Music Review: Sara Groves, Fireflies and Songs

This album is a couple of years old (2009), but new to me! I just picked it up for 6 bucks at Lifeway Christian bookstore.  I bought this CD without even sampling the tracks on iTunes first. A risk, yes, but a calculated one, being well-acquainted with Sara Groves’ music.  In fact, her Past the Wishing album was the first Christian CD I bought.  It was a life-changing CD, and I wrote her a letter of gratitude. She sent me back a personal, hand-written note that is very special to me.

Now, sentimentalities aside, let’s talk about this album…

Fireflies and Songs is, in many ways, reminiscent of her earlier work. Her voice and the piano are prominent on the songs, with occasional strings, etc. accompanying.  It has a stripped-down feel that I really appreciate. Her lyricism is impeccable!  She is one of the most poetic songwriters I can think of in Christian music. Her lyrics are vulnerable, beautiful, punchy, and delicate. The whole album inhabits this space between piercing melancholy and quiet joyfulness. And it resonates.  It will take a few more listens to really digest the stories that each song tells, but the album is a very pleasant listen. It’s earthy and honest…like you’re sitting on the back porch with Ms. Groves herself, listening to her heart come out in song.

Below is one of my favorite tunes from the album:

Music Review: theBREAX

FINALLY!  Some seriously hot hip-hop!
When it comes to hip-hop music, I have narrow taste. I like intelligent, underground, artistic, classic hip-hop. And frankly, that’s hard to find in Christian music. But I’ve found it!  This album weighs in at a hefty 21 tracks. So here’s the breakdown:
Beats: The beats are…good. Solid and groovy. Very few of the tracks have the kind of beats that will make you get up and dance. But it’s not that kind of album. It has more a of a bob-your-head, basement, mixtape kind of feel. And if you like old-school soul music, you’ll hear some tasty sampling as well. Each track sounds refreshing and different from the one before it. And that’s no small feat on an album of this length.
Lyrical Content: These rappers are forthright with their faith without sounding too preachy or hung up on their own theological prowess. And they are disarmingly clever with their rebukes. Content-wise, you’ll hear a mix of funny punchlines and  heart-penetrating spiritual insight.
Lyricism/Flow: There are three emcees, each with their own style. I think they are some of the most talented rappers I’ve heard in Christian hip-hop. They rap like poets not like guys rearranging the words of Bible verses to make them rhyme over background music.

Overall, I think it’s a stellar album, very reminiscent of classic hip-hop but contemporary enough to resonate right now.  I don’t love all 21 tracks, but I can listen to the album all the way through. It’s entertaining, thought-provoking, and just downright fresh!  Get it!

 

Music Review: John DeGrazio

Another interesting Christian album. DeGrazio is not a newcomer by any means! He has a hefty resumé in the music industry, including playing with the group Burlap to Cashmere. But this album, DeGrazio’s third full-length album, is very different from Burlap’s Greek-influenced music….and different from much of the current music, really.  DeGrazio’s voice is clear, controlled, and full-bodied. He sounds like he could have come from the musical theater stage straight to the studio. Lyrically, the songs are neither groundbreaking nor poetic. But they ARE honest. The lyrics read like pages from DeGrazio’s diary, and it’s evident that he has put his soul into this work. I think the most notable thing about the album is the musical arrangements. Some of the tracks are downright stunning!  He is a classically trained musician, and it shows. Operatic melodies and robust string arrangements make for a collection of complex and distinguished songs. Overall, I would liken this album to a glass of fine wine; not everyone is going to ‘get it’, but those who do will patiently savor this sophisticated flavor.

Music Review: Trent Cory

 

This album has been out for a while. I’m a little late on the scene!  But I thought it was still worth reviewing .  So here’s the deal with this fellow. He has an extraordinary voice. A strong, masculine, and controlled voice. Definitely a powerhouse, but never overpowering. This a live worship album, kind of in the same vein as Israel Houghton’s work. A lively and palatable blend of gospel and pop. Many of the tunes will have you doing your “church jump”. You know that little Holy Spirit hop Pentecostals do when they get excited!  There is nothing incredibly unique or groundbreaking about this album. It’s just good, solid, sing-your-guts-out, worship music. It’s an album you can listen to straight through, and those are rare these days.

Music Review: Tal & Acacia

Lots of random clicking in the iTunes store somehow led me to Tal & Acacia’s album ‘Wake Me’.  And I’m so glad I stumbled upon them!  I am always on the lookout for something fresh in Christian music.  This duo so beautifully smashes the Christian female vocalist mold.  Vocally, they sound like a blend of Norah Jones and Regina Spektor. Musically, they are somewhere between Imogen Heap and Ingrid Michaelson with a sprinkle of MIKA. The strength of this album lies in its courageous melodies and timbres. The chief weakness is the lyrics. Lyrically, the songs are catchy, but nothing complex or penetrating that will provoke deep thought. In all fairness, I think the simplicity is intentional. Overall, a balanced and delightful album. A refreshing, off-center addition to your Christian music collection and a good soundtrack for talking a walk on a sunny day.

Good Tunes

Not sure how long this guy has been around.  I don’t think he’s new…but he’s new to me!  And this is a solid album!

These days I have a hard time finding Christian music I like.  The mainstream CCM kind of stuff sounds so bland and generic that it could effectively function as white noise for me.  And much of the modern rock worship is following the same trajectory.

And then there’s THIS guy!  He has a versatile voice, capable of soft, breathy utterances as well as gritty, bluesy edge.  At times, he reminds me of Adam Levine of Maroon5.  Also reminds of Warren Barfield.  The songs are well-crafted and totally worshipful. It’s truly a solid album–mainstream enough to go down smoothly but unique enough to keep your attention.

Coming Back/Out

Sooooo…Jennifer Knapp is back on the music scene.  And she’s a lesbian.

I can’t figure out if I’m surprised or not. Yes, I’m surprised.  She was a major Christian recording artist with the kind of fan base that generally disapproves of non-heterosexuality.  No, I’m not surprised. There are so many people of all sorts living in silence about their sexuality.

It has been interesting to read news articles and blog posts about Knapp’s comeback/out.  It has been equally interesting to read the slew of comments readers post in response to these articles.  And all of it has left me pondering how I feel about this (as if my thoughts or feelings matter one iota in the cosmos!).

I guess at the end of the day, my question is: What does it matter?  Does the fact that she’s a lesbian invalidate her talent?  She has put out some lyrically excellent albums with piercing spiritual insight and great musicianship.  Does her being a lesbian nullify that contribution?  Does her being a lesbian invalidate her faith?  This, for many, is the bigger question.  I think few would doubt that she was and still is a talented artist.  Many will now doubt if she was or is a true Christian.  But why?  I’m not even all that interested in the question of whether or not homosexuality is sinful (usually a completely fruitless debate).  Let’s assume that it is a sin.  Then my question is: Can a sinful person love Jesus?  Oh! We’ve got to be so careful how we answer that question.  To me, the answer is an obvious “yes”.  It is obvious to me because my own life testifies to it.  In every season of my life, I have struggled with different sins. But in all of those seasons I have still loved Jesus.  So for me, the presence of sin does not discount someone’s faith. Many feel like she is giving up the good fight and giving into sin.  Perhaps we ought to let that be between her and her Creator.

I hope this situation inspires authentic conversations about the intersection of spirituality and sexuality.  Wherever people land on the morality of the issue…I hope we all are compelled to love each other well and to become diligent students of the complexity of identity.

And I hope Jennifer Knapp continues to make great music that moves people the way her earlier work has moved me.

Are You Bored With Christian Music?

I can only handle so much of that music…you know, the hip guy with the acoustic guitar and the “worshipy” voice singing over sound-alike pop tracks  with lyrics as artistically sophisticated as first grade refrigerator art  OR the rock n’ roll Jesus, electric guitar riffing, belt your lungs out stuff…

Well, I happened upon this album on iTunes a little while ago:

This is a GREAT album!  The vocalist has a nice husky, raspy, and controlled voice. The music is a mix of folk and blues, with some really good blues licks, a little bit of twang, and some solid backup vocals.  I think it’s a multipurpose album. It’s good for intimate worship, background/chillin music, or singing your heart out in the shower or car.  This is a musically interesting and lyrically excellent album. For its freshness alone, I’d say it’s one of the best Christian albums out right now.