Category Archives: Music

Music, Popular Culture, Review

Friday Run Down

It is Friday.

What I’m Listening To Today
Marvin Gaye is so much more than “Let’s Get It On.”

His prophetic album, What’s Going On still give me chills whenever I listen to it. Although it has been 35 years since he recorded it, the album is just as relevant and as stirring.

From “What’s Happening Brother” (War is hell, when will it end, When will people start gettin’ together again) to “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” (Crime is increasing, Trigger happy policing, Panic is spreading, God know where we’re heading, Oh, make me wanna holler) Gaye sense of social justive will always shine brighter than his sone sexual freedom. The entire album puts social justice firmly at feet of the broader spirtiual contexts.

His song “God is Love” is a great homily about our Father and what he expects from us.

Don’t go and talk about my Father
Cause God is my friend
Jesus is my friend
He loves us whether or not we know it
Just loves us, oh ya
And He’ll forgive all our sins
Forgive all our sins
And all He asks of us, is we give each other love.

If you haven’t ever listend to this album you haven’t lived. I mean it. Without being too melodramatic, this album will change your life. You can’t listen to it passively. It demands action.

So, wow, this weather…
It is currently 68 degrees outside today. I think once my laptop charges I’ll head to the great outdoors to finish the day.

5 days to go…
and then I’m off to Atlanta. I look more forward to the Catalyst conference than any other conference I’ve ever been too.

Andy Stanley always blows me away with his grasp of leadership ideals and his skill at apply the Word to my life. This year I am looking forward to hearing from Rick McKinley (Imago Dei), Gary Haugen (International Justice Mission), and John Stott.

Catalyst truly lives up to it’s name. Check it out!

4 days until…
The new Killers album. Oh, you know you liked the first one. Don’t lie to yourself. The new one looks to rock harder than their new-waveish freshman release. I hope to check out their performance on SNL this weekend.

Sam’s Town drops on Tuesday.

i hope everyone has a great weekend. Peace out!

Firm on the Rock, Music, U2

Out Of Darkness Comes Light

music1.jpg After September 11, U2 performed during the Superbowl half-time delivering, quite possibly, the most poignant 9/11 tribute ever. They brought healing to a country that was still reeling from the attacks that happened nearly 6 months before. Now comes act 2.

On Monday, U2 and Green Day will take the field at the reopened Superdome in New Orleans as they welcome the New Orleans Saints back home…

AND I WILL BE ON THE FIELD WITH THEM!

That’s right. I have been given the opportunity to join with a few hundred other fans to be a part of the pre-game mini concert. My mind is going a mile a minute here. I am waiting on the final details but right now it’s a go!!!

The concert is being given to help aid in the Music Rising project which is now moving into phase 2. Music Rising was started to help get instruments back into the hands of individual musicians after the devestation of Hurricane Katrina. Phase 2 will now focus on the churches and schools who lost their instruments to the weather. What an incredible mission.

Music Rising, the campaign launched to help bring the music back to the storm ravaged Gulf Coast Region announced an extraordinary pairing of two of the world’s greatest rock bands for a special show before ESPN’s Monday Night Football game between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on Monday, September 25, 2006. U2 and Green Day will make an unprecedented appearance together on stage to officially re-open the Louisiana Superdome and perform for the people of New Orleans on behalf of Music Rising. The pre-game show and special performance is sponsored by RealNetworks’ Rhapsody digital music service. Music Rising is administered by the Gibson Foundation.

In the days following Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Superdome became a symbol of agony and distress. This NFL football game is the first event to originate from the stadium since the Katrina devastation. It will be highlighted by a special live performance by U2 and Green Day that will be televised during ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pre-game show between 7:00pm-8:30pm EDT (performance 8:20-8:30pm). An opening video presentation showcasing the efforts of Music Rising and the Superdome will air prior to the performance by the two super-groups.

Go check out what Music Rising has been doing and then be on the look out for me during the concert on ESPN’s Monday Night Football Pre-Game.

Books, General, Music, Popular Culture

Something to Blog About

2 Comments

1) Fall Is On the Way
I went for an evening workout on Tuesday and was greeted by a nice, cool night. You could almost smell Fall in the air. The same could be said for the morning drives to work. I have also noticed that I haven’t been getting sunstroke as I drive around with my sunroof open and my windows down. It is actually comfortable. This summer’s heat was, in a word, oppressive. The cooler temperatures have been a welcomed change.

2) In Cold Blood
Every year I try and squeeze a classic into my reading schedule. This year I chose Capote’s In Cold Blood. I don’t know which is more fascinating: The story of a family that was brutally killed by two sociopaths and how the were brought to justice or the story of an effeminate homosexual with a weird voice from Ny by way of Alabama that travels to Kansas to document the murders and becomes the toast of the town yet allows himself to get too close to the story and never writes another book after this one?

3) Continuum
John Mayer’s newest makes the leap from frat/sorority pop-lite fluff to great, mellow rythm and blues. Well done.

4) Water Cups
What is the deal with fast food chains offering 44oz. sodas for 89 cents and yet they can only afford to give away 6oz. water cups? They ought to just have a dixie cup dispenser on the counter right next to the register. At Quizzno’s a large drink (32oz) is $1.59. A bottle of Aquafina water (20oz) is $1.69. for those of us who like to drink big, we might as well get a large drink and fill it with water. It’s messed up.

5) Dunder-Mifflin and Lego Star Wars 2
0910ba11a001p1_st6o3_17ajpg.jpgChristmas came early this year. My wife picked me up The Office Duder-Mifflin Severance Package from Best Buy. It came with both seasons of the funniest show on TV, DM post-its, a DM note pad, and a magnet replica of Dwight K. Schrute’s buissnes card.

b000g7x0ao01_ss500_sclzzzzzzz_v61203868_.jpgI returned the favor by picking up her a copy of Lego Star Wars 2. That’s right. We play video games together. We spent many hours together bonding during the first one. I used to think that canoeing with your significant other was the best way for you to learn a lot about your relationship with your spouse. I was way off. Video-gaming with your spouse will open your eyes to unseen issues that were never present before. You think you love each other until you try to jump over a pit of molten lava and fail. Character is built during these moments. We love it!!! We have a date with episode IV tonight.

That’s all I’ve got right now. Have a gret Thursday!!!

Ministry, Music

Mystery Man, Mystery Sound

Director Cameron Crowe always chooses the best music to accompany his films so I always try and get the soundtracks. It never fails that I find a new artist or band by listening to Crowe’s choices. I fell in love with Jeff Buckley after hearing Last Goodbye on the Vanilla Sky soundtrack and Springsteen’s Secret Garden from Jerry Maguire always chills me out when I’m stressed.

Now I have been drawn into a music mystery because of a Crowe soundtrack.

I first heard Washington Phillips last fall when I purchased the Elizabethtown Vol 2 soundtrack. The grainy, old recording of What Are They Doing In Heaven Today was a simple yet profound track. Phillips voice, while extremely nasal, is strikingly original and comforting. I liked the song yet I never really thought anything about more Phillips or the strange sound of his instrument. That is until this morning.

While listening to the Theme Time Radio Hour with Bob Dylan, I again heard that distinct voice and that strange instrument. The theme this week was the Bible and Bob played Phillips’ Denomination Blues.

You can go to the college
You can go to the school
But if you ain’t got Jesus
You’re an educated fool

After the song Bob said that there were two rumors about Washington Phillips.

1) He died in a metal institution or
2) He died at the age of 74 by the result of a fall off some stairs

“Believe what you will,” Dylan said.

“Very Interesting,” I thought. Other than that song off of Elizabethtown, I had never heard of him. After lunch I hopped onto the information super highway to check out a bit more about this Washington Phillips.

What I found only added to the mystery of what Dylan said concerning the confusion of Phillips’ death.

Washington Phillips The world only has 18 Washington Phillips songs. Most of them are self contained sermons. I downloaded the album, The Keys to the Kingdom, from iTunes today and have been blown away at the depth of lyric in these songs. He even preaches some mini-sermons before playing a few of the songs. Good stuff.

Nobody knows where he came from. He just sort of arrived on the Gospel music scene in the late ’20s and before 1929 was over he had left it.

The biggest mystery of all though has to do with his distinct sound. There is a great debate as to what kind of instrument he played. Some say it was a zither. Most a dolcenea. Still others believe that Phillips made the instrument himself. Nobody knows. There is a photo from 1928 that show him holding what seems to be two fretless zithers but the debates go on.

The whole things is pretty interesting. Too bad more people haven’t heard of Phillips.

I would recomend the following Washington Phillips songs for you add to your music libraries: (iTunes links)
Lift Him Up That’s All
What Are They Doing In Heaven Today
I’m Born to Preach the Gospel

I hope you will check him out. I promise you it will be worth your time. He won’t win any awards for his voice. Then again, neither would Woody Guthrie or Dylan. The beauty though is in the heart.

Books, Leadership, Ministry, Music

Stand Up

2 Comments

I’ve been awfully music heavy the last few days so I wanted to shake it up a little and catch everyone up on what’s been going on in my busy life.

I updated the links page with some of my favorite blogs.

I just finished my first summer at my new church. By the gace of God, I believe that it was a success. I have about 30 awesome teens who enjoying being together and who have a great habit of inviting their friends. The summer went by very, very quickly. I actually started on May 30th and before I knew it – August had arrived. I am currently trying to put together the fall calendar and I have a lock-in and a big cookout on the horizon. This week I’m visiting my students at school and getting achance to meet more of their friends. Today’s visit was a lot of fun. I love being a Youth Minister.

This coming Sunday I’m going to “the Dance.” That’s right, I’m stepping into the pulpit for Sunday morning worship assembly. It’s the big game! We have been going through Exodus 20 taking a fresh look at the Ten Commandments. I’ll be covering v. 15:

Thou shalt not steal.

I know a little bit about stealing. When I was a little elementary kid, I used to put gum on the end of wire hangers and steal quarters, nickels, and dimes out of the high school student’s lockers at my school for sodas. I might mention that this Sunday. Maybe.

Btw, I think the Ten Commandments sound a lot better in the King’s English but that’s just me.

Some books that you need to read right now:

Some albums that you need to hear right now:

I’ll leave you with this:

On your journey as a believer, questions automatically arise. Who am I and what is my calling? Am I called to be a deacon? Am I called to be a pastor? Am I called to be an evangelist, a fireman, or a retail salesperson? Am I called into counseling, sports medicine, or intercession? Paul let’s us know that those questions are good starting points for a young believer, but as you mature in your faith, the callings that once consumed you begin to diminish, and the sumreme calling to one thing becomes ever clearer. Whether you are annointed or not is no longer the motivaing drive of a mature individual. The motivating thing becomes: Am I tender toward the Lord? Am I moved when he comes near me? Instead of being consumed with numbers and results, ask yourself: Do I hunger for Him like I used to? Is my gaze still focused and my eyes still pure? Is my heart expanding in the understanding of this Man, Jesus? Paul’s exhortation is clear. As you mature in your faith, your pursuit of Jesus becomes more and more consuming.

Dwaye Roberts, One Thing

May you begin to ask yourself the deeper questions.

Peace,
Micheal

Music, News, Popular Culture, Rants

Burn!

2 Comments

Nothing gets me as riled up as bad music. Well, I take that back. Nothing gets me as riled up as bad music that is passed off as great music.

Exhibit A:
Yesterday I posted the K-Fed video. What a nightmare! There are hundreds of bands who are out there working hard and paying their dues making music that is real, positive, and revolutionary and this yahoo marries a pop princess and gets prime-time airspace to destroy my ear drum with his drivel? What’s that about?

Exhibit B:
Yesterday, MTV Hits dedicated the entire day to P.Diddy’s fake band Danity Kane because their album dropped today. Art and Corporations don’t work together. Ever. Period.

Oh yeah, Exhibit B2 would be that Paris’ “album” dropped today as well.

Exhibit C:
Fergie’s London Bridge
Danity Kane’s Show Stopper
Justin’s SexyBack
The Pussycat Doll’s Buttons
Nelly Furtado’s Promiscuious

All crap songs. All chart dominators.

Well today fellow readers, I stand in great company. Not only am I tired of the junk pumping from America’s speakers but the father of modern music is too.

Who am I? I’m a nobody consumer who spends a great deal of time with my iPod.

Who is the father of modern music? Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan says the quality of modern recordings is “atrocious,” and even the songs on his new album sounded much better in the studio than on disc.”I don’t know anybody who’s made a record that sounds decent in the past 20 years, really,” the 65-year-old rocker said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Dylan, who released eight studio albums in the past two decades, returns with his first recording in five years, “Modern Times,” next Tuesday. Noting the music industry’s complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, “Well, why not? It ain’t worth nothing anyway.”

“You listen to these modern records, they’re atrocious, they have sound all over them,” he added. “There’s no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like … static.”

Don’t trick yourself into believing that Bob is just some old coot who is pining away for the good old days. He would be the first to tell you that the old days weren’t that good (socially).

No, Mr. Dylan is just a man who has seen a lot of musicians and heard a lot of music that is disposable. He’s tired of.

When will America get tired of it?

link

Music, The Quest

Chad’s Playlist

2 Comments

Chad, I road tested this playlist last night and hope it meets your incredibly high standards.

  1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears
  2. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
  3. Ultra Violet (Light My Way) by U2
  4. When You Were Young by the Killers
  5. Come Together by Third Day
  6. Show Me How to Live by Audioslave
  7. Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
  8. Breathe by Michele Branch
  9. God Gave Me Everything by Mick Jagger
  10. It’s My Life by No Doubt
  11. Who’ll Stop the Rain by Credence Clearwater Revival
  12. Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis

tracks 1 and 2: Warm Up
3-10: The Workout
11 and 12: Cool Down

Enjoy

iTunes

Music

Top Five Reason DMB Rocked on Saturday

3 Comments

1) Best. version. of “Lie in Our Graves.” ever.

2) New favorite with “You Might Die Tryin’.”

3) Rashawn Ross is an awesome trumpet player and a great addition to the tour.

4) “Down by the Bah-YOU!”

5) I was there with the most beautiful woman in the world.
New Hat Dave Matthews Band

Setlist
Best of What’s Around
Song That Jane Likes
Say Goodbye
Don’t Burn the Pig
Lie In Our Graves
Break Free
Crash
Hunger For The Great Light
Dream Girl
Dancing Nancies
Warehouse
You Might Die Trying
Louisiana Bayou
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel

Encore:
What You Are
Stay

4 Times the Dave We had lawn seat but I was able to get inside the first perimeter of security guards in order to take these pictures. The security at the front half of the venue though were madmen about keeping people back. At one point a security guard spoke harshly at me that cameras were prohibited (Not one sign saying that this year). “Prohibited,” she yelled as she waved her arms in my face. As a slinked back to my little piece of lawn in the back I passed a dozen or so people with their camera phones out taking pictures. There is no way that you can police that. Both U2 and Coldplay allowed small cameras. Dave will allow you to set up a small recording studio in the seat next to you but won’t allow cameras. I’m not buying it.

(photos: My new hat, The Band hard at work, Four times the Dave)