “Bitter Dancer” who might be the singer’s woman or might be his son, and other, minor characters like “the slave and the empress” who both return to the dust like they came.<br />
Every story has a theme. This story’s theme is helplessness (duh), confusion, or a sense of being lost. Every song deals with confusion or being lost in some way, and the storyline is left somewhat unresolved.<br />
The record starts with the hymn like “Montezuma.” The band’s echo chamber, singing-into-a-can sound works well here: Pecknold takes the lead vocals solo and the band members back him up like a chorus of monks. If Worship music sounded like this, I would listen all the time. The singer realizes that he is older than his mother and father than when they had their daughter (and presumably disappointed that he has wasted half his life on this stupid band instead of getting a real job.) He wonders if he could ever get past only thinking of himself and learn to “dream of such a selfless and true love.”<br />
“Bedouin Dress” is one of the best-constructed songs on the record. Unlike some bands (Nirvana, you know who you are.) Fleet Foxes pays a lot of attention to the arrangement of their songs. This song manages to synthesize percussion, a jazzy Middle Eastern fiddle, and the band’s trademark harmonies into a pleasing whole. It’s probably the grooviest thing Fleet Foxes has done to date, and shows that they are not simply restricted to melancholy indie ballads. The singer talks about how he regrets his misspent youth, and that he would give up everything that he has “just to be at Innisfree again.” This is a reference to W.B. Yeats’ poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” in which Innisfree represents the poets desire to come to some sort of home, a place of resolution. <br />
“Sim Sala Bim” is where the album really starts to sound like Simon and Garfunkel. This song sounds like the musical version of a very realistic dream. If you listen closely, you can hear some unusual chord progressions. The guitars, mandolins, and harps all sort of blend into an ethereal mix until the end of the track, when the song goes full tilt into a Celtic jam.<br />
If Jane Austen had listened to rock music, then she would have probably had “Battery Kinzie” on repeat. The song has a sort of Elizabethan or 18th century sound to it. Any band that can start a song with “I woke up one morning/all my fingers rotting” and not come off as overly melancholy has talent. This song is driven by the drums and percussion. When you listen to it, listen to the cadence and sounds of Robin Pecknold’s lyrics. In poetry, it matters just as much how the words sound as what they say.<br />
“The Plains/Bitter Dancer” is actually two songs. “The Plains” is an instrumental. Fleet Foxes had an instrumental on their self-titled record, “Heard Them Stirring,” but it was mainly showcasing their harmonies. “The Plains” starts with a simple drumbeat and guitar melody. Gradually, vocals and other instruments start coming into the song until it escalates into a dreamy crescendo and then fades into “Bitter Dancer.” “Bitter Dancer” is a very dark, foreboding skin. Like Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,”<br />
it tells part of a story, leaving the audience in the dark as to the details. The harmonies on this song are so intricate that I cannot tell which voice is the melody and which voices are the harmonies. After three dark and foreboding verses, the music takes a U-Turn and starts into a major-key section, with the singers declaring “At arm’s length, I will hold you there.” It’s a very unusual way to end a song; listen to it and I think you’ll agree.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleet Foxes always keeps it real.</td></tr>
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“Helplessness Blues” was the first song from this record that I heard. The first part of it is a guitar driven ballad. The lyrics are worthy of Paul Simon. The singer speaks of once feeling that he had a purpose in this world, but now he feels lost and helpless. Every verse ends with the phrase “I’ll get back to you someday soon.” leaving his problems unresolved. After the third verse, the band comes in and the song slows down. The narrator tells of his desire to live a normal life with his woman “If I had an orchard I’d work till I’m sore…and you would wait tables and soon run the store,” but ends the song with “someday I’ll be like the man on the screen,” suggesting that this idyllic life he speaks of is just an illusion.<br />
“The Cascades” is an almost Celtic instrumental. Robin Pecknold has said that one of his biggest influences is soundtrack music, and you can feel the soundtrack influence here. The music has a very imagistic quality to it: you can almost see the Cascades when it is playing. Listen with your eyes closed.<br />
“Lorelei” is something you don’t often see in modern pop music: a waltz. It is probably the most poppy thing on this record, full of 70s-nature-documentary-background -music guitar arpeggios, and flutes and background harmonies that gently hover about this song. It’s all sunshine and butterflies and stuff, so Metallica fans beware! You might just…like it. Just try not to sing along with the chorus. It ends with the sound of either cannons firing or a hockey game (I can’t tell), so that makes it slightly more manly.<br />
At first I paid little mind to “Someone You’d Admire,” mainly because it was short and quiet. After listening to it closely, I became convinced that it was the best song on the album. It’s a ballad with just guitar, vocals and a great melody. The best part is the lyrics. The singer sings about how he has two personas, one of who loves this woman and the other who “would just as soon cast [her] on the fire.” The song ends with the singer declaring, “After all is said and after all is done/God only knows which one of them I’ll become.” The best part is that the singer says what he wants and then ends the song, instead of dragging it out to three or four minutes like a more amateurish songwriter would.<br />
“The Shrine/An Argument,” another multi-part song. The first part involves the singer going to “the old stone fountain in the morning after dawn.” This part has some of the most adventurous chord progressions in the album. For those of you not musically educated, it goes from incredibly tense and strained to mellow in a split section.<br />
The next section is the most energetic that Fleet Foxes has been. The singer talks about his woman’s anger toward him, culminating in her “in the ocean, washing of my name from [her] throat.” The drama in the lyrics is perfectly complimented by the drama in the song.<br />
The final section begins with the singer singing as if in a dark cavern, “green apples hang from my tree/they belong only to me.” The singer does not reach a sense of acceptance, but instead asks the sea to “Carry me to Innisfree like pollen on the breeze.” Then after that, there’s something that sounds like a baby elephant being being beaten to death. I’m sure there’s some artsy reason to include that on the album, but it’s very annoying.<br />
After this drama comes the Simon and Garfunkel-like lullaby “Blue Spotted Tail.” The singer asks rhetorical questions (“Why in the night sky is the earth hung?” “Why is life made only for to end.”?) These depressing questions are backed up by a beautiful, calm fingerpicked guitar melody. <br />
This leads me to a great digression. Perhaps one of the reasons that Christian rock music is generally lame is that there is no sense of mystery or searching in the lyrics. Robin Pecknold is an atheist or something thereabouts and he can sing songs that ask “Why is life made only for to end.” I feel like most Christian rock artists don’t ask questions like that, and would probably answer it with some sort of pat, “God made it that way” answer. Perhaps because Christians know they have the truth, they don’t write songs that have any searching or wonderment in them. Christian songs just seem to have no dramatic tension.<br />
After the drama of “Helplessness Blues”, “Someone You’d Admire.” “The Shrine/An Argument” and “Blue Spotted Tail,” the final track, “Grown Ocean” comes as a sort of relief. The music is mellow, but upbeat, contrasting with most of the second half of the album. The singer speaks of being in a dream where he is “as old as the mountains/still as starlight reflected in fountains.” He says that he will truly see his woman someday when he wakes from the dream into reality. The album ends with his singing “Wide eyed walker, don’t betray me/I will wake one day, don’t delay me. /wide eyed leaver, always going.” The album ends with the singer accepting his fate, but with his future still unsure. <br />
Fleet Foxes has managed to create a style of music that is both traditional and modern. Their music details a search for resolution, both musically and lyrically. It is a music that tells a story, maybe even a quest, full of wonder and wondering. Fleet Foxes is the defining sound of the 21st century, and when the Britney Spears ripoffs and screamo bands have all faded away, Fleet Foxes will remain. If you only buy one album this year, make it this one. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just admit it: You know you want a beard like that.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-32736424156063326862011-07-29T12:24:00.000-07:002011-07-29T12:26:09.063-07:00A Dylan Eleventary<span lang="EN">By Nick</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dig That Purple Bowtie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is impossible to pick a top eleven songs from Bob Dylan. First off I like so many of his songs that it’s hard to pick just 11. Secondly, Bob Dylan’s output has been so diverse that it’s not right to compare his work from one era to that from another. Instead of trying to narrow out Bob’s eleven best, I’ll just pick out eleven that I really like.<br />
11. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door: One of the shortest hit songs ever, only bested by “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin. I appreciate the reggae version by Eric Clapton, and the version by Guns ‘n’ Roses is…unique, but Bob’s is still the best. On the <i>Unplugged</i> version he sings “Knock knock knockin’ on heaven’s door/just like all the other times before.” Huh?<br />
10. Tangled Up In Blue: This song is a <i>rara avis</i>, a long narrative song by Dylan that actually makes some sort of sense. I read somewhere that it was about the history of cubism. I don’t want to know what the song is about; that would spoil it. Best moment: when the woman hands the singer the book of poetry “written by an Italian poet of the 13<sup>th</sup> century.” Dante and Dylan: what a great combination.<br />
9. It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue: Bob Dylan could write great melodies. It’s a pity he couldn’t sing them. I’ve always thought this song could have been a pop smash had it been redone by another band. Favorite lyric line: “The emptyhanded painter from the streets/is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets.”<br />
8. Positively 4<sup>th</sup> Street: The perfect takedown. What else can I say.<br />
7. All Along The Watchtower: I like Bob’s version better than Jimi’s. (Still like Jimi’s though.) This song has some of the best atmospheric lyrics in the rock music world. Dylan builds up an engaging story, and as soon as you get into it, he ends it. Why are the riders approaching? What are the princes on the watchtower looking for? One of the reasons I like Dylan is because he’s mysterious: You can find out all about a song by Breaking Benjamin or whoever, but you’ll never totally figure out a Dylan song. (If it makes you feel better, Dylan has probably never figured out a Dylan song.)<br />
6. To Make You Feel My Love: Some British Chick named Adele or something has made a sugary-sweet remake of this. Dylan sounds much more authentic on his version. Dylan was a rare artist in that he could take pop music and make something meaningful out of it. <br />
5. Not Dark Yet: But it’s getting there. Don’t take my word for it, just listen to the song.<br />
4. Maggie’s Farm: More timely than ever. Unlike so many Dylan wannabes, Dylan was able to write songs that you could crank up loud. If I had a car with huge speakers I would blare this song out like it was rap. <br />
3. Subterranean Homesick Blues: Dylan invented rap. This song is generally known as the first white rap song. The first non-white rap song was actually by Muhammad Ali and It’s called “Theme from Muhammad Ali and his gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay.” (Personally, I’m going for Mr. Tooth Decay.) Anyway, “Subterranean Homesick Blues” is probably the one song that I feel defines the 60s vibe, and it also has one of the coolest titles ever.<br />
2. John Brown: Dylan was often called a poet, usually in reverent, hushed tones. (“He was a <i>poet</i>.) Most of Dylan’s so called poetry is incoherent and insensible. However, occasionally, in between the “Tombstone Blues” and “Quinn The Eskimos” he came out with something that really was good poetry. This song, from the <i>Unplugged</i> album, is one of the best anti-war poems I’ve heard, putting Dylan in the ranks of e. e. cummings and Wilfrid Owen. I think he would be proud.<br />
1. Dig It by The Beatles: From the <i>Let It Be</i> album. This is the best Dylan song ever. If you’re a Dylan fan you have to listen to it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If Only This Had Been A Real Album</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Favorite Dylan song that’s not a Dylan song: “Girl From North Country” by Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. Bob doesn’t even sound like himself on this duet. This is just a flat-out great song, even if both the legends singing on it had a deficient sense of rhythm and couldn’t harmonize with each other no matter how hard they tried.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two American Legends</td></tr>
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And did you realize that "Like A Rolling Stone" wasn't on this list?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-71150053201528843552011-07-21T13:36:00.000-07:002011-07-29T12:26:40.032-07:00Bob and LarryBy Nick <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not this Bob and Larry</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Bob Dylan is one of the most influential singers and songwriters of our time. His influence has spawned countless imitators such as Connor Oberst, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. <br />
There is not one Bob Dylan. There are many Bob Dylans. There is the 60s Greenwhich Village Folk Scene Dylan, the Electric Dylan, The Nashville Skyline Dylan, The 70s Leisure Suit Dylan, The Artiste Auteur Dylan, the 80s Dylan (“Jokerman” sounds like a lost cut from the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack.) The 90s Comeback Dylan, the Living Legend Dylan, and the World-Weary Troubadour Dylan. (Coming soon: Retirement Home Dylan.) In the movie I’m Not There, a really weird Dylan biopic that I have not watched, he is played by 6 different actors, including a woman. (I pity any woman ugly enough to pass for Bob Dylan.)<br />
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One phase that many people don’t know about or dismiss is the Saved Dylan. From 1979 through 1981 Dylan was a born-again Christian and recorded two Christian-themed albums. But unlike many secular artists who become Christian and then make lame music for Jesus, Bob Dylan didn’t dumb down his songwriting when he became a believer. You won’t find Jesus-is-my-girlfriend ballads on Saved and Slow Train Comin’. Instead, Dylan takes his style and Christianizes it, with good results. Unlike many Christian rock artists of today, his songs deal with theological concepts like covenants and sanctification. And not only did Dylan have good Christian lyrics, he backed it up with good Christian music. The music on Dylan’s Christian albums sounds like Gospel cranked up to 11. Listening to “Solid Rock“ or “Saved“ might give you the impression that it would be enjoyable to be a Christian. I’m sorry, but you can’t do the praise hand to anything on Air1. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dylan and Gospel: an unlikely Combination</td></tr>
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When Dylan was a Christian he had a brief acquaintance with Larry Norman. Larry Norman is often thought of as the first Christian rock artist. This is not true: the first Christian rock band was David and the Five Smooth Stones. Norman’s music seems babyishly tame today compared to Air1 staples like Skillet or Flyleaf (How come Christian bands can’t come up with cool names?), but in his day he was criticized for playing rock with a Christian message. He was also known as the Christian answer to Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. Larry’s music was very much worldview music. He took his Christian worldview and applied it to different areas of life. For example, in “I Am The Six O’Clock News,” he criticized the media’s reluctance to take a moral stand on what it reported, and the way it transformed tragedy into entertainment. Try finding anything of that depth on Christian radio. Another personal favorite is “Christmastime”, with lyrics like “I gotta buy a present can’t remember who it’s for/but I’ll see you in an hour when I get back from the store.” Larry seems to have anticipated The Clash’s “Lost in the Supermarket” by several years. And finally, there’s “Baroquen Spirits,” a tale of lost love from the point of view of someone living in the 1500s. Not your average subject for a rock and roll song.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious Songs With Larry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Larry was a good songwriter, but he was often hampered by his pre-millennial theology. One of his best known songs is “I Wish We’d All Been Ready,” a somewhat melodramatic 70s ballad about the Rapture. Regardless of whether you agree with its lyrics or not, it’s still a gorgeous song, and we can be glad that even though Larry believed premillenially, he acted postmillenially.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why Should The Devil Have all the Good Music?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Secondary doctrine aside, both Bob Dylan and Larry Norman reached back to the roots of rock music: gospel. Rock music’s heritage is black and white gospel music of the south. Jerry Lee Lewis used to crawl up underneath a black church with his cousins (some kids named Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart.) and play air piano. Elvis was briefly a member of the Blackwood Brothers and sang Gospel music throughout his entire career. Little Richard started out in church (?) and briefly became a minister. Don’t forget Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the highly influential guitarist. Even the AC/DC hit “Highway To Hell” sounds like a Gospel song gone wrong. <br />
Yet today’s Christian rock scene ignores the gospel roots of rock music and instead gives us bland soundalike pop acts and metrosexual metal bands. For those of us who haven’t had frontal lobotomies, there’s very little to choose from that has both good music and good lyrics. If you’re looking for solid Christian rock music, you can do no better than to start with Larry Norman and Bob Dylan’s Christian albums.<br />
And no discussion of Bob Dylan's Christian Albums could be complete without mentioning the awesome tribute <em>Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan</em>, which features covers of Dylan's Christian songs by great artists like Shirley Caesar, Aaron Neville, Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Sounds of Blackness. <br />
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Gospel Albums by Dylan: <em>Saved!</em><br />
<em> Slow Train Comin'</em><br />
<em> Shot Of Love </em>(Don't have this one.)<br />
Larry Norman's Trilogy: <em>Only Visiting This Planet</em><br />
<em> So Long Ago the Garden</em><br />
<em> In Another Land</em><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-25453535099026940832011-07-05T15:17:00.000-07:002011-07-05T15:17:01.564-07:00Patriotic Rock Songs (!)By Nick<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the best picture, but it's all I could find.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Rock Music is not known as a bastion of patriotism. The majority of rock songs are apolitical, and those that are political are usually tired variations on the "I-Hate-George-Bush" theme. Many of the best rock bands are hardcore liberals, and "patriotic rock" is usually a codeword for Ted Nugent. And before I go any further, I will say that I am a conservative and I can't stand Ted Nugent's music. <br />
Many rock songs fall into the somewhat vague category of Anti-War or Protest songs. Many protest songs are very good, such as Bob Dylan's "John Brown". At their best anti-war songs show the horror of wars and put to shame any people who try to glorify war. Any true conservative is anti-war. At their worst (and they're far more at their worst than at their best) they are short-sighted attacks on the military that keeps them safe. It's easy to criticize your leaders if you live in a free country like America. There are plenty of American/British rockers who have criticized George W. Bush and are incredibly famous. I don't know of any Korean rockers who have criticized Kim Jong Il and gotten away with it. Going back to the main point, their are very few rock songs that speak highly of the US military. <br />
Alice in Chains, the 90s grunge/rock band, is not known for patriotic songs. Most of their songs fall into the general category of "I hate [Fill In The Blank]." But on their 2nd album, <em>Dirt, </em>from 1992, they performed one of the best military anthems of all time, "Rooster." This is not just one of the coolest pro-military songs ever, but one of the coolest songs ever period. Alice in Chains guitarist (and wah-pedal addict) Jerry Cantrell wrote the songs about his father, Jerry Cantrell Sr., who served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, and who was nicknamed "Rooster" as a young man. The lyrics speak of the horrors of war while praising the warrior who fights for his country. Musically, the song alternates between the soft, almost psychedelic verses and the huge electric guitar buildups.<br />
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Ain't found a way to kill me yet<br />
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Eyes burn with stinging sweat<br />
Seems every path leads me to nowhere<br />
Wife and kids, household pet<br />
Army green was no safe bet<br />
The bullets scream to me from somewhere<br />
(Commentary: The soldier in this song is trying to survive so he can get back to his "wife and kids.")<br />
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Yeah they come to snuff the Rooster<br />
Yeah here come the Rooster, yeah<br />
You know he ain't gonna die<br />
No, no, no, you know he ain't gonna die<br />
(Commentary: words on a page cannot convey how awesome this chorus is. You just have to listen to it.)<br />
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Walkin' tall machine gun man<br />
They spit on me in my home land<br />
Gloria sent me pictures of my boy<br />
Got my pills 'gainst mosquito death<br />
My buddy's breathin' his dyin' breath<br />
Oh God please won't you help me make it through<br />
(Commentary: In the 1960s many of the peace protestors were very rude to veterans coming back from Vietnam, spitting on them or calling them baby-killers. The naive protesters, then and now, do not understand what the soldiers go through in combat in foreign lands, away from their wife and children with their combat buddies dying. The song's singer cries out to God to help him get home alive.)<br />
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Yeah they come to snuff the rooster, ah yeah<br />
Yeah here come the rooster, yeah<br />
You know he ain't gonna die<br />
No, no, you know he ain't gonna die<br />
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Also in the realm of rock songs and the 4th of July, check out "Independence Day For A Petty Thief" by House of Heroes from their album <em>Suburba</em>. It's not particularly patriotic (although House of Heroes has done some good pro-troop songs on their World War II album, <em>The End Is Not The End</em>.), but it's rockin'.<br />
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Current Listenings: <em>The Great Hylian Revival </em>by Jay Tholen, <em>Helplessness Blues </em>by Fleet <br />
Foxes, "Gravedigger" by The Dave Matthews Band.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-29187992703399800272011-07-02T08:47:00.000-07:002011-07-02T08:47:40.580-07:00Country Music and Patriotism<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part 1 of what is now a 3 part music series.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Country music is a broad category entailing many kinds of songs. Sometimes in listening to "country stations" on the radio, I am confused about what country music is. There are defining music styles and themes that clearly identify some songs as country. Among the many recurring themes or ideas found in country music is love of country, in this case, the country being the United States. <br />
<br />
What country singers often celebrate in family, grandparents, a loving wife, a farm, or a road leading home is personified in the United States as a country. It should be no surprise that many country artists, including Johnny Cash, have been military veterans. It should be no surprise that many country artists devote time to touring and performing for American troops overseas.<br />
<br />
Country music heralds the flag, the military, freedom, and the unity of the idea of "God and country." Like all patriotic sensibilities, sometimes it is overblown, often it echoes that much maligned concept of "American exceptionalism," and sometimes it is blind to America's faults. But country music has often contained its own critiques of American actions. <br />
<br />
None of this can be used to easily put all country artists in the right wing of the Republican Party. Many of the older musicians, like Bill Monroe, were old-time New Deal Democrats. Ralph Stanley, in 2008, endorsed John Edwards (whose subsequent downfall looks like a country song) and later President Obama. (In fact, Stanley was personally recruited by Pres. Obama.) Del McCoury's CD <em>Moneyland, </em>which appeared around 2007, was a veiled call for a replacement of the Republican administration. Some of the songs were drawn from the era of the Great Depression and were bemoaning the Hoover administration.<br />
<br />
Still, it is hard to find many true blue liberals among country artists. Either they are politically conservative, religiously conservative, or culturally conservative. (And like even left-wing entertainers who profit from the free market sales of their work, they are business conservatives.)<br />
<br />
Patriotism finds reason to celebrate the ideals and potential of this country even amidst the many flaws.<br />
Perhaps the most popular patriotic country song of our time is Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." While Greenwood has actually enjoyed many hits, this one has been the most successful and defining for him. Like much good music, it has crossed the charts and is popular in all kinds of audiences and settings, but particularly patriotic settings.<br />
<br />
Notice the words (and comments) below:<br />
<br />
If tomorrow all the things were gone,<br />
<br />
I’d worked for all my life.<br />
And I had to start again,<br />
with just my children and my wife.<br />
<br />
I’d thank my lucky stars,<br />
to be livin here today.<br />
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,<br />
and they can’t take that away.<br />
<br />
(Commentary: An abiding belief in this country is the freedom we enjoy and the opportunities we have under that freedom. So, in times like these when the economic situation is threatening "all the things...[we've] worked for all [our lives]" we still have the belief that freedom is better than material goods, that the love of a family can sustain us, and that freedom cannot be taken away.)<br />
And I’m proud to be an American,<br />
where at least I know I’m free.<br />
And I won't forget the men who died,<br />
who gave that right to me.<br />
<br />
And I gladly stand up,<br />
next to you and defend her still today.<br />
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,<br />
God bless the USA.<br />
<br />
(Commentary: The freedom exists because men have fought and died for it.)<br />
From the lakes of Minnesota,<br />
to the hills of Tennessee.<br />
Across the plains of Texas,<br />
From sea to shining sea.<br />
<br />
From Detroit down to Houston,<br />
and New York to L.A.<br />
Well there's pride in every American heart,<br />
and its time we stand and say.<br />
<br />
(Commentary: There is a unity that is geographic and cultural. The idea of what an American is--which has been a topic of discussion for centuries--is found in our pride of nationhood.)<br />
That I’m proud to be an American,<br />
where at least I know I’m free.<br />
And I won't forget the men who died,<br />
who gave that right to me.<br />
<br />
And I gladly stand up,<br />
next to you and defend her still today.<br />
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,<br />
God bless the USA.<br />
<br />
(Commentary: The repetition of the ideas and words of this song--accompanied by the music--reinforces the love of country based on freedom. The prayer and wish for the song is for God's blessing on this country.)<br />
<br />
We hope to highlight some other country songs that are patriotic in the days ahead.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-7540627794203064012011-06-09T08:11:00.000-07:002011-06-09T08:11:35.420-07:00Notes from the Music Teacher (and others), part 3Dear Messrs Berry, Buck, Mills, and Stipe,<br />
We're sorry, but your music does not fit our needs at this time. We feel that your singer does not have enough hair, and his voice is too nasally. Also, a name like REM will not appeal to many people.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Record Company Man.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.morethings.com/music/rem/rem-140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://www.morethings.com/music/rem/rem-140.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Johnson,<br />
Jack has been placed in detention for skipping class to go surfing.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Economics Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.parcbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/jackjohnson2-733894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.parcbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/jackjohnson2-733894.jpg" t8="true" width="152" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Daniels<br />
Your son Charlie is being removed from choir. He refuses to sing properly, and instead shouts in a loud voice.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Choir Director<br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Daniels,<br />
Your son Charlie is being removed from Orchestra. He plays his violin too fast and uses improper technique. He refuses to sit down to play his instrument, and he gives the other musicians bad feelings.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Orchestra Director.<br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Daniels,<br />
Your son Charlie is disrupting my class. During my lectures on the Civil War he repeatedly shouts "The South's gonna do it again." If this pattern of behavior continues, I will have to take action.<br />
Signed,<br />
The History Teacher.<br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Daniels,<br />
Your son Charlie is failing comparative religions class. He keeps insisting that "The Devil went down to Georgia", even though this has no basis in any known religious tradition.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Comparative Religion Teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://beardsandbellies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/charlie_daniels1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://beardsandbellies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/charlie_daniels1.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Ives. <br />
Your current image does not reflect the record company's needs. A recent poll shows that audiences prefer singers who weigh less than 200 pounds. We insist that you change your image to suit this development. Also, we do not believe a Christmas recording would be commercially viable.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Record Company Man<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOkm1pe6NwCav0erO9AqNiCRsMwd8Mk9q6oPqc-f1YaQzdFx6U71Zrj1YjciFygAwVTAqKIAyCP81aDw8tL3RfTdXXYUhGdrLIOhNa5E7J6Lmk-ZrA5KBzMxRwxal2HPglZ7UQJCv5QE/s320/burl+ives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOkm1pe6NwCav0erO9AqNiCRsMwd8Mk9q6oPqc-f1YaQzdFx6U71Zrj1YjciFygAwVTAqKIAyCP81aDw8tL3RfTdXXYUhGdrLIOhNa5E7J6Lmk-ZrA5KBzMxRwxal2HPglZ7UQJCv5QE/s200/burl+ives.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Crosby,<br />
Your son Bing sings too softly for choir class. He needs to improve his vibrato.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Choir Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://im.in.com/connect/images/profile/oct2009/Bing_Crosby_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://im.in.com/connect/images/profile/oct2009/Bing_Crosby_300.jpg" t8="true" width="166" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Armstrong,<br />
I am not making any progress with Louis. I suggest you point him to a different hobby, such as checkers.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Voice Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Louis_Armstrong_restored.jpg/250px-Louis_Armstrong_restored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Louis_Armstrong_restored.jpg/250px-Louis_Armstrong_restored.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Stevens,<br />
Your son Sufyan is failing choir. He does not pay attention during class. When I try to teach he sings to himself, or scribbles on his music. His voice lacks definition, and he sings too quietly. I suggest moving him to shop class.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Music Teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2CU8rXRbhVllpCnrpfYgXVvrGsOq0qSY_ZXXDt17ImorZb_I7SUs-Jn5e5ApQEd219PuUdtMQZ03k9V5ow1X1MYCykJ6LKLRAa8sp4rx0kut7UkKbgxBOhaCBgo0K3JCCILO33Hxtz4/s1600/sufjan_stevens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2CU8rXRbhVllpCnrpfYgXVvrGsOq0qSY_ZXXDt17ImorZb_I7SUs-Jn5e5ApQEd219PuUdtMQZ03k9V5ow1X1MYCykJ6LKLRAa8sp4rx0kut7UkKbgxBOhaCBgo0K3JCCILO33Hxtz4/s200/sufjan_stevens.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Bach,<br />
Your son Johnny shows absolutely no aptitude for music whatsoever.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Conservatory Director.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.musicwithease.com/bach-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.musicwithease.com/bach-01.jpg" t8="true" width="156" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Malmsteen,<br />
Remind Yngwie that he will only become a good guitarist if he practices.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Guitar Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.guitarlessons.com/wp-content/themes/glTemplate/images/guitarist/shred/yngwie-malmsteen-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.guitarlessons.com/wp-content/themes/glTemplate/images/guitarist/shred/yngwie-malmsteen-1.jpg" t8="true" width="160" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Rodgers,<br />
Tell Jimmie that yodeling is not part of our music curriculum.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Music Teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://themusicsover.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/rodgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://themusicsover.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/rodgers.jpg" t8="true" width="246" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tubb<br />
Ernest is a disturbance during choir. He spends all of his time winking at the girls.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/BqW1NiIh6qio2w1bA7FDoxfio1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/BqW1NiIh6qio2w1bA7FDoxfio1_500.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Carter.<br />
A.P. is not aware that in choir one must sing at all times. "Bassing in" is not a recognized feature of classical vocalism.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Music Teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.folkarchive.de/carter_original_family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://www.folkarchive.de/carter_original_family.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Beethoven.<br />
No matter how much I rebuke him, Ludwig never seems to hear what I'm saying. I suggest you discipline him at home.<br />
Signed, <br />
The Teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pianostreet.com/search/images_tn/composers/beethovenl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.pianostreet.com/search/images_tn/composers/beethovenl.jpg" t8="true" width="173" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Stravinsky,<br />
Your son is failing music theory.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Professor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/181/000025106/igor-stravinsky-bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.nndb.com/people/181/000025106/igor-stravinsky-bw.jpg" t8="true" width="139" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Ms. Hildegard of Bingen,<br />
You are failing music theory class. You need to watch out for those parallell 5ths.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Professor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqLE70GPbWLdaG2_fS_DB0Z7IMZ2Y1fFHrs6wXZbxcNffJ6Ad95Uc_aePoOAllso2WB_C9P1xvGeC85LqRYjy3enkzBYGSB_8rUwjoPhyphenhyphenbHmlzYGTjAxnocKnWkTHLSMnZgGYfxz7SjE/s400/Hildegard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqLE70GPbWLdaG2_fS_DB0Z7IMZ2Y1fFHrs6wXZbxcNffJ6Ad95Uc_aePoOAllso2WB_C9P1xvGeC85LqRYjy3enkzBYGSB_8rUwjoPhyphenhyphenbHmlzYGTjAxnocKnWkTHLSMnZgGYfxz7SjE/s200/Hildegard.jpg" t8="true" width="118" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Mr. Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)<br />
The correct way to say the phrase is "Mr. Jones and <em>I</em>."<br />
Signed,<br />
The Grammar Teacher.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peoples.ru/art/music/rock/adam_duritz/duritz_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.peoples.ru/art/music/rock/adam_duritz/duritz_2.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div>Dear Mr. Dave Matthews,<br />
Thank you for sending us your demo CD. We regret to inform you that it does not fit our current needs at the time. We suggest that you work on your enunciation and write shorter songs.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Record Company Man<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/images/content/Kokua_Festival_Dave_Matthews/DaveMatthews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/images/content/Kokua_Festival_Dave_Matthews/DaveMatthews.jpg" t8="true" width="159" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Williams,<br />
After much consideration, I am dropping Hank from the choir. His voice is not suited to the choir's needs. His voice sounds thin and stretched, he does not widen his mouth enough, and he is unable to enunciate words properly. He has shown up late for class, or skipped class several times, and has given as his excuse that he was "honky-tonkin', honey baby", or that he was "down on the bayou." Yesterday he greeted our piano teacher with "Hey good lookin', what you got cookin'?" He also seems to have problems with depression and social awkwardness. He told me that "he was so lonesome he could cry." I suggest setting up an appointment with the school psychologist. I think that deep down Hank is a good kid, and I hope that he will see the light.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Music Teacher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.singers.com/people/images/HankWilliams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.singers.com/people/images/HankWilliams.jpg" t8="true" width="159" /></a></div><br />
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Yankovic,<br />
Your son Alfred shows talent and potential on the accordion. I think that if he continues to practice it could help him overcome some of his social difficulties.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41605_70358446004_2204126_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/41605_70358446004_2204126_n.jpg" t8="true" width="154" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-78950340000187017722011-06-04T21:07:00.000-07:002011-06-04T21:07:19.042-07:00Bluegrass Music--Penetrating the Veil<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i43.tower.com/images/mm106021512/short-life-trouble-songs-grayson-whitter-ralph-stanley-cd-cover-art.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ralph Stanley: Short Life of Trouble--Songs of Grayson and Whittier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A few days ago, while listening to Ralph Stanley sing the songs of Grayson and Whittier, I was reminded of the phrase Louise Cowan uses in her essay <a href="http://lonestar.texas.net/~mseifert/epiccosmos.html">"Epic as Cosmopoesis."</a> She refers to the primary feature of epic literature being the "penetration of the veil separating material and immaterial existence" or "the veil separating the human from the divine." The point that led to this thought relates to the themes of so many of the songs on this bluegrass collection as well as songs lodged within the broader scope of bluegrass, mountain, folk, southern, and rural music.<br />
<br />
These songs deal with brutal, cruel, sad, and tragic aspects of life. Not every song has a somber theme, for sometimes trains, love, women, dancing, and dogs lift the spirits. Yet, the darker side of life is ever present in bluegrass music. Consider the song "Rose Conley" in this collection. The story in this song is about a man who kills the woman he loves. This idea comes up repeatedly in bluegrass and folk music. The passion and irrationality associated with love and hate can evoke the strangest of actions. It is unthinkable, but men have responded with jilted love or unrequited love by violence. It is the human heart in emotional chaos. While it does not happen often, the fact that it does happen is enough to unsettle the soul. And bluegrass music is soul music.<br />
<br />
"Short Life of Trouble" has a theme that is self explanatory. In this song, the young man has been rejected by the girl who promised her love only a week before. This is a heart-ache quite familiar to many people. Rejection is painful, but the lyrical experience of a poem or song expresses the pain of a moment. That moment of pain, however, seems to be extended into eternity when it is happening.<br />
<br />
Short life of trouble<br />
A few more words to part<br />
Short life of trouble dear girl<br />
For a boy with a broken heart<br />
<br />
"Nine Pound Hammer," despite its jaunty air, is a lament of the pains of physical labor. Bluegrass music grew out of the experience of farmers, miners, lumbermill workers, factory hands, and other folks who sweated long and hard to survive. A teacher like me who works in an air conditioned building could never write true folk and roots music about my experiences. (Consider "I was lecturing on the history of the War Between the States...." to the tune of "Tennessee Waltz.") <br />
<br />
"He's Coming to Us Dead" is a mournful song about a man waiting for his son at the train station. As the song develops, it becomes clear that the son was killed in battle and his body was being returned home for burial. The homecoming is a sad one.<br />
<br />
"A Dark Road is a Hard Road to Travel" works on the biblical imagery of light and darkness. <br />
<br />
<br />
A dark road's a hard road to travel<br />
A light road is always the best<br />
A dark road will lead you to trouble<br />
A light road will lead you to rest<br />
<br />
Those troubles can include jail and other miseries. These things may come out of the choices men make, but the troubles are painful all the same.<br />
<br />
"On the Banks of Old Tennessee" deals with loss and displacement. The singer laments not having a father, a mother, a brother, sister, or true love. They are all resting on the banks of the Old Tennessee. Whether it is a specific tragedy or just time, he has been separated from family. There is an empty sadness in this kind of song. Again, that is a momentary emotional response fitting for lyrics.<br />
<br />
It is interesting that fans and artists in the bluegrass arena gravitated to so many doleful, melancholy, shocking, and saddening themes and ideas. No doubt this was because of the proximity of human woe and depravity. Folks either experienced these sad times or they had kinfolks and neighbors who experienced them. Life experiences were not sanitized. Death was not ignored. The tunes, often driving and perhaps upbeat, reflect an attitude that accepted the tragic dimensions of life because life here on this earth is only part of the story. Music was a coping mechanism that enabled hurt people to press on with life under the sun. Only God knows the reasons for all our troubles. The music penetrates the veil separating us and our woes from God and His glory.<br />
<br />
It is no wonder that Ralph Stanley, along with his brother Carter, borrowed from the obscure duo known as Whittier and Grayson. Those two Virginia boys recorded about 40 songs from 1927 to 1929. "Train 45" contains fiddle playing that, when done well, sounds like a train. Bluegrass, country, and folk musicians were fascinated by the world-changing nature of trains. Trains could become means of leaving, returning, sinning, hoping, or figuring out life. <br />
<br />
Gilliam Grayson, 1888-1930, was basically blind (he had a small amount of vision), so he turned to the only outlet for a man in his situation: He learned to play the guitar, harmonica, mandolin, organ, piano, and fiddle. He teamed up with Henry Whittier, a guitar player. Their small body of bluegrass songs (before it was defined as bluegrass) included such tunes as "Tom Dooley," "Little Maggie," "The Banks of the Ohio," and the songs listed above. Their short singing career included an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in 1930, but later that year, Grayson was killed in an auto accident. <br />
<br />
Sad to say, but there is no available collection of Whittier and Grayson themselves, but other artists like Stanley have kept the music alive. This collection was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 1998.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img _prototypeuid="5" alt="" class="media" galleryimg="no" height="240" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa296/moefuzzz/GBGrayson.jpg?t=1301126403" style="height: 360px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 480px;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pioneers of Roots Music: Gilliam Grayson and Henry Whittier (c. 1928)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-14661222064466382142011-05-21T12:01:00.000-07:002011-05-21T12:01:37.603-07:00Ivan and AlyoshaNicholas and I have been delighting in our reading and discussion of one of our favorite books, <em>The Brothers Karamazov, </em>by one of our most admired authors, Fyodor Dostoevsky. (<a href="http://benhouseblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Brothers%20Karamazov">Read recent posts on The Brothers Karamazov</a>). We were, therefore, pleasantly surprised when our friend George Grant recently mentioned on his website that free downloads were available from a singing duo named Ivan and Alyosha.<br />
(Free Noise Trade download of the fantastic Ivan and Alyosha EP: (<a href="http://bit.ly/j65dPJ">http://bit.ly/j65dPJ</a>)<br />
<br />
In <em>The Brothers Karamazov, </em>Ivan is the probing atheist who asks the most serious questions and raises the most serious objections to a belief in God. Unlike all too many atheists, he realizes where his position leads. "If there is no God, then everything is permitted." Alyosha, in the novel, is one of the most powerful Christian characters ever created in fiction. He is the angel, or the messenger, to all the other characters in the story. His faith is pure and deeply held, but his Christian living is not filled with fluff, syrup, or sugary sweet answers. His is a powerful Christian love, motivated and taught to him by Father Zosima.<br />
<br />
We have enjoyed getting acquainted with this talented young group--which actually includes two other musicians. Their music has a harmony like that of Simon and Garfunkel, with a very comfortable feel, even for a fellow deeply rooted in country music, like me.<br />
<br />
I will let Nick take the helm and further describe the music and the musicians.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.ifc.com/news/assets_c/ivan-and-alyosha-ifc-sxsw.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ivan and Alyosha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ivan and Alyosha is an indie rock band from Seattle. Their music ranges from driving indie pop in songs like "Father's Be Kind" to the symphonic indie of "Everything is Burning." Their lyrics range from traditional love songs ("I Was Born To Love Her") to songs that deal with less traditional themes, such as having a child ("Living For Someone"). Their most defining song to date is the Bob Dylan-esque "Glorify." The song, like good poetry, is heavily ironic and open to multiple interpretations. I'll let the song's lyrics speak for themselves.<br />
<br />
I left my family and my home<br />
to fight the battle on my own<br />
I stole a car and drove away<br />
but in my hate St Paul did say<br />
<br />
Glorify the Lord above<br />
with your drink and making love<br />
Glorify the Lord, my son<br />
with your whiskey and your guns<br />
<br />
I shot my foe, now I feel bad<br />
I beat my wife, now I feel sad<br />
I curse my brother and my friend<br />
I broke my mother's heart again<br />
<br />
Glorify the Lord above<br />
with your drink and making love<br />
Glorify the Lord, my son<br />
with your whiskey and your guns<br />
<br />
And I'll tune my heart and tune my strings<br />
and see what giving thanks might bring<br />
For all I have was always thine<br />
but I was fool to think it mine<br />
<br />
We'll glorify the Lord above<br />
with your drink and making love<br />
Glorify the Lord, my son<br />
with your whiskey and your gun<br />
<br />
Well if you stay or if you go<br />
or if you stand or you're brought low<br />
We'll drink the wine, we'll eat the bread<br />
But don't forget what Jesus said<br />
<br />
Glorify the Lord above<br />
with your drink and making love<br />
Glorify the Lord my son<br />
'till your work on earth is done<br />
<br />
I said to glorify the Lord above<br />
oh if you've plenty, if you've none<br />
Glorify the Lord my son<br />
with your whiskey and your gun<br />
<br />
Much like <em>The Brothers Karamozov</em>, the song doesn't seem to provide any easy answers. It seems to be about how people are supposed to do everything to the glory of God, but instead do wicked and awful things, like beating their wives. However, it does not seem to be an attack on Christianity-- notice the lines "For all I have was always thine/but I was fool to think it mine." It seems like the band is recognizing that people are not glorifying God like they should.<br />
<br />
We hope to learn and share more about this group in the future.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-26724524319185352232011-04-25T10:35:00.000-07:002011-04-25T10:35:24.688-07:00Not the Hits-Great songs off the album.By Nick<br />
These are just a few good songs from albums that didn't become radio hits. Sometimes the hits by a band are good: Chicago's album songs are often unbearable. In other cases, such as The Fray and OneRepublic, the album cuts are the best songs. These songs are in no particular order.<br />
<br />
"Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite." by The Beatles. The <em>Sgt. Pepper's </em>album had a lot of good hits on it--scratch that, every song on that album is good. The Beatle's musical diversity was so great that they could write a circus music song with lyrics taken from a circus flyer from the 1800s, and it was still good. <br />
<br />
"Reflections" by the Charlie Daniels Band. I don't know if this song was a hit or not. You can find it on the 3-disc collection of his music. Songs like "The South's Gonna Do It Again" and "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" were good. This one is great. It's a tribute to musicians who have passed on, specifically Elvis, Janis Joplin, and Ronnie Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd (The most underrated of classic rock bands). "Heaven should be proud."<br />
<br />
"Hundred" by The Fray. The Fray is best known for their hits, "How To Save A Life", "Over My Head." Those songs are awful compared to the cuts from their first album. Unlike many piano-pop bands, The Fray actually has a talented pianist, and this ballad shows him off at his best ability. All the other album cuts are very good too.<br />
<br />
"Oh My God" by Jars of Clay. Off the <em>Good Monsters </em>album. Probably the best song on a life-changing album. I can't describe it, just listen to it. I will warn, however, that it makes more sense in the context of the album than listened to on its own.<br />
<br />
"Four Walls of Raiford" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. A lost Skynyrd track, and their best song. Most of the Skynyrd songs that get played on the radio are either not that good to begin with, or played to death (There should be a moratorium on Sweet Home Alabama). This song is about a Vietnam vet who is thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit, and is escaping. It's heart wrenching.<br />
And in an A.D.D. moment, another great Vietnam vet song is "Rooster" by Alice in Chains, which is definitely in the top five patriotic rock songs of all time.<br />
<br />
"All Fall Down" by OneRepublic. OneRepublic's best music is hidden. This one is an acoustic-guitar driven song, complimented by some tense strings. Despair never sounded so good, except on the other good despair songs, but that's a topic for a later post.<br />
<br />
"Why Not Smile" by R.E.M. From the<em> Up </em>album, although I have never heard it in the context; I know it from a compilation. The first R.E.M. song I heard, a haunting acoustic ballad. Michael Stipe doesn't even sound like Michael Stipe on the song. <br />
<br />
"Dearest" by Buddy Holly. The best Buddy song, free from the mindless rockabilly of his earlier music, or the mindless syrupy fluff of his later music. Buddy had a unique voice, was a great stylist, and definitely had not reached the peak of his potential when he died. If he had continued to write songs like this, he would be even more remembered.<br />
<br />
"Life In Rain" by Remy Zero. From the <em>Villa Elaine </em>album. I don't know why, but most of these songs are ballads. I guess it is because the record companies pick out the fast, catchy songs for singles. This song is particularly relevant because it has been raining a lot around here lately. If you listen to it, you can feel the rain.<br />
<br />
"The Dangling Conversation" by Simon and Garfunkel, off the Essential album, one of the songs put in as padding in between the songs like "Sounds of Silence", "Scarborough Fair", and that gospel song. Simon and Garfunkel were the first to write rock songs with intelligent, thoughtful lyrics. Bob Dylan, who came around the same time period, wrote songs with all the hallmarks of intellectualism except for intelligibility. Anyway, this song shows what good lyric-writing should be. I think Paul Simon was right in choosing Robert Frost.<br />
<br />
"Lady Jane" by The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones at their worst turned out crass, stupid pop music, were personally vulgar and snotty, stole music from authentic black American musicians, and sang in a stupid fake Southern accent. At their best they did songs like this, a pseudo-elizabethan ballad. The mellow Stones beat the loud and rowdy Stones or the old and ugly Stones any day.<br />
<br />
"On Fire" by Switchfoot. From the <em>Beautiful Letdown </em>album. Switchfoot's ballads are killers (in a good way, not in a Jack-the-Ripper kind of way), and this is one of the best. Still not sure what it's about, but the passion in it makes up for my confusion.<br />
<br />
"Sooner or Later (Soren's Song)" by Switchfoot. From the <em>New Way To Be Human </em>album. Coming in the tradition of Paul Simon (see above), Jon Foreman writes a rock song about a philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. And it's a really good rock song, too. Coincidentally, the song "Leaf" by mewithoutYou also mentions Kierkegaard's book <em>Purity of Heart is to Want One Thing</em>. It seems that Christian Existentialism is a popular theme in intelligent Christian rock music, and this should be explored more deeply.<br />
<br />
"Red Hill Mining Town" by U2. From <em>The Joshua Tree</em>. You gotta love the good old sorta Christian liberals. The multi-millionaire rock star Bono knows so much about the working class. I mean, he's got pink glasses, so he must know everything, right? In all seriousness, this track from U2's breakout album is good, despite the fact that it probably has some sort of "share all your money" theme behind it. Back in the day, before they became big time rock stars, U2 was capable of writing lots of very moving songs. They still are, occasionally.<br />
<br />
Do you have any favorite songs by artists that weren't radio singles? Post a comment and tell us.<br />
Currently Listening: <em>Abandon Kansas EP</em>, Abandon Kansas.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-47439835416770229972011-04-23T08:38:00.000-07:002011-04-23T08:42:59.854-07:00Music for Easter Week-end<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/4/9/7/637944_170x170.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Christ--His Passion--Remembering the Sacrifice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This CD is a family favorite and might be found playing anytime during the year. I especially enjoy it during my morning reading time. It is a marvelous collection of meditative contemporary Christian songs, all dealing with the theme of Christ's suffering and death. It was an introduction to us of many Christian artists we now know and enjoy. I first picked this CD up off of a bargain table at the local Baptist Book Store. It had no price tag, so the clerk just gave it to me. What an amazing gift.<br />
<br />
Songs and Artists on this CD:<br />
<br />
I Remember You - Mac Powell with Gene Eugene <br />
<br />
Jesus Went To The Garden - Derri Daugherty, Paul Colman, and others<br />
<br />
Kyrie Eleison - Leigh Nash (My children have often sung this short prayer from this CD.)<br />
<br />
Marvelous Light - Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken <br />
<br />
Were You There When The Sun Refused ToShine - Maddy Madeira <br />
<br />
Precious Jesus - The Choir with Leigh Nash <br />
<br />
With Every Breath - Leigh Nash & DanHaseltine <br />
<br />
Beautiful Scandalous Night - Sixpence, None The Richer & Bebo Norman <br />
<br />
Lamb Of God (Agnus Dei) - Bebo Norman & Mark Hall & Megan Garrett (Casting Crowns) <br />
<br />
Yes I Will - Bebo Norman and Joy Williams <br />
<br />
Communion - Cliff & Danielle Young & Phil Keaggy <br />
<br />
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord - Phil Keaggy <br />
<br />
The Stone - Jars of Clay <br />
<br />
Another favorite CD is <em>Songs Inspired by the Passion of the Christ.</em> <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Passion of the Christ: Songs Inspired By" border="0" height="200" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RMX35ATQL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Songs Inspired by the Passion of the Christ<br />
<br />
<div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">The songs on this collection are more wide-ranging and eclectic, some not even exactly Christian, yet overall, quite a moving collection.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">This CD includes</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">1. How Can You Refuse Him by Hank Williams and sung by his granddaughter, Holly Williams</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">2. Stranger in a Strange Land, sung by Leon Russell and the Shelter People</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Are You Afraid to Die, with a clip from a Billy Graham sermon. This is a great Ira Louvin classic, sung by Ricky Skaggs, one of the best Bluegrass artists around today.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">4. Please Carry Me Home, sung by Jessi Colter (Waylon Jennings' widow) and Shooter Jennings (Waylon's son)</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">5. Ave Maria by Delores O'Riordan, a beautiful heretical song. Some Protestant with Latin training needs to correct the song.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;"> 6. Why Me by Lee Ryan</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">7. Darker with the Day, sung by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Haunting and strange.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">8. Where No One Stands Alone, sung by Elvis. He often professed who the true King is.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">9. Harm's Way, sung by The Ghost Who Walks. </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">10. By the Rivers Dark, sung by Leonard Cohen. Very strange song, but I like it.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">11. Precious Lord, sung by the Blind Boys of Alabama. The Blind Boys are among the best.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-size: small;">12. Not Dark Yet, sung by Bob Dylan. Dylan often hits the nerve of reality. Great poetry.</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-85433765676868643772011-04-22T20:54:00.000-07:002011-04-22T20:54:58.342-07:00Good Friday Lyrics<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BqRm5ofEFrqDTeN5zeUzuaccif9-8bPauJ3Fx_zQcLuSc4HES_feyRxG4Z7RhWOXEJT_k8nroSvoQfpXD0HmjWZ1_ecnVwGHk4boqjN-8LwqoT_f11nrGhKvX7XcX1-gaLpWTFlmx0Ff/s1600/Stanley+Brothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BqRm5ofEFrqDTeN5zeUzuaccif9-8bPauJ3Fx_zQcLuSc4HES_feyRxG4Z7RhWOXEJT_k8nroSvoQfpXD0HmjWZ1_ecnVwGHk4boqjN-8LwqoT_f11nrGhKvX7XcX1-gaLpWTFlmx0Ff/s320/Stanley+Brothers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stanley Brothers--One of the most talented music teams ever</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Central to the music of the Stanley Brothers was their Gospel songs. Not only did they sing lots of old songs from the hills and hymnals, but they also wrote and performed lots of good songs. Ralph Stanley wrote a powerful song called "Will He Wait a Little Longer?" Originally, the lead part was sung by Carter Stanley, who was one of the best vocalists in the field of country music (a pretty tall order). When Carter sings those words, "A vision of a mangled body, I can see his nail-scarred hands..." I find myself shaken to the core. This is a beautiful Gospel call for believers to pray for the salvation of the lost.<br />
<br />
Will He Wait a Little Longer<br />
by Ralph Stanley<br />
<br />
On cruel Calvary where he suffered <br />
<br />
There he died upon the cross<br />
That we might be saved my brother <br />
Freed from sin and not be lost<br />
<br />
Will he wait a little longer<br />
There's so many out in sin<br />
Will he wait a little longer<br />
Give us time to gather in<br />
<br />
A vision of that mangled body<br />
I can see his nail-scarred hands<br />
When He calls me way up yonder<br />
I will hear and understand<br />
<br />
Many loved ones gone before me<br />
They've made their peace for the final day<br />
But should He call before they're ready<br />
I can almost him them say<br />
<br />
Will he wait a little longer<br />
<br />
There's so many out in sin<br />
Will he wait a little longer<br />
Give us time to gather inAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-37114356149120622572011-04-16T09:53:00.000-07:002011-04-16T09:53:00.347-07:00Notes from the Music Teacher, part 2.When music teachers get the blues<br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Zimmerman,<br />
Our orchestra does not include harmonica and Robert (Or Bobby or Zimmy) does not meet our standards for singing. I suggest you urge him to find another interest other than music. <br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.indiatalkies.com/images/bob-dylan36407z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" r6="true" src="http://www.indiatalkies.com/images/bob-dylan36407z.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dear Mrs. Johnson,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I regret to inform you that Robert is not doing well in music class. His voice is scratchy, and he does not widen his soft palate. He shows up late to class regularly, claiming that he has "hellhounds on his trail", or that he had to stop at "the crossroads." Your son has potential, and I think that if he applies himself he could be a successful vocalist.</div>Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH3l3U9p_51fXKP97GV3aTaeY8ccIun5GUDrenEKVH6q0tVwcOuokPYBsroI3r33Io5kA2ynUrPlGHAWVe-U8xcLL-w0JHs-kzFyRnB9WLwKMwTu0wrTWqVT93BNPi7noVDe5Rwyw7YzX/s400/RobertJohnson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH3l3U9p_51fXKP97GV3aTaeY8ccIun5GUDrenEKVH6q0tVwcOuokPYBsroI3r33Io5kA2ynUrPlGHAWVe-U8xcLL-w0JHs-kzFyRnB9WLwKMwTu0wrTWqVT93BNPi7noVDe5Rwyw7YzX/s200/RobertJohnson.jpg" width="157" /></a></div><br />
Dear Mrs. Johnson,<br />
Your son is failing geography class. Please explain to Robert that Chicago is not in California, nor is it prefaced by the phrase "Sweet Home."<br />
Signed:<br />
The Geography Teacher<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carthagetexas.com/HallofFame/halloffamephotos/RayPrice%20(Small).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://www.carthagetexas.com/HallofFame/halloffamephotos/RayPrice%20(Small).jpg" width="162" /></a></div><br />
Dear Mrs. Price,<br />
Your son Ray is doing well in choir class. I urge you to let him take voice lessons. If he applied himself, he could be a successful opera singer.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images37.concordmusicgroup.com/artists/fullsize/149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://images37.concordmusicgroup.com/artists/fullsize/149.jpg" width="188" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Charles,<br />
I had to rebuke your son Ray at his piano recital. He moves back and forth too much, and insists on punctuating Beethoven's Piano Concerto in C minor with shouts of "what I'd say." Unless he changes his behavior, I will have to drop him as a student.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Piano Teacher<br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Penniman,<br />
Please tell little Richard that if he continues to scream often he will damage his vocal chords. Please also tell him that it is not appropriate for choirmembers to shout "Oooh, my soul!" at the beginning of each piece. If he continues to do so I will have to remove him from choir class.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Choir Director<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.morethings.com/music/little_richard_penniman/little_richard-beatles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" r6="true" src="http://www.morethings.com/music/little_richard_penniman/little_richard-beatles.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Berry,<br />
Your son shows no aptitude for the fine art of guitar playing. Despite all that I try to teach him, Charles continues to insist on playing the same three chords over and over again. I think he would be better suited to another hobby, such as origami or ultimate frisbee.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Guitar Teacher<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.rateyourmusic.com/lk/f/a/5b69e5ab6b1483608f52468ab8dd878d/907005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://static.rateyourmusic.com/lk/f/a/5b69e5ab6b1483608f52468ab8dd878d/907005.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Teacher to Principal<br />
Young master Hewson continues to insist on signing his papers as "Bono", so I have sent him over to you for discipline.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mydiffers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bono.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://mydiffers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/bono.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Dear Mrs. King,<br />
I am sending your son BB to the school psychologist. He appears to have a severe case of depression. He tells the teacher that "every day he gets the blues", and refuses to do his homework because "the thrill is gone." I suggest that we put him on some Ritalin to deal with his depression problems.<br />
Signed,<br />
The Principal<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/delta/blues/images/people/bb_king1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://www.nps.gov/history/delta/blues/images/people/bb_king1.jpg" width="152" /></a></div><br />
<br />
School Psychologist to Principal<br />
I believe that young BB's problems with depression are related to problems with his home life. He says that "nobody loves him but his mama, and she might be jivin' too." I suggest increasing the dosage of Ritalin.<br />
<br />
Dear Mrs. Burnett,<br />
Please inform Chester that his name is not "Howlin' Wolf."<br />
Signed,<br />
The Principal<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48wRoyuAAnh18Dn2DPSzg3G22iBxrddg8ROHsT4K8nhZH1ZLv4xQWRjbIkmL4jP17T0pmFpeJhltM2hfJtGIq-W0da38rsyS_XhMsrqhjx6rlVKmGEHjc4d2r6mtlMgLn9WYHAH4wiSw/s1600/2298543275_192c9e96d3_o-1024x1022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48wRoyuAAnh18Dn2DPSzg3G22iBxrddg8ROHsT4K8nhZH1ZLv4xQWRjbIkmL4jP17T0pmFpeJhltM2hfJtGIq-W0da38rsyS_XhMsrqhjx6rlVKmGEHjc4d2r6mtlMgLn9WYHAH4wiSw/s200/2298543275_192c9e96d3_o-1024x1022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-64458511669747417592011-04-04T13:52:00.000-07:002011-04-04T13:52:01.749-07:00The Ember Days-Your Eyes Light Up<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div>The Ember Days is a musician's band. From their songs it is evident that they give more attention to guitar tone and technical details than the average pop band. The Ember Days doesn't go for pop songs with catchy choruses (which in the Christian music world become pop songs with endless choruses). Instead, they prefer to stay in their own niche, alternating anthemic rock songs with more piano driven, ambient songs. The band is mainly the project of the husband-and-wife team of Jason and Janell Belcher (What an unfortunate last name.) Their first CD features three vocalists, the two mentioned above, and a third, the soft-voiced Eliot Norton, who is no longer a member of the band.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.yacblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/The-Ember-Days-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.yacblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/The-Ember-Days-300x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Album.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div>The songs on the record sound like the band took their time writing them, as opposed to just slapping together a song with a few chords and a riff stolen from U2. The guitar tone is almost perfect, the drumming is technically skilled, and put together, they sound excellent. The best songs on the album, though, are the slower, more ambient songs sung by Janell, such as "Cocoon", "Love Song", and "Dreaming." Unfortunately, these are the least overtly spiritual. Musically, though, they sound like nothing I've ever before, and it would be worth buying the album just to hear those few. <br />
<br />
Lyrically, there's no mistaking where The Ember Days are coming from. Unlike some Christian bands that try to be as vague as possible, (I'm looking at you, Switchfoot), The Ember Days are explicit about their faith. However, they have a propensity to devolve into evangelical mushiness and questionable lyrics. In "Chasing the Wind", a song from the viewpoint of Jesus, Eliot Norton sings "Please don't ever say you don't need me, 'cos I need you." This doesn't quite square up with Biblical theology. YHWH is a Trinity-the Father enjoys perfect fellowship with the Son and the Spirit and so on. God did not need to create man, or to send his Son to die for them, which makes God's love even more amazing. It's also a little disconcerting to hear, in "Love Song", lyrics like "Your beautiful eyes holding mine won't let go, for in them I've found a home", which are ostensibly about Jesus. It doesn't seem very reverent to talk about Jesus like he is your boyfriend. Sorry to be the cranky Presbyterian here.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://apenasmusica.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/The-Ember-Days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://apenasmusica.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/The-Ember-Days.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The band in its current lineup. The guy with the mustache is Jason Belcher, who bears a surprising resemblence to Mario.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
Even weirder is the screaming in "Selah." It's out of place, especially given the more upbeat nature of the song, and seems more like a bone thrown to the hardcore kid audience than anything else. It would probably fit more if the song was "The Wrath of God Descends Upon The Unrepentant Unbelievers", which sounds very Presbyterian, and will probably appear on some CREC-approved worship album. The rock songs are a little repetitive, and Jason's voice gets a little strained on the choruses, while Janell's is underused.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiUzvIw2ud-LuOV6RfAKD_SPH15dIIVjl0WhCsIPqOkbZms3asoiWuAd3tcV5E7fkGib-nymhRjwTbIBfgTEH7d3NFZZmbHEZJdXaQ2frnBlEDhw2hyKqo-YrSr2oTTSP-7f8cPnoFq1j/s1600/S6303348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiUzvIw2ud-LuOV6RfAKD_SPH15dIIVjl0WhCsIPqOkbZms3asoiWuAd3tcV5E7fkGib-nymhRjwTbIBfgTEH7d3NFZZmbHEZJdXaQ2frnBlEDhw2hyKqo-YrSr2oTTSP-7f8cPnoFq1j/s320/S6303348.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I criticize bands, and yet they still let me take my picture with them. :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
Now that I'm done attacking this musical bull elephant with a squirt gun, I will go on to say that The Ember Days are a great example of giving up your life for Christ. If they were a secular band, they would be a smash, at least in a sane world. If they did Christian pop anthems, they would be all over KLove. Instead, they take the path of most resistance, spiritually and musically, and crafted a musically worthy first album where their passion for the Lord is clearly evident in their songs. For that, I congratulate them, and recommend them to you.<br />
You can visit their website <a href="http://www.theemberdays.com/home/">here</a>. Not only are The Ember Days accomplished and talented musicians, they are also very generous and they give away all their music for <a href="http://www.theemberdays.com/music/">free download</a>. You should probably donate to them, because musicians are poor, and also because their van is legendary for breaking down.<br />
<div align="center"><img height="240" src="http://images.travelpod.com/tw_slides/ta00/9bf/75a/pushing-the-broken-down-van-mindo.jpg" width="320" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-28662629330633048562011-03-26T17:34:00.000-07:002011-03-26T17:34:49.931-07:00Moody Men's Collegiate Choir<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://music.qsbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Mens-Choir-2010-300x118.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Last Thursday night, Nick and I attended a concert of the Moody Men's Collegiate Choir at Fellowship Bible Church here in Texarkana. The choir sang a number of great hymns celebrating the power of God and the saving work of Christ. There is something quite amazing about the blending of strong male voices. Both the depths of the basses and the strength of the tenors give such choirs real punch. The song selections were outstanding. In a day when Psalms are all too often neglected (or tied to painful tunes) and traditional hymns are forgotten, hearing this choir sing Psalms and hymns was encouraging.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">They also had some popular music in their concert, and a couple of comedy skits. The choir director, Dr. H. E. Singley, said that many of the singers had never heard the song "When I Fall in Love" until they learned it in their choir. That song, made famous by the great Nat King Cole, is a good one for Christians to take and bring into our world, for it fits the Christian worldview quite well. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This choir will be going to Egypt and Jordan in the late spring and early summer. Our prayers go with them and our appreciation for their God-honoring music.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-4201127772591467582011-03-21T16:39:00.000-07:002011-03-21T16:39:03.268-07:00Christian Music and Worship at LRBCYesterday, the family and I had the great privilege of attending worship at Little Rock Bible Church. I would have loved to have heard a sermon from the senior pastor, Lance Quinn. I don't know him, except through his contribution to and expansion of the book <em>The Five Points of Calvinism: Defined, Documented, and Defended </em>by my former pastors David Steele and Curtis Thomas. (That book has convinced many a Bible student of Calvinistic soteriology.) But instead of Pastor Quinn preaching, the sermon was given by George Lawson, the student ministries pastor. Normally, I cring at hearing a "youth leader" preach. I felt encouragement and conviction, but no cringing. Pastor Lawrence's sermon was tremendous. It was on evangelism and was thoroughly Reformed and Biblical, and it included quotes by Martyn Lloyd-Jones and R.C. Sproul. <br />
<br />
For purposes of this blog, I want to celebrate the great music we heard and participated in. All too often, Reformed worship includes deep, but obscure hymns sung to tunes that are dirgelike and extremely hard to sing. (You would never find yourself whistling the tunes while working on your car or scanning a T.S. Eliot poem.) On the other hand, my wife and I attended a college chapel worship service recently that had music that was most unappealing. I think it is called "Praise and Worship" music, although it leads me to neither response. It was repetitive, shallow, tuneless, and pounded out with loud drums.<br />
<br />
Claude Goudimel was a great Dutch Christian and leader in the Dutch Reformation of the long-time agos. When Abraham Kuyper was showing that Calvinists and the Dutch also produced artists in his classic <em>Lectures on Calvinism</em>, he cited Goudimel as an example. I am sure that Brother Goudimel produced some lively, singable tunes. They just got lost. The ones that I usually experience are hard to sing, obscure, and often leave me dragging. I call them the "Tunes of the Unknown Singer: Known But to God."<br />
<br />
Back to yesterday's worship: I was thankful to enjoy a mix of more recent Christian music, along with older, but familiar hymns. Yes, there was contemporary Christian music in the service, including one song by that Christian hipster, James Montgomery Boice, Presbyterian theologian and pastor, who died a decade ago. His hymn was built upon a paraphrasing of Romans 8. And the Little Rock Bible Church had an orchestra, but instead of the musicians putting on a performance fit for either the "Screaming and Hollering" youth music crowd or the "Round Mouth" grey-haired concert goers, the music was fitting for a worshipful environment and fitted for enhancing the songs. Trumpets, after all, ought to be used in every "Regulative Principle" group.<br />
<br />
All in all, I was thankful to find that what I kept thinking must exist, does exist.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-46956415286837119172011-03-21T16:17:00.000-07:002011-03-21T16:17:53.016-07:00Nick's European Tour and My Music Listenings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photos:athens-greece-264647" class="photo" height="400" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/everlater_production/photos:athens-greece-264647.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicholas, on the left, with classmates and friends touring the Parthenon<br />
<br />
<div align="left">The music scene around the House-household has been all-together too quiet this past week. Nick left last week to go with some of his fellow students and others on a tour of Greece and Italy. With his MP3 player full of the eclectic range of his musical interests, I am sure he has been listening to lots of music. Hopefully, he has been able to experience some of the music of the Mediterranean world.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Meanwhile, back home, I have been listening closely to the 1980s song hit "Some Old Side Road" by the late Keith Whitley. It is hard to believe that he and I would be the same age, if he were living. His talent was incredible and potential unfulfilled. Ralph Stanley discovered Whitley and another boy by the name of Ricky Skaggs. These two kids were performing old Stanley Brothers songs so well that Dr. Ralph thought the music was coming from old recordings. Stanley hired the two boys who had to balance their playing with Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys along with high school. (If I had the talent, I would trade all my high school for a year of perforning alongside of Ralph Stanley.) Just as Skaggs went on from the bluegrass beginnings to play traditional country music for a good many years, so did Whitley. Even in the days when he performed with Stanley, alcohol was a demon for him. Keith was incredibly talented, married to the lovely and talented Lori Morgan, and successful. Alcohol sent him to an early grave. My consolation for him is the great gospel song he wrote titled "Great High Mountain."</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">You don't have to move that mountain</div><br />
<div align="left">Just help me Lord to climb it<br />
You don't have to move that stumblin' block</div><div align="left">Just show me the way around it</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">We must climb a great high mountain</div><div align="left">To reach God's gracious kingdom</div><div align="left">In His words you'll find the strength</div><div align="left">If you will just believe them</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Well, the way is filled with pitfalls</div><div align="left">And sometimes we may falter</div><div align="left">You can have His grace, my friend</div><div align="left">On your knees down at the altar</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">You don't have to move that mountain</div><div align="left">Just help me Lord to climb it</div><div align="left">You don't have to move that stumblin' block</div><div align="left">Just show me the way around it</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-16013477289530717272011-03-13T16:35:00.000-07:002011-03-13T16:35:23.848-07:00Letters from the Music Teachers and Others<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="133" src="http://www.tmonews.com/wp-content/gallery/test/elvispresley.jpg" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
Dear Mrs. Presley,<br />
I had to discipline young Elvis in class today. He wiggles and squirms too much during the singing; he is overly concerned about fixing his hair; and he distracts the other students, particularly the girls.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM6UJ6o9fFZ2Sn_XgbCjvH1p3-xEA3zV-wUuiQBqK6wL9vMCn8ijoo5AB9wFxfvHc3T9iWim3tEQqITTspOaF4e3qxZI78_dxn6FYlE6TPcSlXe5IJlO7TAMHHubeqHy7XL-vXz6EB1-I/s1600/Jerry+Lee+Lewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM6UJ6o9fFZ2Sn_XgbCjvH1p3-xEA3zV-wUuiQBqK6wL9vMCn8ijoo5AB9wFxfvHc3T9iWim3tEQqITTspOaF4e3qxZI78_dxn6FYlE6TPcSlXe5IJlO7TAMHHubeqHy7XL-vXz6EB1-I/s200/Jerry+Lee+Lewis.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
Dear Mrs. Lewis,<br />
I regret to inform you that your son, Jerry Lee, has been removed from the piano class. After repeated warnings, he continued to play in ways that are inappropriate for a piano and he continually puts his feet on the keys.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Principal<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://www.morethings.com/music/june_carter_johnny_cash/youthful_johnny_cash.jpg" width="146" /></div>Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cash,<br />
The principal and I have decided to move John R. from music class into shop. He does have some potential in the baritone section, but he tends to sing in a monotone style and sings out of the side of his mouth. We think he might be much better off working with his hands.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher and the Principal<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Webb,<br />
After having taught your daughter Loretta (Lynn) in music class, I have come to the conclusion that she cannot be a part of our choir. She seems unable to enunciate her words properly. Usually, this comes out in her inability to pronounce the "g" sound in words ending in "ing," such as loving, living, working, drinking, etc. She simply must have some speech therapy before she can return to music class.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Monroe,<br />
Bill's vision problems are hindering his ability to read music, but the more serious concern is his voice. We have no soprano slots open in the choir for young men. After his voice changes, we can reconsider<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img _prototypeuid="5" alt="stanley1" class="media" galleryimg="no" height="169" id="fullSizedImage" src="http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g221/alex899_/img101.jpg" style="height: 444px; width: 525px;" width="200" /></div>Dear Mrs. Stanley,<br />
I am sorry to inform you that Ralph is failing music. His voice does not exactly...blend well with the choir. I think you should encourage his interest in agriculture, especially in raising pigs. I have also notified the counselor of some of his particular comments.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
Counselor to Music Teacher:<br />
You are exactly right. Young Mr. R. Stanley has an unhealthy and morbid view about death and graveyards. His brother, Carter, shows the same tendencies, but with an emphasis on the death of his mother. I am concerned about where these two boys are headed.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><img height="200" src="http://www.wrensworld.com/dollycoatdolly.jpg" width="85" /></div><br />
Dear Mrs. Parton,<br />
The multi-colored coat you made for Dolly does not fit in with our choir outfits. Therefore, she will not be able to participate in our upcoming concert.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Music Teacher<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://musicbuzzer.s3.amazonaws.com/artists/w/waylon-jennings-willie-nelson-1.jpg" width="147" /></div>Principal to Music Teacher:<br />
Please drop Jennings and Nelson from your fifth period music class. They have both been expelled from school.<br />
Signed:<br />
The Principal<br />
<br />
Note to Principal:<br />
If Ronnie Van Zant<span style="color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;">Allen Collins</span><span style="color: black;">, and </span><span style="color: black;">Gary Rossington</span><span style="color: black;">, dont get that hair cut off, they cant come back to my gym class. I done told them twice.</span><br />
Coach Skinner<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img height="191" src="http://freeringtonesnokia.com/lynyrd-skynyrd.jpg" width="200" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-9435136009779095182011-03-03T16:28:00.000-08:002011-03-03T16:28:14.721-08:00A Country Legend: Stonewall Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338367580443546114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfutPJGSEpLiJN4q9vatT81Aax2QxS_K5QD_oiKa8ozlFsy_Bpt6dvXMgOuxA-E553L2-snlQ7U6NM9l73SH3V5P60eg5zYPa9TCO_SDs-ykLyI3azdBND7SZxQ43pmEpOxJw1WcKE-hG-/s1600/Stonewall+Jackson.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonewall Jackson's Greatest Hits sung alongside a host of Country Legends</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
In the late 1980s, people began discovering, or actually rediscovering, traditional country music. Singers like George Strait, Randy Travis, and Alan Jackson awakened large numbers of people to country music and drew huge crowds who fell in love with their traditional country sounds and styles of singing. <br />
<br />
With the popularity of the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” in 2001, once again people rediscovered traditional music. Periodically, when these rediscoveries take place, the music listening public seems astounded by the new music, featuring acoustic guitars, fiddles, and steel guitars. The songs, emphasizing loves lost and loves found, heartbreak and happiness, and cheating and fidelity capture the range of human emotions and experiences. The emotions of the songs resonate with the souls of people. Even people who have never lived in the country or in the south and who do not have ties to a little country church, music on the front porch, or falling in love with the girl next door find themselves attracted to the music.<br />
<br />
So, no matter what trends come and go, no matter what extravagances occur in the music industry, and no matter whatever harmful actions are taken by music producers, traditional music will survive. It will periodically re-emerge and appeal to whole new crowds of people.<br />
<br />
There are, however, some singers who have always sung traditional country music. Before Elvis and after Elvis, before the Beatles and after the Beatles, and before the advent of the orchestrated, violin dominated Nashville sound and after that, some folks stuck to singing traditional country music. In fact, it is something of an oxymoron to call it “traditional country music.” If it is, in fact, country music, it is traditional.<br />
<br />
Saying this is not to criticize other music genres, artists, and tastes. Beethoven was great, but he wasn’t country. And it is true country music that we speak of here.<br />
<br />
Stonewall Jackson is a true country singer. Of course, with a name like Stonewall Jackson, a man would have to be tied to the deepest rooted parts of southern life. Jackson began singing in the 1950s. He was quite a popular country star during much of the time from the 1960s to 1980s. <br />
<br />
The whole period from the 1950s through the 1980s was a golden age for country music. That time period encompasses the careers of the greatest of country singers. The art of the music was defined by the combination of technology—records and radio—and ideology, by which we mean defining beliefs about the music. The temptation to change the style of the music was always there, and the pressure of trying to appeal to newer, younger audiences was always present. But the heart of country music was middle class, hardworking folks who had grown up in a time when entertainment largely consisted in picking up WSM’s Grand Ole Opry on a Saturday night.<br />
<br />
Country fans were loyal and solid. When they heard an artist sing, they politely applauded the new songs, but they expected to hear the old songs. If a number one hit from 1963, sung a thousand times by a singer was not sung, the country loyalist felt cheated.<br />
<br />
These were people who listened to country music on the radio, who watched the Saturday afternoon country music shows, and who made a pilgrimage or two to the Opry at the old Ryman auditorium in Nashville. Because these kind of people were the bedrock country fans, they never grew tied of the traditional country sounds.<br />
<br />
The vast majority of those country artists are now gone. I can remember hearing Tex Ritter sing “I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven” on the Opry. All of that generation that included Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, and Ernest Tubb are now dead. In the past several several years, we have lost Porter Waggoner, Billy Walker, Charlie Walker, Hank Snow, and (quite recently) Hank Locklin.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, we still have some legends around, like Ray Price (who in his eighties is still performing), George Jones, and Stonewall Jackson.<br />
<br />
This CD collection of Stonewall Jackson’s hits sung by him with is friends is a gem. Over a dozen of the artists who appear on these songs have died since these songs were recorded. This collection is a virtual “who’s who” of real, roots country music.<br />
<br />
Great Jackson hits like “Don’t Be Angry” (which every husband needs to sing to his wife every day), “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water,” and “That’s Why I’m Walkin’” are all here. And yes, of course, his great hit “Waterloo” is the concluding work where he is accompanied by a vast throng of singers.<br />
<br />
These selections may not often be heard on the radio and this CD may not be found in your local stores, but it is worth getting hold of. If you never have heard of Stonewall Jackson the singer, or if you, like me, have been a fan for many decades, you will enjoy this collection of music. <br />
<br />
<br />
"Stonewall Jackson and Super Friends" can be ordered from <br />
The <a href="http://www.etrecordshop.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ETRS&Product_Code=11JAST2&Category_Code=">Ernest Tubb Record Shop</a> .Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-87450051625505703412011-02-09T19:16:00.000-08:002011-02-09T19:16:24.957-08:00Fleet Foxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jameskurtz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/06fleetfoxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://www.jameskurtz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/06fleetfoxes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My Sony mp3 player happily informs me that “every moment has its music” whenever I turn it on. This is partly true. Due to the advent of mp3 players, people can now take their music everywhere. This can make life exponentially better. Instead of taking a walk in the park, you can take a walk in the park with The Beatles or The Shins. Or, to put it in a more negative way, trips to Wal-Mart can become made worse by having Nickelback blasted into your eardrums.<br />
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However, some of us dislike the claustrophobic closeness of the earbud. Listening to music with earbuds is like having a conversation with a close talker-no matter how interesting it is, you feel like your personal space is being violated. Around-the-ear headphones are better, but the pair I have are emblazoned with huge skulls, thus making me look like I should be pierced, tattooed, and listening to The Misfits. <br />
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CD players, computers, and those nifty chords that let you hook up your mp3 player to the stereo system if you press the “Aux” button, are all good, but when it comes to listening to music somewhere other than the comfort of home or the car, I am at a loss. A boom-box would be pretty retro, but I would feel wrong playing anything on it that wasn’t old-school hip-hop. Carrying my own instrument would be a good idea, but I don’t own a strap for my acoustic guitar. Personal minstrels are out of the question. I would simply have to do without, and hope I that the stores I want to go to play Jefferson Airplane and not Miley Cyrus.<br />
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What if, to solve this problem, music was supernaturally played at appropriate times and places? For example, say you’re walking along and you see someone and know that she’s your soul mate. (Assuming you’re a guy.) Suddenly, music from Air Supply magically begins to play. Or every time you were coming back from some event where you had to wear a suit and had to run into Wal-Mart to get some eggs, “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Topp was heard in the immediate radius. It seems like some music is tied to specific sorts of places or situations. Just try to work out and listen to Jack Johnson. <br />
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If walking out in the woods just before dawn had a soundtrack, it would be Fleet Foxes self-titled debut album. The album brings up images of early morning sunlight coming through the trees. The four-piece band from Seattle plays a spectral brand of folk-rock, with a bit of a retro pseudo-60s sound. Don’t expect any blues jams or screaming guitar solos.<br />
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Fleet Foxes mixes different folk styles, blending American folk with British, Celtic, and Renaissance music. “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” actually sounds like a real folk song. The music on this record sounds like it was coming from a cave, or maybe a room in a castle. The reverb-heavy approach is a recipe for boredom in less talented bands, but fits perfectly with Fleet Foxes’ minimalist style. Lead singer Robin Pecknold’s voice is a bit odd, (He pronounces “staggering as “stagger-eein’”) but is not in the least annoying, and has a strange beauty. He’s backed up by a shimmering electric guitar, and some subdued drums. The drums and guitar on this record are probably the least obtrusive I’ve ever heard. They don’t try to upstage the vocals; instead, they support them. The songs aren’t highly technical, but they’re very tight. There is not a wasted note on the record. Fleet Foxes manages to have a lot of diversity on their record, from the rousing “Ragged Wood”, to the calming “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song.” The record is full of good melodies and even better harmonies. The harmonies are so tight, it seems like one person is singing, and the reverb-laden backing chorus is the high point of this album. The album is essentially flawless.<br />
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This record is great for listening to early in the morning while drinking coffee, at night when the moon is full, or any other time that is full of atmosphere. It is haunting without being depressing If you like 60s folk rock like Simon and Garfunkel or Steeleye Span (Great Celtic rock band), or if you’re looking for something new and different, check out Fleet Foxes and their self-titled CD. Words cannot accurately describe it. It must be heard to be believed.<br />
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You can check out Fleet Foxes' <a href="http://www.fleetfoxes.com/">Website</a> and by some of there music <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fleet-Foxes/dp/B0017R5UAA">here</a>. <br />
Currently Listening: <em>Stockholm Syndrome</em>, Derek Webb.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-81398260849728928572011-02-04T18:09:00.000-08:002011-02-04T18:14:01.950-08:00Recent Concerts, Part One.Bradley Hathaway, Us and the Ship<br />
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Location: The old I Love Evelyn building<br />
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Friday, January 28<br />
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Due to a prior commitment, I arrived at the Bradley Hathaway concert about thirty minutes after the door opened. When I walked in I found that the show had already started, but was surprised to see that Bradley Hathaway was already playing. It turned out that, in order to make sure everyone stayed at the show, the out-of-town headliner was playing first, and the local band (Us and the Ships), was playing last. Not exactly how it is supposed to be, but this is Texarkana. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3419123458_43c192f614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3419123458_43c192f614.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't actually take this picture, but I didn't have my camera at the concert.</td></tr>
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Bradley Hathaway, sporting long hair and a mustache, sat alone onstage accompanied by his acoustic guitar. I did not get there early enough to hear very many of his songs, but his style consists of his playing a simple, repetitive line on the guitar and talking over it. The only artist I can think to compare him with would be mewithoutYou if Aaron Weiss got into Americana and mellowed out considerably. His style was challenging, and it will probably take repeated listening to him to fully appreciate him. There was a lot of giggling in the audience when he got to the lines in one of his songs, “Adam and Eve were naked in the garden, and I want to get naked too. Let’s all get naked. But no, I can‘t do that.” etc. Although it makes sense in the context of the song, it seems as if the song lyrics are directed more toward shocking or amusing the audience as opposed to making a genuine artistic statement. Perhaps I’m wrong.<br />
After he finished playing his songs, he recited a couple of his poems. Bradley Hathaway is no Wordsworth. He falls prey to most of the pitfalls of modern poetry, its egotism, its morbid introspection, and its total ignorance of any poetic devices such as similes.. And his poem about wanting Jesus to give him a hug seemed to skirt the edges of irreverence. However, his poem “Manly Man” was a humorous take on the difference between true Christian manliness and the world’s definition of manliness.<br />
Once Bradley Hathaway finished his poetry recitation, he went to the tedious business of selling T-shirts and Us and the Ship took the stage. I found that this band was fronted by lonely poet Keith Tubbs and one of the members was Skyler House, who had played rhythm guitar for Israel and Fordreamsalike when I saw them open for Abel. The band’s style was described to me as hardcore-influenced indie, sort of in the vein of Edison Glass.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZRfJ14g4_c3cVcs6ZPcDFiAcUtsbRluvCvl833eWZwUbP6glLYi7FshhNGs98r78XtsBJfndq-MndY7QUyNbDRsRWCE1r47awwBCxeDTkkYZpuIOwTTG6MCCIuW9ZjJotlRpSNkdSBPu/s1600/167957_190242114339104_184356561594326_590338_5751513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZRfJ14g4_c3cVcs6ZPcDFiAcUtsbRluvCvl833eWZwUbP6glLYi7FshhNGs98r78XtsBJfndq-MndY7QUyNbDRsRWCE1r47awwBCxeDTkkYZpuIOwTTG6MCCIuW9ZjJotlRpSNkdSBPu/s200/167957_190242114339104_184356561594326_590338_5751513_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess which one can change a tire.</td></tr>
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Us and the Ship’s was a band that tried too hard. Keith Tubbs, who is already unable to sing without sounding like he has a stomach virus, gave us a new feature to his onstage persona-dancing. Flailing would probably be a better word-the poor guy looked like he either had some sort of nerve disorder, or that he was being attacked by a swarm of angry wasps. The rest of the band did synchronized head banging, which looked very amateurish. The drummer‘s idea of being good was playing as loud as possible. The songs felt like they lasted forever. A good band can take a twenty-minute long-song and make it go by in a heartbeat. Us and the Ship dragged out five-minute long songs into eternity. I’m not in any way against experimental song structure, but if you are a beginning band, it is a good idea to keep to the tradition verse-chorus-verse structure. It’s pleasing to the ear and makes it easier to write good songs. Amateur songwriters may claim that it makes their music “too pop”, but anything that is not classical or traditional folk music is pop. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8TxwM1bHHKw3vmfxV25oHoXMEcpHrxdKfCanrKSs74TircMYI-EZGR6ajlTFF0PhOyDccnRGGcxqtbpVByTHXS8d5Hd9f4_i2Jbgge0YrmV08lwaIsEe_LdSFYWFIBxW8OTFd3QT9U6K/s1600/Us+and+the+Ship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8TxwM1bHHKw3vmfxV25oHoXMEcpHrxdKfCanrKSs74TircMYI-EZGR6ajlTFF0PhOyDccnRGGcxqtbpVByTHXS8d5Hd9f4_i2Jbgge0YrmV08lwaIsEe_LdSFYWFIBxW8OTFd3QT9U6K/s320/Us+and+the+Ship.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't take this picture either. This is why you should always remember your camera.</td></tr>
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Us and the Ship’s songs had the typical features of indie bands that try too hard. There were repetitive sections of the music that lasted too long, tempo changes, a pseudo breakdown. Keith even pulled out a harmonica, to do his Dylan-wannabe bit. The final song was the best, one of those indie songs that tries to swing with a bluesy rhythm, but the lyrics were complete gibberish.<br />
My biggest complaint was not with the band, but with the audience. Despite the loud rock music being played onstage, and the energy of the band, they stood stock-still during the entire performance. This is completely unacceptable. It is just as rude and disrespectful to stand still at the front row of a rock concert as it would be to jump and scream at a symphony performance. Standing still during the band’s set says to the band “I don’t care.” I was informed that this was a Texarkana thing, and I can see why. Since Texarkana has almost no music scene to speak of, most people have never been to a concert before, and have no idea what to do once they’re there. If you go to see some sort of rock band, don’t stand still. Jump up and down, clap your hands, bang your head, do the Charleston, do something. But don’t stand still. <br />
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You can visit Bradley Hathaway's Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/bradleyhathaway">here</a> and Us and the Ship's Facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Us-and-the-Ship/184356561594326">here</a>.<br />
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While you're here, read and comment on the other posts. There's some good stuff waiting to be read.<br />
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Currently listening: <em>Fleet Foxes, </em>Fleet Foxes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-659076118843370961.post-13502647782766005172011-02-02T16:06:00.000-08:002011-02-02T16:16:56.978-08:00Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoJECRsLuordxZX-8BgE0lOFvQ3pjmTKAMkUkjRgZecSadYWCKmJaUWeot3YBeO1WJp9SLkc9IKWnOAyqSrSnWjnowBJ6BRindkd_qC2kSD7eBKUwZOAZ7ZenkrTxhW1c7Exd0IXfo1uc/s1600/wilmalee_stoney.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoJECRsLuordxZX-8BgE0lOFvQ3pjmTKAMkUkjRgZecSadYWCKmJaUWeot3YBeO1WJp9SLkc9IKWnOAyqSrSnWjnowBJ6BRindkd_qC2kSD7eBKUwZOAZ7ZenkrTxhW1c7Exd0IXfo1uc/s320/wilmalee_stoney.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was perhaps 1970 when my parents carried me to Nashville and to the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. Actually, we went to the Friday Night Opry. We lived with a Scottish parsimony, so we were staying in a camping trailer at a time before camp grounds could be readily found in the area. That same frugality explains why we attended the cheaper Friday night show. But it didn't matter. My folks did wonderful things for me, and since I was the youngest by six years, they were able to do wonderfully kind things for their weird son. Why weird? Because I was growing up in the late 60s and early 70s and my musical tastes were all in the direction of country music. And that did not mean just the popular country singers of that time, like George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, and Johnny Cash. I liked the old country stars, meaning, those whose heyday was back in the 40s, 50s, and early 60s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The trip to the Ryman on that Friday night was euphoric. I was there seeing and hearing Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, the Willis Brothers, and other favorite singers. Early in the show, one of my favorite acts came out. Jim Ed Brown, who still performs at the Opry, said something like, "Let's give a big hand to my next guests, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper and the Clinch Mountain Clan."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't remember what they sang. I know it was powerful. Wilma Lee was belting out on of the old mountain or gospel songs that they had made famous and all the while she was playing a guitar with zeal. Stoney would play some fiddle in the background and join in on singing the chorus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They were great, but there was a sense even in 1970 that this couple were walking on stage from out of the past. Their looks, their outfits, and their songs seemed more like something from the old barn dances and radio hillbilly music shows of yesteryear than the product of the late 1960s Nashville sound. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their tradition was the old pure country and mountain folk music. It is what is now considered bluegrass music. It was music learn't at the barn dance, the church singin', or the front porch on an evening after working on the farm. They were singing in the way and with the vigor of those early country artists who thought music was hard work and performing meant giving the crowd a good time. And while many of those singers nearly starved on the road, they reckoned that the singing lifestyle beat living at the end of the dirt road and struggling to grow corn on a mountain slope. (The other alternative usually involved moving to the city for a factory job. Those who did that provided the audiences for those who sang.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was thrilled a few days ago when Nicholas told me about seeing a Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper Greatest Hits music CD at a local convenience store. Nope, you don't find them at our rather weak Walmart and Target music centers, and there is not music store in Texarkana. I know I could have gotten the music from an on-line source, but I never did. So, I went into the convenience store, bought the CD and some peanut butter crackers. I am looking forward to listening to it in a few days. I hope it transports me back to that wonderful evening in Nashville many years ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More background on the Coopers:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wilma Lee was born in 1921 in Valley Head, West Virginia, and she grew up singing with her family's gospel music group. In 1939, Wilma Lee married Dale T. "Stoney" Cooper, who was a fiddler and vocalist for with her family's band. They formed their own group known as Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper and the Clinch Mountain Clan. For years they performed on the Wheeling, West Virginia's WWVA-AM radio program and then joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957.</div>During their successful years in the late 1950s and early 1960s, they had several hits including "Big Midnight Special" and "There's a Big Wheel." They also continued performing gospel songs like "The Tramp on the Street" and "Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill." Hank Williams once said that Wilma Lee was the best female country vocalist around.<br />
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Stoney Cooper died in 1977 from heart trouble, but Wilma Lee stayed on the Opry as a solo star and did occasional bluegrass recordings. Her performing career ended in 2001 when she suffered a stroke while performing on the Opry, but she was able some time later to return to the Opry to greet the fans.<br />
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Although largely forgotten today, they were a musical treasure from the Golden Age of Country Music.<br />
For more on Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, click <a href="http://maxboehner.webs.com/">here</a> and visit the Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper Fan Page.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01151496978820396884noreply@blogger.com0