Sometimes attributed to Martin Mull, other times to Frank Zappa, one of the most famous quotes regarding writing about music goes like this: “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Reviewing music is a terribly subjective endeavor. The trick is to find people with whom you share enough taste to trust but who will also push your own musical boundaries, someone who has a broad frame of reference but doesn’t simply resort to comparisons. I may or may not be that person for you.

“Christian” music (I use that term VERY loosely), like any other, moves in cycles. One of the cycles right now is the re-visitation of hymns. I love this trend. I love hymns, though many debate about what the exact difference between a “hymn” and a “praise song” is exactly. Broadly speaking, Christian hymns tend to be a bit older, and much more theologically rich than more modern songs of praise. While I realize that some will take issue with that designation, I did say “broadly speaking.”

RUF has released several albums’ worth of revisited, reworked hymns, Passion has a hymns album, Jars of Clay, Anathallo and more recently, the wonderful, Page CXVI EP all reinterpret hymns with varying approaches, successes and failures. This is a rich tradition that needs to be preserved. Older texts are often set to new melodies, which is entirely appropriate as the missional context shifts. We should not only be writing new songs of God’s mighty works, we should be preserving the songs of old, reworking to be “timeless truth in a timely manner.”

Enter “Rain City Hymnal,” the first official full-length album from Re:Sound, the music arm of Resurgence. With five different artists, the album works surprisingly well as a cohesive whole, reworking 12 different hymns. The production team has done a great job at preserving stylistic differences between each of the acts while striving for a cohesive whole. As the tagline for the album points out: “Theologically Unified • Stylistically Diverse • Musically Excellent.”

The bulk of the tracks have a “modern” feel, incorporating electric instruments and rising crescendos and quiet moments to punctuate the material and engage and accentuate the lyrics. Most of the songs keep the melody of the lyrics themselves recognizable while varying the instrumentation. This is the trick to reworking hymns and the question here is: did they hit the mark? Does it work? Yes it does.

The highlight of the album for me is Ex Nihilo’s take of “What Wondrous Love Is This?” Evoking hints of Woven Hand’s power, the song begins with the almost acapella voice, gradually accompanied by stomping/clapping and finally the full band. This is a prime example of retaining lyrical melody while adapting the musical form to be “culturally relevant.” It is here and the opening track, The Northern Conspiracy’s “Doxology,” that the album is most cohesive for me, showcasing the personality of, not only the band but the church they represent and the theological power of the text. That’s not to say that the album as a whole doesn’t work, but these two tracks are my high-points in listening.

You might ask, then, what my low-points, because, let’s be honest, most albums have them and many reviews leave them out. This certainly isn’t a perfect album and, in my own opinion, it’s the slower tempo tracks that don’t succeed as well. While faithful to the hymn and successful in new instrumentation, the tracks, “We Have Not Known Thee” and “Softly And Tenderly” just feel a bit out of place to me, like the “power ballad” on an album that just should have focused on power. I realize that both of these tracks are by Team Strike Force, so don’t take this as a jab at them, because I think that they’re take on “All Creatures” works splendidly. This is an album that works best when it charges forward rather than casually meanders.

This is an exciting beginning for a new musical venture and I can’t wait to hear what’s next. Highly recommended, and for a limited time, get it free at Noisetrade:

By: ADAM GROZA

I was listening to this radio interview yesterday about a book called Unfriendly Fire (Thomas Dunne Books, 2009) by Nathaniel Frank. The book argues that the ban on gays in the military should be lifted. You may recall that President Clinton enacted the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, introduced as a compromise by Bill Clinton in 1993, and then signed into law by HR2401. Clinton had promised to overturn the ban on gays, and saw the bill as a successful compromise. Whereas before HR2401 those seeking to join the military were asked if they were homosexual, the new policy was that servicemen would not be asked whether or not they were gay. That was good news for them. However, HR 2401 effectively prohibits homosexuals from engaging in homosexual relations. So while the military agrees not to ask, gay soldiers must agree not to be, well, gay.

First, it seems to me that if the military is going to ban gays, the better way is to screen servicemen as we did between WWI and 1993. Just ask people if they are gay, and if they say yes, then don’t let them in the military. The Don’t Ask policy is an elaborate lie. The government deceives itself into thinking it allows homosexuals into the military, but then tells them not to tell others they are gay, have gay relationships, or talk about being gay. The soldiers are asked to lie about who they perceive themselves to be in the abandonment of the very relationships that define their sexuality.

Second, I take issue with a statement made by Frank. He talks about the stereotypes of homosexuals perpetuated by the military (and those who supported HR2401). The stereotype is of the radial San Francisco gay pride scene: Drag queens, glitter, and the like. When I heard Frank say this, I expected Terry Gross (who was conducting the interview) to interrupt him and ask some kind of follow-up or clarifying question). Blaming the military for homosexual stereotypes? How about blaming homosexuals for homosexual stereotypes! After all, those images from the gay pride parades are provided by, um, the gay community!

But Frank is saying the “queer image” as weak, effeminate, etc. is misleading and enforced by those who wish to keep gays out of the military. The fear, he says, is of a pink military where bases start looking like the images of gay parades. When I heard him say this, he failed to mention Hollywood! If Frank is wondering how everyone got the image of gays as effeminate weaklings, perhaps he should consider the following:

• Marc St. James on Ugly Betty
• Rickie on My So Called Life
• Lloyd on Entourage
• Jack McFarland on Will & Grace

The list could go on, but Hollywood puts forth gay characters that enforce what Frank sees as a negative stereotype that has made it hard for gays to find a place in the military. The fact that Hollywood is not indicted is obvious bias. Frank blames chaplains and the religious right, but why not the so-called gay icons who play characters who are gay and effeminate? The homosexual community celebrates the characters listed above, but Frank says these are the stereotypes that keep gays from the military.

Whose really to blame?

What sort of Hollywood trickery is going on here. Is this some sort of hologram? For all we know, these kids might be steroids! Sorry, that was a bad paraphrase from the Bee Movie. Is this really possible?

ht: flowerdust

Thank you for the break. Everyone could use a bit of time off. Rest, it does a body good. Or so I hear. In the meantime, here I am, crying out for you.

Be my friend on Facebook.

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And while you’re out there scouring the world-wide-web, you’ll need some good music. Join eMusic, we both get free music and everyone wins.

Follow along as Scot McKnight interacts with the interaction between John Piper and N.T. Wright.

Read a review of N.T. Wright’s response to John Piper from Denver Seminary.

Watch a very cool stop-motion video.

See an artistic representation of the stations of the Cross from artist Sarah Gorss.

Read Mark Driscoll’s (writing for Fox News) thoughts on whether or not “Christian” America has come to an end.
Check out the Beardfolio.

Read yet another comparison of Mac and PC.

See photos from the recent Advance conference.

See this list of 35 beautifully designed church websites.

Read here and here to see how Rob Bell knows just enough Greek and Hebrew to be trouble.

Read as Wired considers the future of reading.

Download the mp3s from the recent Advance conference.

Read Christianity Today‘s recent cover profile of Tim Keller.

Browse the Wall Street Journal’s summer reading recommendations.

Read this interview with Glenn Kotche, drummer for WIlco.

Read this piece examining the mp3 resale business.

Read about Hartford’s 2.4 mile “Wallace Stevens Walk.”

Read this piece considering the use of limited edition releases trying to lure music consumers.

Read a recent interview with Jay Farrar.

Read as the Dallas Morning News profiles Gomez.

Read as CNET profiles social networking sites built around music.

Browse as the Forbes Traveler 10 famous literary bars.

Browse this list of the best bookshops in the world.

The Book Seer aggregates book recommendation based on your inputs.

These aren’t as much about the music, though it is a great selection (“Down the Line” by José Gonzalez). I’ve been looking a lot into longboarding lately, I just need to wait until I can afford a board. Anyways, I though this video was extremely well-done and worth sharing:

Here’s another longboarding video, this one featuring the track “Six Days At The Bottom of the Ocean” from Explosions in the Sky:

By now many of you have surely become aware of the Jon and Kate Gosselin fiasco. Let me be clear, I don’t know Jon or Kate. I don’t know the circumstances of their marital difficulties any more than you do. Yes, Kristi and I often watch the show and, it seems, divorce is on the imminent horizon for Jon and Kate.

I remember watching early episodes and seeing Jon and Kate speak at churches, thinking, “Wow, this is a great Christian couple who has a chance for a terrific witness.” So where did it go wrong? Of course, I don’t know but I think we can make some statements based on what the couple has revealed on the show. Celebrity is a killer. Pride is everyone’s worst enemy. Everyone dreams of being famous but very few famous people seem to remain grounded.

When faced with the reality that their marriage was on the rocks, Jon and Kate Gosselin chose to pursue another season of the reality show that invades what should be their private life. When faced with the reality that her husband was feeling overwhelmed with their eight children, Kate chose to pursue a book signing tour, saying that work was important to her. When faced with the reality that they were becoming more famous than ever because they were now a soap opera, Jon and Kate chose to melt down in public rather than just admit that the show was a mistake, break their contract and fix their marriage.

What we can safely say is that the spotlight not only puts you in the public eye, it brings to light what you might want to remain in the dark. Without the proper foundation, without the proper affections, the spotlight only excaserbates our pride and self-interest. Jon and Kate have chosen not to fight for their marriage because they both feel wronged because neither are considering the other more important than the other (Philippians 2:3).

But it’s not entirely profitable to simply pick apart the failing marriage of pseudo-celebrities, is it? I’m convicted by Jon and Kate that I need to continually fight for my family, cherish my wife and love my Lord, especially when things are going well. We’re not in the spotlight but it reminds me of the need for vigilance for certainly “there but by the grace of God go I.” As I was talking about this with my good friend Adam, he reminded me of: Proverbs 4:23:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

Jon and Kate remind us to be vigilant, to be aware, to fight for our family, to stay focused on God, to keep a clear eye on priorities. We must pray for them and we must learn from them. We can only truly protect our families by protecting our priorities, by prioritizing God. Once we take our focus off of God, we will never be fulfilled by anything or anyone else. And when that anything and/or anyone else lets us down, our world collapses because we’ve convinced ourselves that we deserve more than we really do and that that anything/anyone else can deliver it for us.

Friends, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

As you might imagine, abortion is once again at the center of controversy (as it should be). The murder of George Tiller has thrust this heinous act once again into the spotlight. Tiller was Medical Director at one of three clinics in the nation performing late-term abortions (after 21 weeks).

I have often thought that abortion is the ultimate form of human sacrifice. We like to think that we have become much more civilized than in ages past and that we’ve outgrown such nasty things as human sacrifice. But let’s be clear, human life begins at conception and the purposeful termination of life is murder. Abortion is not just murder it is human sacrifice. But, to what, you might ask? Consider James 4:2:

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Abortion is sacrifice on the altar of pride. We envision the type of life we want, that, for whatever reasons, we don’t have and we’re willing to murder to get it. While I realize that there are many sticky questions here including rape, the reality is that when abortion is chosen as the solution to rape, it means that because someone’s life was shattered by a tragedy, they’re willing to murder to put it back on track according to what they want it to be. I’m certainly not trying to make light of rape or its consequences, but I think we need to talk honestly about the implications of abortion.

Abortion is the ultimate sacrifice, the termination of a human life for the benefit of another. It is not a sterile medical procedure, it is murder and it is a sacrifice on the altar of pride and self. Christians need to understand the urgency of ending this barbaric practice and killing the idol of pride in our culture. It has become not only acceptable but expected to look out for self above all others and even at the expense of others; other poeple; other lives. Are we really willing to take a life so that we can have the life we think we deserve?