Ben Rector—Suburban prayers // Music Monday 20.0 [ tuesday edition ]
content
I’ve been listening to this song on repeat today,
a suburban prayer of sorts by Ben Rector…
“I want to live until i die
don’t let the devil bury me alive
when my heart stops let me go home
don’t let the suburbs kill my heart and soul.”
Along with thinking about Peter Rollings talking about how we all make “ironic gestures.”
So listening to this song while i sit at St. Starbuck with the queen of the suburbs, a very ironic gesture if you ask me. Thinking, praying and wondering how i live a less ironic kind of life.
The album is entitle LENT by a band called The Brilliance.
I don’t think they call themselves The Brilliance but they are conceded and think they are brilliant but probably more so because they are a “sort of” a Christian worship band and believe that God is brilliant, i would agree. But would also say they too are brilliant, or at least this Lenten album they have produced is.
Here is a great song entitled Dust We Are and Shall Return, probably my favorite of the album and such a great Lenten tune! Enjoy…
Well i hope you will go onto iTunes or Amazon and pick up this album to accompany through your Lenten journey.
I might remind you, we are half way there. Half way to resurrection so hang in their and remember that God in Christ is present, even in the desert and He desires you more than you desire anything. And that is the most important thing.
It’s been over a year (with the exception of a brief Lenten suggestion) since i’ve given a music monday recommendation. And since this monday is Halloween you might think i would suggest something like this or like this but that’s not what i’ve been listening to lately.
Somebody actually posted this album cover on instagram and i decided to take a listen, i’m glad i did. I’ve been listening to it all week. A few of the song are stellar the rest is solid. Make sure you listen to this one…
I’ve been on the road a bit lately, my last trip was about 26 hours total. A LOT of time for good music and some podcasts of course! So i decided to keep track of what i listened to on the road trip and share it with you… bring back a little music monday action, road trip addition.
In no particular order here are the tunes i listens to on my most recent road trip…
John Mark McMillan
His album The Medicine is a must listen. With tracks like Skeleton Bones, Death in His Grave, and of course How He Love this album is one that is really easy to listen to on repeat a few times! I know i did!!!
The Welcome Wagon
A album with a worship fold / sufjan twist, it’s a bit different but really good. I heard about this project a while back cause Sufjan Stevens himself produced it or something like that. I figured it would be good… and it is!
Enter the Worship Circle
An OLD favorite that i bust out every once in awhile. I did on this trip and never regret it. SO stinking good!
Jordan Frye & Urban Rescue
Jordan Frye is the front man for the worship band Urban rescure. I’ve really enjoy their CD, it might helps that Jordan is a bud of mine! Both, his non-worship solo CD and his Worship CD are great! If you like a Bon Iver kinda feel you’ll probably like his solo CD. I DO!
Mike Crawford and the Secret Siblings
Buy it if only to listen to the song Words to the Build a Life on. SO GOOD! I’ve had it for a LONG time but since i’ve been preaching on the beatitudes i’ve been listening to it a lot these days.
The Confessions of St. Augustine
This audio book is like over 10 hours long! Holy LONG… i listen to like an hour of it.
Mars Hill Podcast (Rob Bell / Shane Hipps / Peter Rollins)
Always a road trip favorite. I probably listened to a half dozen messages on this trip. Topping the list; The Village Elder (a really good perspecitve on getting old), The Pain is Our Teacher, Fruit, Tortured By Books… among others.
Neue Podcast
So… i’m not really a fan of Mark Dricoll. And that’s putting it nicely. But because of this i feel like i need to give him the chance to prove me wrong every once in awhile, AND HE NEVER DOES! Until now… I listened to an interview with him on Relevants Neue podcast and he wasn’t a tool! I actually liked what he had to say and he even seems to come across mildly humble. Take a listen and let me know what you think.
Every once in awhile I run across an album or artist I just can’t stop listening to, Ben Rector is that fellow! I picked up his free sampler on Noise Trade a few weeks back. Since then I have went out and got everything he’s every done! Including his new album, Into The Morning, that just release this February. SO GOOD!
This is the current song that’s on repeat (from his new album).
Heart Break
“ I don’t have answers and neither do you.
I know the pain of a heartbreak.
It isn’t easy, it isn’t clear and you don’t need Jesus until you’re here. When confusion and the doubts you have up and walk away, they walk away, when a heart breaks.
I don’t know, i really resonate with that. It’s prophetic lines like this that make me ponder life and reflect on the heartbreak of life, the moments when all has gone south and the ones you wanted to love you the most say your not welcome any longer. The times when all you can see is the darkness around you, the closed doors in front of you, and the bad news that isn’t far behind you. I know the pain of a heartbreak! And it’s true, we all too often don’t need Jesus until you find yourself here, in despair. If only we would rely on Him more, in the good and bad.
But pondering despair and heartbreak reminds me that there is hope and his name is Jesus. And that really, I always need him.
So yea, I LOVE IT!
Ben is pretty poppy most of the time. One of those singer songwriters who appeals to the college crowd quite a bit. But he has some great faith thoughts weaved into his tunes and just great music in general! YOU MUST check out his stuff! I think I like his last album a tad bit more then his new one but they are both stellar! Both are much better then his first.
My favorite songs of his comes from his sophomore release, Songs That Duke Wrote and the song is entitled The Kill, check it out! The song slays me every time! (it’s the the first song he plays on this video)
(and here is the CD version – SO GOOD!!!)
So go buy ALL of Ben’s stuff today!
You won’t regret it!
My top 5 recent records i’ve recently listened to.
It’s been awhile since i have done a music monday so instead of just giving you one album you should listen to i have decided to give you 5!
Enjoy!
#1. Hello Hurricane :: Switchfoot
(ok, technically you can’t listen to you this until November 10, but that’s right around the corner and the second you can you should, GO GET IT!
My lovely wife reviews CD’s and interviews cool people and stuff like that. She recently interviewed John Forman, lead singer of Switchfoot, i was able to listen in! And we’ve been listening to their upcoming album for a month or so now, and i like it more every time i hear it, it’s really good! Probably the best rock album i listened to in awhile.
So yea, Go check it out November 10th! Or get on Youtube and listen to a few of the tunes now. It’s worth it. Here is the video for the 1st single they are pushing. Not my favorite song but it’s good.
#2. Only by the Night :: Kings of Lion
Also an amazing rock album and a couple of the tunes are “rip your face off” good. I could listen to Be Somebody on repeat for most of a day i do believe. So good!
#3. The Blueprint 3 :: Jay-Z
I have always been a huge Jay-Z fan, he’s probably my favorite rap fello. Common, Tribe Called Quest, and a few others are up there on my hip-hop / Rap list but Jaz-Z has always been tops. And on this, his newest album he doesn’t disappoint. You might want to get the edited version, or not, but it’s really stinking good! Creative, classic and star studded; a lot amazing cameo’s (Kanye, Pharell, Young Jeezy, Alica Keys, Rihana, etc.) So if your a fan you will love this one.
#4. Outsiders :: Need to Breathe
This one came out of nowhere for me. I don’t listen to a lot of CCM kind of stuff but this album was a pleasant surprise. It’s really good! Maybe you’ll understand this statement, this album doesn’t sound Christian. Many of the song could find themselves on pop / top 40 radion easily. It has a bit of the Mark Broussard, Gavin Degraw sound with a bit of their own feel. Bottom line it’s really good. Check it out!
#5. Travel II :: Future of Forestry This is more of the stuff i listen to everyday. It’s the chill, electronica, vibe music. Great lyrics to get into but a vibe that take you some place. I haven’t heard the other tunes they have put out recently (they are putting out a whole series of these Travel EP’s) but i am looking forward to hearing them because this one is great!
Well i haven’t been keeping up with my music mondays, maybe i should change the name… “monthly music mondays” or something that helps me to feel better for only doing it not very often.
ANYWAY!
It was GMA week here in Nashville last week, always good / crazy times!
GMA = Gospel Music Association in case you were wondering.
My buddy Jeff is starting a little Christian news website :: GodBeat.com / check it out :: and he asked me to do some interviews so that he could post them on his website.
Here are the groups i got to interview
(in order of favorites :: I did 10 interviews)
#1. Dreampilots These guys were really rad! They come from Norway and have a real Christian U2 vibe going on. There music could be refined a bit i think but they’re pretty good. But more than anything they were awesome guys. Great attitudes and just a real sense of gratitude and authentic spirituality about them. I kinda wanted to hangout with these guys after the interview, they were just really cool. I really do wish them the best… SO go buy there CD and go to their concert when they tour over here in the fall!
#2. Stryper Of course stryper has to be high on my list! These guys are OLD but their 80′s hair metal rock is coming back in for sure, why not take advantage. Only Oz was able to make the interview and when i asked him if they were bringing back the yellow striped leather he took the question WAY to serious and surprised me with a yes! But corrected me, it’s not leather, it’s spandex. hmmm…
#3. After Edmund These guys were also really cool and i also really like their music. They were one of the few bands i had heard of before i interviewed them. These guys have lots of fun and put out quality tunes for sure! Check em out, they will be at all the major festivals this summer. They also have a newer album out that is worth the listen.
#4. Billy Buchanan
Billy was probably the funnest interview i did. Just a really chill, funny guy. And he told me i asked good questions. I like him!
#5. Jeff Chandler
Jeff was a really cool guy. He has 7, that’s right 7 kids. He’s a song writer and worship leader in the line of a Chris Tomlin. He has a album coming out in a couple months i think. Check it out.
#6. Carried Away
This was a group in the CCM, Point of Grace vibe. They were nice kids but not really my kind of tunes, good stuff none the less. They tour a lot and just added a male vocalist to their group recently. Really good kids and seemed to have really great hearts for the ministry they are doing.
#7. Devyn
Devyn is a 17 year old Christian Hanna Montana. I wanted to bring up the comparison in the interview but i didn’t want to offend her. She did say she has a very “disney vibe” and i would agree. She that young poppy disney kinda music. So if your a huge Hanna Montana fan like me, you will will love her.
#8. Kevin LaVar
Kevin was a super nice black gospel, R&B singer. Really nice and had some great things to say. His music has placed him in some pretty awesome places to minister the gospel. He was up for a dove award for his music video You Are Not Alone, check it out, it’s pretty good.
#9. Manic Drive
I really enjoyed all my interviews but these last couple. i don’t want to dog on these guys – Manic Drive but i’m not a huge fan of their music and the lead singer… yea, he was a lead singer. Enough said. I interviewed them and that’s that. I’m sure lots of kids will love them and hopefully they have a heart to minister to these kids. I didn’t pick that up but i was only with them for 4 minutes. Check em out, maybe you will like them.
#10. The Imperials
The Imperials are an old time group. They claim to have toured with Elvis Presley… OLD! I had never heard of them but i guess they are huge with the older folks. One of the guys from the group made sure we knew that they had won a bunch of dove awards and a couple grammy. They announced they are changing their name to Standing Still and are going to try and make a come back, reaching a broader audience. Interesting. I didn’t do much talking or question asking in the “interview” they did most of the talking for me.
So that was my experience. Check out some of this music and enjoy!
Well it’s the first Monday of 09 so i thought i needed to start the year out strong!
In 2 ways…
#1. i needed to start 09 strong by actually posting some tunes on the first monday of the year.
The goal is to do music monday EVERY monday. That doesn’t always happen but so far it has happened every monday of this year, starting strong!
#2. I needed to start 09 strong by posting some thoughts on some STRONG / Stellar tunes!
Bon Iver qualifies!
I have been listening to this guy on repeats for months and months now. So many of you probably know his stuff and love it as much as i but for those of you that don’t, DROP EVERYTHING right now and click on one of the links below or watch one of the videos, it will rip your face off!
And he is coming out with a new CD this month would will probably be amazing!
I am really looking forward to hearing it!
Just great tunes. For me these are songs that get my mind running and just really connect on a deep and profound level. I would say something about the SOUL but who knows what that is. But Bon Iver’s music really does resonate somewhere deep inside though. @ with least me.
So listening to this song while i sit at St. Starbuck with the queen of the suburbs, a very ironic gesture if you ask me. Thinking, praying and wondering how i live a less ironic kind of life.
#1. 
#2. 
#3. 
#4. 
#5. 
