I know I know. I should change the title of this to “What’s on the Playlist”. I know few people use multi-CD changers in their everyday lives. All of us build our quick greatest hits playlists. But that often means that we only have one song from each artist. And as for now, we’re all still making whole records whether or not anyone listens to them that way. So I’ll keep doing the Changer and listening to the records as a whole. So here are the records I’m listening to right now.
The Medicine – John Mark McMillan
John Mark McMillan wrote How He Loves, made accessible to the general CCM listener by the David Crowder Band. As that song reveals, here lies a beautiful poetic soul in love with Christ with a great talent for lyrics and music. And he doesn’t really sound like anything else. And he sings in my keys. I love all of that. His new record is tops on my listening list right now along with the next one. I can’t wait for the next time I get to lead worship because I’m going to pull out “Death In His Grave”. Incredible song. But so are many of these tunes. I love the creativity both lyrically, musically, and production wise. Take a listen.
The House You’re Building – Audrey Assad
I’ve been wondering when someone was going to pull this girl into the limelight. I’ve been listening to her for a couple of years now. She’s a great singer and a great songwriter. I don’t say she’s a singer/songwriter because that often conveys that the person is mainly a songwriter who can sing. She really does all well. It’s dangerous to compare people. And it’s hard. Maybe she’s a combination of Sarah Mclachlan and Karen Carpenter. What? Does that even make sense? It took me a while to find the comparison for the single “For Love of You” but that’s because it was too recent. It reminded me of our dear friend Meredith Andrews. Meredith leans toward worship, while Audrey leans toward writing. I love how she stretches her words, pulling melodies you wouldn’t expect out of a single word or phrase. Great record. Check it out.
Hello Hurricane – Switchfoot
Have I talked about this record yet? Probably. But I’ve been listening to it a lot lately. Incredible. Plus I’ve been using it as an educational piece for my kids. Kids, this is how you make a rock record. And I’ve been learning from it myself. Awesome.
Nightlights – Jimmy Needham
I’m always excited about a new project from my friend Jimmy Needham. I love him as a person and as a musician. He’s a wonderful funny talented guy. If you haven’t seen him live, you should. Again, Jimmy digs into some funky rhythmic music in a way nobody else in CCM does. Maybe like Stevie Wonder with an acoustic guitar. And all completely in love with Jesus. It’s kind of hard to explain. Just listen.
Sea of Cowards – Dead Weather
I usually include mainstream music in here too. But recently there has been great Christian stuff coming out. This record did crack the list though. I love Jack White. I love how he approaches the guitar and the crazy sounds he gets out of it. Pairing with a female lead singer put a really different spin on his music. I love “No Horse”. Could listen to it over and over. And it’s best really loud. Really loud.
Till next time, listen well.
Todd
Jimmy Needham is good live, for sure! Someone I thought you might have on here who I’ve been listening to is Jason Gray’s Everything Sad is Coming Untrue. I think the CD’s been out a little bit but I just got it. Love his voice, his lyrics, and his message.
I like listening to whole albums. I always have. I get accustomed to that format as the artist and producer put the musical set together. Assume, as the Lord works in even our mundane days, to weave the tapestry of our lives, so too an artists life is worked out by the Lord to produce whole albums. There is a lot of good stuff in there. I recently picked up my 1st Agnew ALbum: Grace Like Rain. Correction, I also have the Christmas album. i’m still bonding with both. Sometimes it takes a while for a cd to become your “new favorite”. The cd as a whole tells a story or a series of stories. I never do playlists. Also, you can miss the Lord’s message to you if you only ever listen to what tastes good at the moment.
I confess sheepishly that the philosophy is probably born of frugallity:
“I paid for this whole cd is by golly, I’m gonna get my money’s worth”.
Nope, still don’t own an Ipod. Don’t really want one. You miss out on all the beauty of a record. . . The songs that don’t make the air, all the musicians and producers, the jacket notes. . . I love all that stuff. That probably makes me a geek. Don’t care.
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Would you believe I still have a turntable and about 200 albums from the 70’s. I very rarely get any out to play, but once in a while I crank up the stereo. I mostly listen to CCM now, but there was some great, great music written and recorrded in the seventies. Todd, have you ever listened to Roger McGuinn, former frontman for the Byrds. Give him a listen. He’s reworked quite a few old gospel songs, such as “The Water is Wide.”
http://www.rogermcguinn.com
90% of the time, I really prefer the “listening experience” that you get from listening to an entire album and digesting the message the artist is trying to communicate to you. I’m generally opposed to any compilation projects that only offer various tracks from various artists. I especially enjoy the LP (long playing record for you young people) option if I’m out on a long run. That said, I will occasionally put together my own playlist that’s comprised of favorite tracks from different artists that I really enjoy listening to. The current such playlist on my laptop has 3-5 songs from each of the following artists/albums on it –
Ashley Cleveland – God Don’t Never Change
Mike Farris – Salvation In Lights
Cam – The Platform
Dez Dickerson – One Man
Hazakim – Theophanies
Third Day – Wire & Revelation
James Clay – James Clay
Johnny Lang – Live at The Ryman
Shacah – Let The Light In
Shai Linne – The Atonement
Todd Agnew – Reflection/Something & Better Q’s
Jon Foreman – Limbs/Branches
Ben Harper – Live From Mars (Disc #2)
J’Son – Life on Life & City Lights
There is ALOT of great music out there! ***Hint*** – You won’t find most of it on commercial radio stations (christian or mainstream). Do some digging. Take some chances. It’s worth it.
i just discoverd audrey assad like a week or so ago…i really love her new cd