music monday
STREAMING FREE
BURNING UP MY iPOD (yes, I still use my iPod)
CHEAP
OUT TOMORROW
I just downloaded Adam Faucett's 2014 album Blind Water Finds Blind Water. This live version of "Edgar Cayce" is just excellent and getting repeat viewings today. Oh dear, just turn it up.
As the end of the year approaches I am working on my Best Albums of 2014 list. So much fun getting to the end and thinking through all the great new stuff out there. Coming soon!
STREAM FREE - Mogwai: Music Industry 3 Fitness Industry 1 EP | I expected this to be just ok and I'm enjoying it a lot more than I expected!
WATCH - Kendrick Lamar's performance of "i" on Saturday Night Live a couple of weeks ago is one of the best live performances I've seen on SNL. Or anywhere. I've watched it multiple times and shown it to some others. Now I want to share it with you. First, the performance. Second, the lyric video with the album version. There is colorful language in the second video, but the lyrics are well worth reading through and thinking through. We need more music like this. His 2013 album good kid, m.A.A.d. city is only $5.99 right now.
Amazon's $5 albums have been a bummer lately, but this most recent batch has some gems. Here they are...
Taylor Swift pulled her music from Spotify. Spotify claims she would have made millions. Dave Grohl has some choice (and adult) words for Taylor Swift. Taylor says...
Next time you think you can't do something because you don't have the perfect tool to use to create it, watch this.
BUY TODAY --> The New Pornographers: Brill Bruisers | CD with free download is same cost as download only. This album is a lot of fun, as are all TNP albums. And don't let the name scare you. It's from the mouth of a preacher. This music is really good and really fun.
GOOD MUSIC --> After the Video Music Awards last night I needed some real music. Whether you watched or not, here's real music. St. Paul and the Broken Bones with two live Take Away Shows. Amazing. First is the title track of their album Half the City and then an Otis Redding cover, "I've Been Loving You."
STREAMING FREE - Ty Segall: Manipulator | Been listening this morning. Holy cow. The first 16:30 was great! Then somewhere toward the 17 minute mark I was like "Yeeeah buddy!" Or whatever. I've sampled Ty's albums but never picked one up. Public confession is over. Now time to remedy that. NPR, "Manipulator may have missed its chance to provide the soundtrack to a summer that desperately needed one, but that just means it gets to be the feel-good hit of the fall."
CHEAP
BURNING UP MY iPOD
WHAT'S NEW - Charli XCX "Break The Rules" | When we understand the music of a culture, we understand the culture. Overstated a bit, but probably not all that much. Time to listen to Charli XCX's new track "Break the Rules." Not complicated, but will serve as an anthem for our kids this fall. It will be played loud on Friday nights at parties and dances. In a year with some pretty incredible pop songs, this is one of the best. But you might not like the words your kids will be singing.
BREAK THE RULES from the new album SUCKER available to pre-order soon.
Streaming Free
If you don't believe me about Saintseneca, here's "Happy Alone"...
Check out $5 albums for March like Vampire Weekend, Explosions in the Sky, Elbow, & The National.
Above all other things that are worth doing in the world of music today, I hope you will STREAM FREE the new Champs album, Down Like Gold. Can't buy it in the U.S. yet, but I can't wait for it to get here!
There's yet another new list of $5 albums for the second half of March.
Miranda Dodson: Ascend EP -- This is getting a lot of play in my house. Really love "King Rise" as it takes us through the story of Jesus. It's streaming now. The album begins streaming tomorrow (Tuesday, March 18th).
Kristen Gilles: Parker's Mercy Brigade -- Kristen's new song "Chase Away My Unbelief" is a remarkable song about doubt and faith. While the background is tragic, the song is ultimately hopeful and comforting.
If you are like most people in America, you are still singing Frozen songs. One that I woke up singing today, "Love Is An Open Door," as someone performed in a van...
$5 Albums for March. Here are the ones I recommend...
I have yet to figure out how to buy and enjoy a St. Vincent album. But she (Annie Clark) is continually getting rave reviews, so I keep paying attention. Part of the reason for her art-rocker genius is that she is thinking a little deeper than many. Follow along as sings on The Colbert Report. The song is "Digital Witness" from her new self-titled album, St. Vincent.
Digital Witnesses
What's the point of even sleeping?
If I can't show it, you can't see me
What's the point of doing anything?
This is no time for confessing
I want all of your mind.
People turn the TV only looks just like a window
Yah..
People turn the TV on, it looks just like a window
Yah..
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Video Archive
It's -40F wind chill here, which means you light up the fireplace and listen to Bon Iver. One of my favorite EVER albums, For Emma Forever Ago, is $5.
If you haven't checked it out yet, my Best Albums of 2013 list is up. Would love your thoughts. What music from last year did you enjoy?
Damien Jurado: Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son - My love for this dude's music has grown the last few years. Excited for this one. I'm only five songs in and I'm very, very happy so far.
Cheap Albums from my 2013 list ($5 unless noted otherwise)...
Other cheap albums worth checking out...
Matthew Smith was in Crystal Lake, IL last night and thanks to some generous church members my family was able to go. I've known of Matthew and Indelible Grace for a long time, and preached at Michael Spencer's (iMonk) school in 2006 alongside Matthew's worship leading. What's remarkable about Matthew is that he sounds as good or better live than his recordings. There's nothing wrong with his recordings. His voice is just true and rich. His music fills our house often, especially on Sunday mornings.
If you don't know Matthew, introduce yourself by checking out his albums All I Owe or Watch the Rising Day. Here's Matthew playing "Reedemed, Restored, Forgiven."
And let me add a video to the opening song from his concert last night. It's really the one song that's stuck in my head from last night. It's not a video from the concert or a recording by Matthew. It's Sandra McCracken from In Feast or Fallow with "Can't Help Myself." Just beautiful. Loved Matthew's version a lot. Lyrics are below and if you don't know the song I encourage you to follow along.
"Can't Help Myself"
I confess the things I am afraid of:
thorns and danger just around the bend
I pray for tongues of fire and bands of angels
to come and circle 'round me like a fence
I lift my eyes to the hills, where comes my help?
I lift my hands--empty hands--I can't help myself
I can't help myself; no, I can't help myself
My enemies surround me like an army--
within, without, the battle's raging on
I pray the Spirit will be strong and mighty
for courage through the night until the dawn
I lift my eyes to the hills, where comes my help?
I lift my hands--empty hands--I can't help myself
I can't help myself; no, I can't help myself
Oh trust the Lord--my soul and all that is in me--
oh trust the light to show your darkest parts
With wounds of truth and love, a friend who has known me;
a fool would keep his secrets in his heart
I lift my eyes to the hills; here comes my help
I lift my hands--empty hands--I can't help myself
I can't help myself, can't help myself
Can't help myself; no, I can't help myself; I can't help myself
It's good when Amazon celebrates something, because they give us something to celebrate too. A BUNCH of great albums are just $6. Grab a couple...
New album from Okkervil River, The Silver Gymnasium (Amazon, out 9/3), is streaming free right now. This is one of my favorite bands working. Some of the best songwriting around from frontman Will Sheff. I'm halfway through the stream right now and it's really good so far.
Get a taste of the new album from Sheff's open mic night. Or just listen here to open track, "It Was My Season"...
Heyo! It's a super-happy Music Monday here at Reformissionary because I have stuff to give away to some of my readers.
Stephen Miller (Twitter) is worship leader at The Journey church in St. Louis, where Darrin Patrick is pastor. He has written a new book, Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars (Kindle) and put out a new worship album, All Hail The King. The album includes new worship songs as well as reworked Hymns like "Crown Him With Many Crowns." I've been listening to the album and enjoying it a lot. His new albums and previous album, Hymns, is on regular rotation in my house.
I have 5 of the Worship Leaders, We Are Not Rock Stars eBooks (epub, mobi, or PDF) to give away today that each include a free download of the album.
Here's how you enter to win a FREE eBook that includes a free download of the album...
1. Tweet (or post to Facebook if you aren't on Twitter, or do both!) without the quote marks: " Get Stephen Miller's new worship album & book FREE. RT & comment at Reformissionary to enter: http://bit.ly/14xLgfb "
2. Comment below (so I can confirm you did step 1) with your real name and real email (kept private) and FOR FUN in your comment let me know a neglected old hymn that you love and wish would get consideration from Stephen or someone else for a future worship album.
*I'll use random.org to pick the 5 winners tonight, and I'll announce the winners on the blog & send out emails. May the odds be ever in your favor!
The fine folks from Bifrost Arts has a new worship album out. I've liked everything they've done to this point, so this is worthy of our attention.
Another month of good, cheap music. Here are the albums I recommend from Amazon's $5 albums for June.
