Godblog

December's in the Grammys

One of my favorite bands, DecembeRadio, is going to the Grammys in February. The band has been tapped for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album for their self-titled debut, which you can check out on the iTunes Store. Congrats, guys!

Derek Webb

On September 25th this year, our church hosted a concert by Derek Webb, of Caedmon’s Call fame, along with his wife, Sandra McCracken.

Derek Webb, accompanied by his wife, Sandra McCracken.

I had a good seat (thanks, Samantha!), and took a few shots of the couple as they performed, plus of the good-sized crowd before the concert, and in between sets.

Beyond his lyrical abilities, one of the things I admire about Derek is his desire to simply get the message of God’s love out there. At one point during his set, he remarked how he was going to freak out all the lawyers and record executives by telling all of us to share his music with whomever we wanted to. Earlier this year, he had even gone so far as to put his latest album, Mockingbird, online as a free download. He says it was a very successful experiment.

Stand

I’m really enjoying Stand, the latest from Michael W. Smith. I’ve long been a fan of Smitty, having begun listening to him when I was a teenager with The Big Picture. You can certainly tell that Smith has matured musically, lyrically, and spiritually through his career.

He says in the jacket:

Stand was a unique project for me to record. I felt that there was a very specific message that I wanted to communicate, but, to be honest, I wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be. So I just did what I do—I started to play music. I spent hours in my studio recording everything that came to mind. I found myself at church being captured by a worship song that I saw affecting people. I started writing with some friends and sharing my vision of this project with them. And slowly, through this process, Stand began to take shape.

As individual songs started coming together, I became aware of a consistent message. Stand became a collection of songs about hope, forgiveness, and God’s amazing grace. Stand isn’t so much a “call to action” as it is a “call to respond”. As we daily understand more about His immeasurable love for us—we stand in awe of the One Who gave it all.

The album opens with the up-beat and thankful “Cover Me” (iTunes Store link). “Open Arms” follows, and get Journey’s version out of your head. “Come to the Cross”, the album’s first single, is part of that “call to respond” Smitty mentioned, holding out the hope that no matter what, you can come to the cross.

Tell it in the Savior’s ear
Cast away your every fear
Only speak and He will hear

Hallelujah, everyone
Everyone can come to the cross
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done
Everyone can come to the cross

What an awesome image of hope!

“How to Say Goodbye”, despite being somewhat sorrowful, is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Maybe because it’s just Smitty and the piano, with some soft strings, and I love songs that are stripped down that way. “Be Lifted High” is a modern hymn, written by the talented Leeland Mooring, who shares co-writing credits on some of the album’s other songs.

Smith covers Keith Green’s “Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful”, and makes it his own. I keep listening to it over and over and over. It segues perfectly in to “Grace”. Again, these are two songs which are very stripped down, making them very appealing personally.

Thinking about the entire album, it is for the most part “stripped down”. While different songs have different assortments of instruments, there isn’t any case where there is more than is required. This is a sign of Smitty’s maturity as a composer, and it causes several of these tracks to shine, since nothing is getting in the way of the message, of the song itself. There is a musical simplicity in the album, which says a lot about Smith’s humility, considering how talented he is as a musician. It’s clear this is not about him, but about Christ.

“The Stand” is just such a simple song, with only two stanzas of lyrics, but they are very powerful in Smith’s capable arrangement. “Come See”, as the title implies, is a song of invitation, of Christ offering rest, freedom, and grace, in arms open to all. “In Silence” is a toe-tapping motivator, and the album closes with the seventies-ish “Escape Your Love”.

At many levels, Stand is not Smitty’s best album, but I don’t believe that was his intention. It is a great album, and accomplishes its mission in not only welcoming those who are seeking, but calling Christians to remember to always look to the One they call Savior.

DecembeRadio

If you’re wondering where old-fashioned, guitar-driven rock has gone in Christian music, look no further than DecembeRadio. I read about these guys on a site I got to from another site which I got to from another site; a trail I have been unable to recreate from my browser’s history. I ended up at the band’s MySpace page, and was able to listen to a few songs from their then-upcoming album. (A band with a MySpace page? Scandalous, I know.)

The self-titled label debut has been out since the end of June, and it’s in heavy rotation in my playlists. The band’s hit, “Love Found Me (Love’s Got A Hold)”, is a free download on the iTunes Music Store, until next Tuesday, July 18th. (The link in the previous sentence will open in iTunes.)

Grab the free tune, check the other samples, and buy the album. These guys rock.

All the Words

So I’m watching last week’s episode of Scrubs, thanks to my DVR, and the song playing at the end sounds familiar. Did I just hear the words “Jesus” and “I worship you” in a prime time NBC sitcom? I know I know that song…

Thanks to the Internet, I found out what song it was: “All the Words” by Kutless . Which I have, because I have all of their albums. I knew I knew that song…

Grace Like Rain

I love Todd Agnew’s take on “Amazing Grace”. (The iTunes Music Store sample doesn’t do it justice.)

Grace Like Rain

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see so clearly

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away
They’re washed away

They’re washed away

written by Chris Collins and Todd Agnew. © 2003 Ardent/Koala Music (ASCAP). All Rights Reserved. Based on the song “Amazing Grace”. Lyrics by John Newton. Music by Edwin O. Excelle (Public Domain).

Nineteen Eighty-Seven

When I was growing up, my biggest childhood rebellion had to have been in the area of music. Having been raised on what is now considered “classic” country—Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Cash, etc.—as well as artists such as the Statler Brothers and Neil Diamond, I turned to hard rock and heavy metal in middle school.

I never grew my hair long, nor actually attended a metal concert, so my rebellion in this area was limited still. This is also the pretty typical rebellion for most kids, going with something totally different from their parents’ music.

When I became a Christian at age 15, I hunted around for similarly styled music with uplifting Christian lyrics. Stryper was the pop metal band that broke in to the Christian music area first, and to this day is probably the most well-known Christian metal group.

In 1987, what I consider the best Christian metal band, came out with its self-titled release: Whitecross. Whitecross was quickly dubbed a Christian version of Ratt. Vocalist Scott Wenzel’s screechy rasp echoed that of the secular band’s Stephen Pearcy. Guitarist Rex Carroll, however, blew away most of the metal guitarist field with superior technical skills. With those two talents, plus pull-no-punches lyrics, Whitecross shot up the Christian music charts and cemented the band’s place in not only Christian but all metal music.

Fast forward to 2005, and the reuniting of Scott Wenzel and Rex Carroll, along with one-time Whitecross drummer Mike Fieghan, to re-record Whitecross. The only shortcoming to the original release was the less-than-stellar production. The drums were hard to hear, and the entire album sounded as though you were listening to it through a thin wall. The best way I know how to describe it is “slightly muffled”.

The band also chose to include the song “Love on the Line,” which was never included on any Whitecross CD release. It was the main attraction on the Love on the Line $6.98 EP cassette. The only known CD release of the song was on the Heaven’s Metal box set, which I happen to have, until now. The song, also re-recorded, is now at the end of the original album line-up, and is followed by a new instrumental by Rex, “Reanimate”. The “new” re-release is titled 1987

My copy arrived last week, and has been in heavy rotation since. Wenzel’s vocals may have lost some of the screechy rasp when compared to the original, but they’re still strong. I would say on some songs, the slight loss of the screech sounds better than the original.

The second song on the album, “Enough is Enough,” is, to me, the quintessential song that makes the Whitecross to Ratt comparison, and the re-recording is strong in keeping that comparison alive. Carroll’s licks are as good as before—the man has taught guitar for decades, before, during, and since the Whitecross glory days of the late ’80s and early ’90s—and casual listeners won’t notice the subtle differences in Wenzel’s vocals compared to the original.

As for me, I’m enjoying the re-release, and Rex, Scott, and Mike should be proud of their effort.

Praise You In This Storm

Yesterday, I picked up my pre-ordered copy of Lifesong, the latest from Casting Crowns. No sophomore jinx here, and I’ve already found straight-to-the-heart songs that make me ponder and pray, just as on their first album. There has been a track I’ve been playing over and over again, number two on the disc, and I hope those in the Gulf South can find some comfort in the message it contains, even if they are unable to hear it. I include the complete liner notes for it below.

Praise You In This Storm

If there ever were a test of our faith—if there ever were a test of the motives of our worship—it is when a storm rolls into our lies. We watched and prayed for a precious little girl named Erin Edwards struggle with a deadly disease for several years. The courage, the witness, and the worship of Erin’s mother Laurie inspired this song. Sometimes God calms our storms. Sometimes He chooses to ride them with us.

Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Psalm 42:5, Psalm 121:1-2, Job 1:20-21, Daniel 3:16-18

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen,” and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Words by Mark Hall
© 2005 Club Zoo Music (BMI) / SWECS Music (BMI) (adm. b yEMI CMG Publishing) / Word Music, LLC (ASCAP) / Banahama Tunes (ASCAP) (adm. by Word Music, LLC)

Be Unto Your Name

We sang one of my favorite songs today during worship. I first heard “Be Unto Your Name” on the Revival in Belfast CD, by worship leader Robin Mark. I think this CD is a favorite of our worship leader’s as well. I can usually tell when we’re going to sing something from it, from the instrumentation on stage.

[Two of the above links require iTunes.]

A prayer for the new year

“Lay Down My Pride” - Jeremy Camp

Every single word I say
You know it before I speak
You know every thought - the deepest part of me

You draw me closer than I see
Your Presence is every thing I need
To be the child that You’ve
Created me to be
I’m ready now to see it Your way

I lay down my pride
My desires my demise
I’m ready now to see it Your way
I’m done I’m thru ignoring You now it’s true
I’m kneeling at the cross of Your grace
Lay down my pride

I was faced with passing time
But I knew the choice was mine
To finally come to You
And give You all control
I’ve wandered miles to find my way
And then You revealed this simple faith
I know that You can see
The secrets of my soul

I lay down my pride
My desires my demise
I’m ready now to see it Your way
I’m done I’m thru ignoring You now it’s true
I’m kneeling at the cross of Your grace
Lay down my pride

The cross, the blood You shed for me
Your back was ripped and bruised
So I can know Your love
I kneel, I bow to You, my King

I lay down my pride
My desires my demise
I’m ready now to see it Your way
I’m done I’m thru ignoring You now it’s true
I’m kneeling at the cross of Your grace
Lay down my pride

— Camp, Lajoie © 2004 Thirsty Moon River Publishing (ASCAP) / Stolen Pride Music (ASCAP) / Spinning Audio Vortex (BMI) / LeToile Du Matin Music (BMI) / Admin by EMI CMP

Girder Music

If, like me, you were in to Christian hard rock and metal in the 1980s and early ’90s, then pay a visit to Girder Music. You can replace those worn-out Stryper and Whitecross cassettes with clean, digital CDs.

I have no affiliation, other than as a customer.

The Answer to the Question

I’m growing tired of a mouth shut tight
When all I want to do is
Tell the whole world about the man sitting
At the right hand of the One in heaven
How could I sing
About anything but him?

He is the answer to the question
He is the cure for the infection
He is all he says he is
He is the ultimate reflection
Of holiness and true perfection
He is all he says he is

How can I not cry?
Watching as the world dies
Without a prayer
They run to their own gods, roughshod
Blind to the living God of earth and heaven
How could they sing
Of everything but him?

He is the answer to the question
He is the cure for the infection
He is all he says he is
He is the ultimate reflection
Of holiness and true perfection
He is all he says he is

Colossians 1:15-20

Copyright © 2003 John Ellis, mouthfulofsongs/Birdwing Music/Near Bliss Music (ASCAP)