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Listening Log – #2

The turntable’s been doing doubletime round here. Here’s my current playlist and some general impressions, in random order:

Bruce Cockburn, Life Short, Call Now — I lifeshortcallnow.gifpurchased this album at the famed Amoeba Records during our summer vacation in San Fran. The prolific Canadian musician combines strains of jazz, folk and rock, this being his 29th album (did I say prolific?). Cockburn’s Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws remains one of my all-time favorites. Life Short is a thoughtful, contemplative album. Songs like Mystery and Beautiful Creatures are haunting in their interior scope. Cockburn’s political passion hasn’t dimmed, teetering often toward the liberal perspective. Nevertheless, he’s got some great instrumental jams and an undying passion for Life. If you’ve never heard him, you really, really should.

The Decemberists, Castaways and Cutouts — This was another Amoeba selection. I was actually prepared to be let down by the album because I liked The Crane Wife — my first encounter with this unique Portland-based band — so much. But I wasn’t. The Decemberists don’t write songs, they sing stories. While this album is not as musically varied as The Crane Wife, their detailed lyrical imagery and eclectic instrumentalities set them apart from most bands, giving them a winsome folk-rock feel. At present, these minstrel rogues occupy a top spot on my playlist. Favorite songs on C&C: California One, Grace Cathedral Hill and July, July.

Sara Groves, Add to the Beauty — Thanks to Linda Gilmore for this wonderful Add_to_the_Beauty.jpgrecommendation! It’s Groves’ sixth album, but my first encounter. Often compared to Sarah McLachlan, SG’s sweet, folksy, piano-driven sound immediately won my heart. Her lyrics are several steps above the traditional CCM fare. Like, “Tonight I forgot a line in the play that you and I / Have been rehearsing since the day we met / It made me put down my script, made me look around a bit / And wonder how we came to play these roles / I’m here to re-write this tragedy / One line at a time. . .” Grove’s tunes are heart-breaking, gracious invocations to beauty and surrender. Her new album, Tell Me What You Know, is definitely on my Christmas list.

Project 86, Drawing Black Lines — This album single-handedly won me over to hardcore music fandom. P86’s Truthless Heroes is another of my all-time favorites, but DBL isn’t far behind. Since I’ve seen the album on several Best Christian Albums lists, I decided to download it to my iPod and give it another whirl. This is angry, passionate, in-your-face music, guaranteed to make your eardrums bleed. The band has reluctantly accepted its inclusion into the Christian music ghetto (they’re back on the Tooth and Nail label), but their music and their following has allowed them to transcend the stereotype and cross over into the secular market. If you think Christian Hardcore music is an oxymoron, you gotta hear these guys.

Eisley, Room Noises — The first full-length album from a remarkable cdeisley_roomnoises.jpgyoung band made up of three sisters, their brother (all home schooled) and a best friend. It’s guitar / piano pop-rock without the teen fluff. A quick look at the lyrics to the first song proves as much: “He was throwing grain into the ground below, ground below / With dreary circles of his arm, going slow, very slow / His cap pulled down roun’ his ears to / Hide the smile and watery tears.” When was the last time you heard an album begin with someone “throwing grain. . . with dreary circles of his arms”? The multi-layered female vocals give this a crisp, whimsical feel, reminding me a bit of Sixpence‘s Leigh Nash. Their new album released this summer and the band is currently touring with Mute Math, a bill I’d love to see.

David Crowder, Remedy — With 2005’s A Collision, Crowder vaulted carl_crowder_02.jpginto the contemporary Christian worship music hierarchy (if there is such a thing). That album’s unique mix of worship, alternative pop/rock, and bluegrass really captivated me, renewing hope that modern worship hadn’t yet fossilized. Remedy builds on that tradition. The band’s energetic, quirky (I’m talking DJ turntables), yet often contemplative songs, are easily accessible — one could even say tame in comparison with Collision. (For instance, there’s far fewer tracks — 10 as opposed to 21, and shorter songs on the new album.) Nevertheless, you gotta believe Crowder is returning a spirit of innovation and modernity to an industry in dire need of it. And I love this cat’s beard. D’ya think Lisa would mind if I grew mine out?

TV on the Radio, Return to Cookie Mountain — Props to matty for recommending this unusual, unconventional, downright weird, album. The first day I had it in the rack, Melody happened to be over and immediately demanded I TURN THAT MUSIC OFF! Uh, thanks matty. So what kind of sound is this? It’s hard to say — part dance, part jazz, part white noise, TVotR combines horns, sitars, chimes, flutes and a bowed upright bass into a cocktail of tribal postmodern abstraction. When I splattered my office, this was playing, perfect inspiration for my Pollock moment. Anyway, I’m still unsure if I actually like this album. It’s definitely not mood music. Or rock. Or jazz. But if I’m ever splattering a room, TV on the Radio will be my first choice.

Arcade Fire, Neon Bible — This Canadian art rock band has burst from indie obscurity and been getting rave reviews for their new project. If the title is any indication, the album is oddly “religious.” Not only was it recorded in an Arcade_Fire_-_Neon_Bible.jpgold church (whose ominous organ is included in the soundtrack), the artwork resembles Scriptures (chapter-and-verse and all). Throughout, there are references to biblical verse and imagery. One of my favorites, “Intervention,” is an indictment of churchaholics: “Working for the church while your life falls apart / Singin’ hallelujah with the fear in your heart / Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home / Hear the soldier groan: ‘We’ll go at it alone.'” The exact spiritual sentiments of the band are unclear, but not always critical. In an interview with Paste magazine, lead singer Win Butler said Neon Bible is ultimately about “addressing religion in a way that only someone who actually cares about it can. It’s really harsh at times, but from the perspective of someone who thinks it has value.” While it took me a couple listens to appreciate the big, sometimes choral sound of the band, this is an album with musical and spiritual depth, and worth checking out.

Also of musical note: I’d mentioned before about two bands on my must-see-in-concert list: Switchfoot and Relient K. Well, it just so happens that the bands are touring together in what they’re calling the Appetite for Construction Tour to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, and Chris and I got tickets for next week’s show in Irvine. Holla! What about you? Got any recommendations to add to my musical notes?

{ 13 comments… add one }
  • jason November 12, 2007, 4:47 PM

    Tooth and Nail Records is hardly a part of the “Christian music ghetto.” Neither is Project 86.

  • Mike Duran November 12, 2007, 5:43 PM

    Jason, is Tooth and Nail Records part of “the Christian ghetto”? Yes and No. I use the term “Christian ghetto” to describe the exclusive nature of much “Christian music” — written by Christians, for Christians. While Tooth and Nail fits that definition, they’ve done a great job signing bands who don’t preach to the choir, trivialize their faith, or suffer musical myopia. Project 86 has a large non-Christian following, which is as much a tribute to their tenure and musicianship as it is T&N’s vision.

  • dayle November 12, 2007, 7:33 PM

    I’m afraid our musical tastes are probably as far apart as our other opinions.

    For example: While David Crowder has a couple of really good songs, I find most of their music a little too immature for me – So go figure.

    You do strike me as a Matt Kearney kind of a guy though. Have you checked him out?

    My favorite band: Mercy Me.

  • Mike Duran November 12, 2007, 11:11 PM

    I do have one Mercy Me album, Dayle. And my son has a Matt Kearney CD, but I haven’t listened to it enough to have an informed opinion. I’ll give it another listen. Thanks!

  • monzman November 13, 2007, 3:02 AM

    have to agree with you on dc*b’s “remedy”– when “can you feel” plays in my ears, i see an Aeon Flux-style animated dave, with pilot goggles, sending out waves of love or something, and at the end… a dirty, rag-tag army about to storm the (highly technological) gates of Hell…

    which brings up suggestion 1… “the gates of hell” by demon hunter

    suggestion 2? John Mark McMillan… i have video of his song “how He loves” from the Call (nashville) posted on my 9/11 blog… it explains where the song came from… also, check out his “i need you in the morning” from whereever you can get it…
    peas
    jsm

  • Noel De Vries November 13, 2007, 3:04 AM

    Nothing to do with your post (although I must say, the beard idea is something to ponder) but I wanted to let you know that, in honor of my upcoming 21st b-day, I’m joining the club.

    http://www.noeldevries.blogspot.com

    I’m there–it’s just taking me a little while to get around on this dang walker. 😉

  • Linda Gilmore November 13, 2007, 2:04 PM

    Just when I’m telling myself I really don’t need to be buying more music, you give me all kinds of suggestions for music that sounds really good.

    I’m glad you like Sara Groves. I listened to the new album on rhapsody and it’s on my wish list, too. Remedy is on my list, too — I got to see David Crowder right here in Manhattan, KS, a few weeks ago — awesome, incredible, powerful, WOW! Now, if only Switchfoot would come somewhere closer than Tulsa.

    Here’s a recommendation for you — a singer/songwriter named Tim McAllister is offering his cd ‘Strong Tower’ for free (at timmcallister.com), so I downloaded it a few weeks ago. Very good — thoughtful lyrics, a bit of an 80s groove on some songs, interesting voice. And Andrew Osenga (currently of Caedmon’s Call) is offering a cd free on his Web site (andrewosenga.com) and its really good — more folkly acoustic. It’s called Letters to the Editor and what he did was take suggestions and stories people sent him and turned them into songs. I thought it was a really inventive approach and the results are actually worth listening to.

    Happy listening!

  • Jeanne Damoff November 13, 2007, 10:25 PM

    Hey, Mike! I’m curious how you heard about Eisley. We’ve been fans since their early performing days, long before they released any CDs. Here’s a link to a post I wrote about a concert Luke and I attended in July, 2003, right before he left for college: http://ellezymn.livejournal.com/7572.html

    A bit poignant for me to re-read how I was dreading his departure at the time, especially since he has graduated now and departed again, this time for Africa. And I thought Chicago was far away!

    Anyway, I love Eisley’s sound, and you described it well. I’d definitely spring some bucks to see them and Mute Math play. Not gonna happen in my ‘hood, though.

  • Mike Duran November 14, 2007, 12:40 AM

    Hey monzman, thanks for visiting. I have had Demon Hunter recommended to me on several occasions. I’ll look into them and McMillan. I’ve got an album by the Call that I like. They were compadres of Mark Heard before his passing, and I really like him.

    Noel, I’m so glad you joined the blogosphere. But you’ve simply gotta oil that walker.

    Linda, David Crowder was at the House of Blues out here (West Coast!) last month and my wife persuaded me that “we don’t have the money.” Why I listen to that women, I’ll never know. I will look into your recommendations, seeing that the other was so good. 🙂

    Jeanne, I keep a running list of “notable” bands — groups I’ve seen mentioned from folks I trust, in Favorites and Best of lists. Eisley had been there and when I saw their new album in Best Buy, I figured I’d get their last one. Reading reviews on these guys (gals) is interesting because most acknowledge their “religious” background, and their non-preachy message, a quality I really appreciate.

    Thanks for all the suggestions! Peace. . .

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