Amy Dickson - Catch Me If You Can

Growing up I often said that if I put my mind to learning an instrument it would be either the Violin or the Saxophone, because they are two musical instruments which have a lyrical quality about them.  The rock bands I have grown to love, include a sax or violin in them - think The Frames or Dire Straits (eg Romeo and Juliet).

Dickon's album features arrangements of music by John Williams, the late Michael Kamen (so sad that he left us at 55) and Knopfler's Local Hero.  The arrangement of 'Local Hero' is awesome.

After the last note faded, given the journey the album takes you on. I thought maybe I should revisit my dream and seek to learn the saxophone.

Review: Desire Like Dynamite - Sandra McCracken

I first encountered Sandra McCracken through the music of Caedmon's Call. Their album 'Back Home' contains some songs which McCracken wrote.  So, when I saw that one of her albums Gypsy Flat Road I did not hesitate, I downloaded it and loved it. I have been looking forward to this album.

McCracken has a unique gift to write songs that continue to impact you as you listen. During my first listen, the images and words of 'Go', 'Hourglass', 'Forgiveness' and 'Fall on Me' really hit home.

Hourglass speaks of the time when 'Every good thing will be restored / and the sea will be no more'.

Forgivenes, has some beautiful images, the 'half life of coffee wearing thin', and grace which is measured by more than need, a grace to be something other than what we are, love given free without strings, a love which we cannnot resist.  The song continues to strike me which each listen.

Fall on Me - is another song written with Matthew Perryman Jones and also highlights our relationships - You can't fight a war when you already own the soldier - Everyone needs a place to land - fall on me'

The beauty of her album and song writing is the highlight the experience of the lives we have with each other, and with our God. The album one that I've liked more which each listen,.

In the digital music age..

Recently I had decided that I needed to move from buying CDs to downloading music, be it from the artists website, Bandcamp or i-tunes.  As much as it saves space, I am missing the impact a physical book gives me, and the role it plays in enhancing the listening experience by including the lyrics to each song, sometimes the stories behind each song, and the artists 'thank yous' and messages often help you connect with the artists.

 I know digital booklets are included with some CDs, but its a little bit less accessible.

I do expect, however, that changes are coming here. I've recently seen lyrics embedded within MP3s. Maybe in the future we'll see albums as apps (including additional content, like videos, perhaps in the ability to link into live shows).  Not all of these would work as you listen on the i-pod, but I certainly like having the lyrics available on the i-pod for some CDs.

I'm sure someone is thinking these things through, and perhaps they are also thinking along the lines of what would make people more inclined to buy a physical CD.

Review: The Highway - Holly Williams

Another song on the Nashville Indie Spotlight CD was 'Without You' by Holly Williams.  I really loved  the story and lyrics of the song, along with the music. So, after that, I downloaded and Introduction from Noisetrade (you can read an interview here) and a studio session from Daytrotter. (Sean Moeller has written a beautiful post about Drinkin'. The Noisetrade session has an awesome cover of Tom Waits song Hold On.

I guess if you play the 'sound like' game, you may come up with names like Emmylou Harris or Sarah McLachlan, and you'd most likely find the CD in a country section, but her sound crosses over a few genres, and she's creating her own niche.

What I really enjoy about her music is the authenticity in her voice. You are taking the ride with her as she shares stories from her heritage about her family and her own journey.  A number of the songs bring her family to life: Waiting on June, Gone Away from Me, Drinkin' and Railroads.

Without You tells of her time travelling through Europe on a train, and her love for being on the road is also clear on the track 'The Highway', and I can kind of relate to that.

After reading more about the album I read that its Gywneth Paltrow singing the beaut harmony on Waiting on June (one of the songs which talks about her maternal grandmother).

I think my favourite line on the CD is on A Good Man, where she sings that 'Love is not as simple as it seems, But I have learned to trust the space between '. That line speaks volumes about the nature of love.

As you listen to the album her world comes alive, and its clear to me this is what she was meant to do to tell stories about real people and enable us to connect with ourselves as she does. Hopefully 'the highway' will bring her to Australia, and we'll be able to hear her share these (and hopefully other stories) from her life.

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Holly is not only a singer songwriter she's also talking about a cooking show, and also has a blog where she talks about fashion, travel, cooking and music. Here's the link. I'm keen to look at the food section.

The Saint John's - Live Sessions

I mentioned the "Nashville Indie Spotlight CD" recently. The CD highlights some of the indie musicians based in Nashville. One of the songs which stood out on my first listen was the song 'Your Head and Your Heart' by The Saint John's.

The Saint John's is made up of Louis Johnson and Jordan Meredith and what struck me about them is there beautiful and haunting harmonies.

The Live Sessions is a four song EP, which is just a teaser. It appears they have plans to release an album this year.  Definitely worth checking out their music.

Atlas: Darkness - Sleeping At Last - Review

It was the 'For the Fans Of' which prompted me to download Sleeping at Last when I was looking for new music just before Christmas in 2011.

Sleeping at Last is an indie rock band that was originally formed in 1999 in Wheaton, Illinois. Lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan O'Neal is the sole member of the band, and on the page for their Christmas Sampler it mentioned that they are for the fans of Nick Drake, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, Sigur Ros.

Given that list,  I downloaded their Christmas Sampler, and the sampler became one of my favourite Christmas EP's. I love how included on the Sampler was a cover of Christmas is all around  (from the film Love, Actually).

In 2010, Sleeping at Last commenced their Yearbook project, they would release an EP of three songs at the beginning of each month for a year.  In 2013 Sleeping at last began the Atlas Project, is an ongoing series of EPs inspired by the origins, emergence and experiences of life.  (Read more about this here)

Darkness is the first of these EPs. I recommend listening to this EP with the lights off through headphones...  the ebb and flow of the music along with the attention to the lyrics make the EP unforgettable. 

Here's an example from 'Uneven Odds' which is my favourite song at this point: 

maybe your light is a seed,and the darkness, the dirt.in spite of the uneven oddsbeauty lifts from the earth.

Sidebar:
If your are a fan of TV shows like Bones, Greys Anatomy, Private Practice (or the last Twilight movie), chances are you would have heard his music.  The Kid President you-tube video also has one of his songs in the background. 

She Must and Shall Go Free - Derek Webb

The more I listen to the music of Derek Webb, the more I think  of him as a prophet for our generation. His songs speak God's truths and apply them to our lives, both individual and corporate.  While I first discovered Derek Webb through Caedman's Call a while ago, I was reacquainted with his music when his album She Must and Shall Go Free was available on Noisetrade (the website he founded). Once I had downloaded that album, I bought his album The House Show (which contains some of the same songs, and a few covers).

The album was a reflection of where he was on his spiritual journey, and apparently he has a sequel in the works, so I will be intrigued to see what has changed, and what remained the same. As you listen to Derek Webb, I can't help but draw comparisons with Keith Greem and Rich Mullins who wrote numerous songs, encouraging and rebuking the church. In his songs Derek Webb often challenges us to think how our faith intersects with the world.

On She Must and Shall Go Free, the songs which hit me the hardest were Lover  and Wedding Dress, both of which centre around the theme of God's love for his people, akin to that of a jealous husband for his bride (who is playing the harlot), bringing to my mind Ezekiel 16 and the book of Hosea.

Another song was I Repent in which he talks about the power and freedom we can find in corporate confession. The song is a confession of his sins, and I am certainly guilty of some of these sins too.

During the album - The House Show, Webb covers one of my favourite songs by Bob Dylan Every Grain of Sand, which highlights the care God has for all of his creation.

The concluding song of on The House Show (and also on She Must and Shall Go Free where Dan Haseltine - Jars of Clay joins Webb) is Take To the World , an almost perfect concluding song, telling those who hear to take and share what they have heard of God's 'relentless grace' to those who are 'hungry'. Such a powerful image.

I'm looking forward to hearing more from Derek Webb. I think Noisetrade are offering samplers from all of his CDs - so if you haven't heard him, now is certainly a good time.

This Pilgrim Way - A Horse & His Boy

I had been looking forward to this album since I heard the EP Trilogy. A Horse & His Boy sprang from the mind of Seth Harper (with some help from a few scrappy Narnians).

The album is conceived as "an adventure story in miniature" reflecting on the journey we take as Christ's followers. Here's a few reflections on some of the songs.

And the world was an ocean: Our life is described as akin to that of a man adrift on the ocean, waiting to be 'rescued or die'. Its such an evocative image. Highlighting that we 'are lost without you'

When I run: The song mind the story of Eric Liddell - I think - who said that when he ran he felt God's presence and pleasure. A reminder for the listener that all of their gifts and talents are His, and we are happiest when we are them for God's glory.

Glory, Hallelujah: My favourite song on the album. I just love the metaphor the song uses, their faith describe as a song. The song takes you through the journey of the people of God, from slavery and deliverance from Egypt, to God's present leaving the temple, the birth of Jesus, and the eventual triumph where the whole earth and every stone will sing the song of the creator.

{untitled} : It's easy to relate to the plea of this song, a plea for God to come, bring an end to injustice, and judge the wicked, but with that a plea He would show mercy and save many.

The Everlasting Arms: The concluding song, is an old hymn written by Anthony Showalter & Elisha Hoffman, (published 1887), and it reminders the listener where we end our journey, in the safe and secure arms of God.

In summary, the albums richness is in its lyrics which highlight the journey we all take as followers of Christ. I recently discovered you can buy the demos which are versions of each track with Seth's voice and an acoustic guitar, which just highlights the power of the words. I definitely recommend the album.