April Music Review Wrap-Up

I get a lot of great pre-releases each and every month, but being a one-woman operation makes it difficult to do reviews and “Take 5′s” with all these great artists.  So at the end of each month, I’m going to try to do a wrap-up on what’s been released.

Last Tuesday (April 21), Jars of Clay released their umpteenth album, The Long Fall Back to Earth (Gray Matters/Essential).  Of course, the album is wonderful, progressive, thoughtful, and genius.  Since I received the album I’ve been trying to think of a creative way to articulate its brilliance, but there are other writers who have done a much better job than I could.  Look, just buy the album; it’s really good.

Newcomer Sarah Reeves also released a 7-song EP Sweet, Sweet Sound (Sparrow) on April 21.  The 19 year-old is cute as a button with flaming red hair to boot, but don’t let her looks fool you.  This girl has stand-out vocals.  She has an airy Leigh Nash quality with a little more oomph, yet doesn’t overpower her songs.  The result are simply beautiful songs that are contemporary and worshipful, but within the pop-rock genre.  Sarah Reeves is one of the best female singers to debut so far this year.

Robert Pierre released his sophomore album Identity (Integrity) April 28 and it’s a pop punk festival of fun.  Having never listened to his first album, I was pretty skeptical about the kid.  I mean, he’s only 16, how good could he be?  Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised.  While he’s a bit too bubblegum pop for me, I can see ‘tweens really digging him.

Oh Snap! (EMI) Philmont did it again.  The album was first released digitally last summer and then was re-released in album format with a new song (“The Ascension”) on April 21.  The band has an early Relient K feel and the band delivers an energy-packed first album.

And…that’s a wrap (up)!

Welcome back to the new Backseat Writer!

For those of you who’ve been following the first year of Backseat Writer, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s been a long couple of months.  And in case you missed it, I’ve changed the format to a one-woman show with the occassional guest poster (read “Two Shall Become One” to catch up).  Oh, we’re going to have oodles of fun together, I promise!

Here’s some of the fun that’s a’coming::

*A review of The Decemberists’ latest project, The Hazard of Love releasing March 24 as well as reviews of upcoming releases from Falling Up, FM Static, Lanae’ Hall, Jars of Clay.

*Take 5′s with folk artist Peasant, rockers Abandon Kansas, Philip LaRue and many more!

*Book reviews galore, including Your Brain on Joy by Dr. Daniel Amen, Ray Blackston’s latest novel; The Last Mango in Texas; and Agnes’s Jacket by Gail Hornstein.

*And, of couse, my own atypical musings, including some thoughts on how I am being stalked by celery.

Review:: X: Christmas – Tooth and Nail Records

By Moriah Coxen Anytime you ask a rock ‘n’ roll band to cover a classic Christmas song, you’re going to get something interesting.  Tooth and Nail Records’ (T&N) X: Christmas compilation, a follow-up to Happy Christmas, is no exception.

Creativity:: 10 This album does not disappoint with The Almost (Aaron Gillespie) covering “The Little Drummer Boy” and Seventh Day Slumber reminding us to listen with “Do You Hear What I Hear?” August Burns Red brings joy to any hardcore fan with “Carol of the Bells” (an instrumental track), which includes the most kick-drum beats in Christmas music history. Hawk Nelson’s “Gloria” is a clever combination, using the classic chorus tune but in the verses tells the story the lead singer wanting “the girl of my dreams” for Christmas.

Original Songs:: 9 Switchfoot’s “Evergreen” appears in T&N’s Christmas compilation (originally recorded for the Happy Christmas album in 1998). KJ-52 forks over a Floridian’s view of winter-y things in “It’s Christmas Time” with talks of going to the beach on Christmas Eve—amusing. However, I found the chipmunks-on-helium-sounding background vocals a bit annoying. “His Favorite Christmas Story” is a touching tale of a man retelling the story of his favorite Christmas moment The album is complete with “Christmas Shoes,” the sappiest song on the record.

Classic Covers:: 8— Crunching guitars kicks off this musical adventure through the holidays with Thousand Foot Krutch’s “Jingle Bell Rock,” putting you in the right mood for what’s about to go down. Anberlin’s “Christmas, Baby Please Come Home” is filled with passion and yearning, while FM Static’s rendition of “Christmas Shoes” brings a nice pop-punk feel to what could be the most tear-jerking Christmas song of all time. Jars of Clay does a beautiful rendition of “Love Came Down at Christmas,” and Sanctus Real delivers a softer, epic “Silent Night.” David Crowder Band’s “Feliz Navidad” provides an interesting switch that seems awkward at first but then warms you like a good bean burrito. Cameron Jaymes of The Jaymes Reunion’s smooth vocals confirm that “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” can be done in a “new old fashioned way”. Project 86 gives a memorable rendition of “This Time of the Year” with eerie sounds, while Corey Crowder’s “Angels We Have Heard On High” and Kutless’s “Mary Did You Know?” seem lackluster in the creativity department.

Musical Score:: 9— Anything with the Tooth and Nail logo will be edgy–no doubt. So along with Christmas albums of the past, X: Christmas brings shredding guitars merrily together with choir bells and double-kick drums with the occasional seasonal sounding harmony.

Overall Holly Jolliness:: 7 —The overall Holly Jolliness is a 7 because I was more interested in how the covers were delivered and how they were different than thinking about my family and stocking stuffers.

Total:: 44— Keep your eyes peeled for this album as the paper is flying Christmas morning—it’s probably going to be there.

Print copy of review.

To read our review guide lines, go here.

You can find X: Christmas and the rest of our great “12 Days of Christmas Music” reviewed albums in Backseat Writer’s online store, Drive-By Shopping, under the “12 Days of Christmas Music” category!

Brandon Heath :: Social Activist

By Amy Sondova Fresh from Ireland and getting ready to play at a convention in Orlando, Brandon Heath caught up with me on his way to a sound check. “I actually called you 10 minutes late on my schedule,” he sheepishly admits. Such is the busy life of a musician on the precipice of releasing his latest project, What If We (Reunion). Despite his hectic life, Brandon was eager to chat about his sophomore album and social justice.

Since our last interview (read Brandon Heath :: Missional Musician), Brandon moved from Nashville to Houston, accepting the position of worship leader at The Loft. “They just invited me to come. I felt like God was calling me to do it.” He then adds, “It seems very atypical. It just doesn’t seem like the traditional route to go when you’re trying to launch a career, but for some reason, it made sense.” Then again, Brandon’s never been a traditional musician.

He began his career writing songs for artists such as Bebo Norman and Matt Wertz. Recording an album of his own wasn’t on Brandon’s radar. When producer and friend Dan Muckala heard Brandon perform the Dove Award nominated song “Our God Reigns” the first time, he urged Brandon to record his first album, Don’t Get Comfortable. This project launched Brandon into the spotlight with several Dove Award nominations and the prestigious honor of winning “New Artist of the Year.”

Building on the successes of “Don’t Get Comfortable,” Brandon continues to do things that challenge him musically, as evidenced by the album’s first single, “Give Me Your Eyes.” Written after people-watching in an airport, the song is fused with a slight hip-hop sound, a definite departure from Brandon’s easy folk vocals. When asked if fans were jolted by the new sound, Brandon laughs replying, “I knew people would be a little surprised. If you listen to it two or three times, it’s like, OK, I can see Brandon doing this. I had to think about myself doing it actually. I thought, can I do this? Then the more I thought about it, I was like, yeah, I can do this.” Musing a moment, like he often does during the interview, Brandon adds, “It’s good to take risks.”

Risk seems to be a way of life for Brandon, who has traveled to India with his friend and mentor, Bob Goff of Restore International, and to Uganda with Blood:Water Mission. He is also joining Sara Groves, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, and Charlie Peacock this fall for the Art*Music*Justice Tour. Talking about our mutual love of Derek Webb’s music, I ask Brandon why people should check out the tour. He quips, “Besides the fact that Derek Webb’s on it, Sandra McCracken, his wife, is on it, too. That’s the other reason you should go.”

After a moment of banter, Brandon explains why he chose to tour with some of his songwriting heroes this fall. “This tour fits me so perfectly. It’s about issues that really are a burden for me to pray for and to ask other people to think about—human trafficking and figuring out how to handle the problem of human slavery in the world. It should not still exist.”

He passionately continues, “It exists because of corrupt governments, poverty, and greed. How do we figure out how to make it go away? I’m ready to see justice happen and to see people healed. This is my way of contributing to the education and hopefully, the actions of others.”

Before hitting the road in September, Brandon will once again travel with Bob Goff to Uganda. Having already visited, Brandon is eager to return. He will be spending time learning about those who reside in huge Internally Displaced Person (IDP, formerly refugee) camps. “They’re supposed to be temporary, but they’re not,” shares Brandon. “The people are literally living on top of one another.” The trip involves investigating ways the government of Uganda and others can help IDP’s move into villages and sustain a living outside of the camps.

Not only does Brandon want to inspire others with social justice through his travels, but he wants to offer hope through songwriting. While traveling, touring, and leading worship, Brandon keeps writing songs. Besides the new hip-hip groove on “What If We,” the album uses rougher guitar sounds and gruffer vocals, inspired by Brandon’s recent Western movie viewing, which is evidenced by his biographical song, “Wait and See”. To achieve this acoustic, Brandon shares, “Little known fact: all of my vocals were recorded in a bathroom—in the bathroom at my producer’s studio.” It’s this sort of innovation that make Muckala one of Nashville’s most sought-after producers. Really.

Besides dishing on bathroom vocals, Brandon also discusses the benefits of international marriage. “If you marry someone from another country, you get dual citizenship… but that’s probably not a good reason to get married.”

The single 30 year-old musician admits that being unmarried can make his travels lonely at times. “There are days when I’m really content doing what I’m doing because I know I’m in a season where God’s got me on the road. Honestly, if I was married, I would want to be home; I wouldn’t want to be gone.”

Using his more signature sound, Brandon conveys his thoughts about solitude in “When I’m Alone.” Yet there are days when he feels the sting of being a bachelor. “On the other hand, you want to share your life with somebody. The other day I had a guy who’s 25 pat me on the back and say, ‘You’ll understand someday.’ It made my skin crawl.”

Just because he’s not married, doesn’t mean that Brandon isn’t a romantic, at least when it comes to writing songs. What If We features a few love songs, including the heart-wrenching, “London.” Brandon explains, “I wrote it with Chad Cates, but it’s really about his experience in London, missing his fiancée.” Then there’s “Listen Up,” a song in which a man comes to the realization that he didn’t hear his beloved’s heart when she was talking about her troubles. “To me, it’s like we [men] end up talking too much. The truth is, we don’t know what to say so we say dumb things that get us in trouble,” says Brandon, explaining the mystery of why men make insensitive remarks to distraught women.

A huge Jars of Clay fan, Brandon was excited to co-write “Sore Eyes” with the band. “They play all the instruments and background vocals; I’m just doing lead vocals.” The song was written about a sassy girl who seemed to be down all the time. “I don’t think she was really sad, but she thought that kind of demeanor worked for her.”

Slightly darker is “Sunrise,” a song inspired by the movie, No Country For Old Men. Brandon even wanted the lyrics and sound to mimic the movie. “The song is about people who stay awake all night and wonder, ‘How long until I die?’ It’s really about fear and being afraid. Sometimes the dark is the scariest time, but light give us a little hope because we can see the situation for what it is.”

It’s this light that Brandon hopes to shine on social justice, fueled by ministry and music as conduits for change. Not just social change, but personal change—both topics on which he is particularly loquacious. Like all good things, our dialogue came to an end, with Brandon rushing off to do a sound check with his band—at least 10 minutes behind schedule.

Print copy of interview.

Brandon Heath: Missional Musician

Written in April 2007

By Amy Sondova Three months ago recording artist Brandon Heath was at a Kenyan clinic sharing information on breast-feeding with HIV-infected mothers. But on the day of this interview, Heath is in Dallas chatting on his cell phone from a Target parking lot only an hour before catching a plane to Grand Rapids. Towards the end of the interview, Heath asks apologetically if he could check his e-mail, “I’m gonna carry my phone into Starbucks, okay?” What a difference a day makes.

A self-described “recovering introvert”, Heath was launched into the public eye last year with the release of his debut album, Don’t Get Comfortable (Reunion). Having written songs for artists such as Bebo Norman and Joy Williams, this songwriter never expected to record an album himself. Ironically, it is Heath’s 2007 Dove Award-nominated song, “Our God Reigns,” that started his journey into the music spotlight.

“The song itself was written on a plane ride home from Seattle, WA in 2003,” explains Heath. “I just saw President Bush on television talking about the war and I thought about the hopelessness in the Middle East. I thought, ‘God are you there, too? Because it sure doesn’t seem like it.’ And the answer was, ‘Absolutely!’” Realizing he had been putting too much faith in President Bush and not enough in God, Heath was struck by the majesty of God, “It was a moment of ‘God, You reign over all the earth, not just Nashville or in the U.S., but over all the earth. You are omnipotent and omniscient and I’m gonna praise You right here on this plane!” Writing the chorus of his now famous song on the plane and finishing it when he got home, Heath then sang his new worship song in church that Sunday, where it caught the attention of fellow worship leader and producer, Dan Muckala (Backstreet Boys, The Afters).

When Muckala approached Heath about recording an album that would include the song “Our God Reigns”, Heath was a bit ambivalent. “Being a recording artist, you have to put yourself out there and be somewhat of a public person. I’m kind of private,” he explains. It was then that Heath decided the life he was living was a bit too comfortable so he made some changes that included visiting India with close friend, Bob Goff, founder of Restore International.

After being adopted by the Goff family, Heath says that Bob opened his eyes to the atrocities being committed against others worldwide, “I’d heard about the slave trade and sex tourism with little girls and it disgusted me, but I didn’t think I could make an impact until I saw what Bob was doing.” Using his skills as a lawyer, Goff who hails from San Diego travels to countries such as India, Uganda, and soon Nepal, where the human trafficking is rampant and lobbies on the behalf of the enslaved.

A native of Nashville, Heath and fellow musician Matt Wertz did something even more risky, they moved to a low-income part of Nashville, where gunshots sliced through the silence of the night and drug deals are commonplace. “There weren’t many people like me—not the same race, not the same demographic, not the same age and it was very uncomfortable for me for the first couple of months that I lived there, but it’s changed me. I’ve learned to live with people who don’t have much. I’ve learned a lot from listening to their stories and finding out who I am in contrast to who they are,” he shares.

As if that wasn’t enough, Heath then decided to join friend, Charlie Lowell of Jars of Clay, and seven others on a trip to Africa. Led by 25 year-old Jena Lee, the main force behind Jars of Clay’s Blood: Water Mission, the group toured poor villages who had received wells from the mission. That’s how Heath found himself at an AIDS clinic also supported by Blood: Water Mission talking to new mothers about breast milk.

His voice full of emotion, Heath explains that these AIDS-infected mothers learned for the first time that their breast milk could infect their babies with the HIV virus. Never in his life did Heath imagine he would sit down and educate people on another continent about AIDS, “Honestly, they were thankful to know what they had because they knew they were sick; they just didn’t know what it was. That was huge for me, to be part of the solution.”

Eager to return to Africa, Heath’s heart for the oppressed is evident, “These people have been through so much—through genocide, through famine, through a lot of sickness, through being a forgotten people in the world.” Ironically, originally Heath wasn’t sure he wanted to go to Africa because he was afraid of how he would be changed.

Then he heard how AIDS was changing the face of the continent and knew that being uncomfortable was exactly what he needed.

In fact, Heath has now characterized his life by just that—being uncomfortable. “I’ve never seen Christ so real in my life because I have to trust that He’s with me in what I’m doing—living in a high crime area, going to Africa where I could very well get malaria. I’m definitely not comfortable, but I like life better this way.” Life is more real for Heath who’d prefer to live the life of a disciple, rather than that of a cultural Christian.

Of course, life on the edge also has its moments of inspiration. Take one Christmas Eve when Heath spied a woman looking for food around the front of his house. Heath says, “I opened the door and said, ‘Are you hungry?’ and she said, ‘If you got any food, yeah, I’d love that.’ My family was there so I invited her to come and join my family for Christmas Eve dinner.” As Heath and his roommates befriended this ragged woman, they began to share the love of Christ with her.

It was this woman who inspired “Red Sky”, one of the most poignant songs on “Don’t Get Comfortable”. The song combines the old sailor’s saying, “Red sky tonight, sailor’s delight;, red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning” with the reality of living in a fallen world. According to sailor’s myth, a red sky at night signifies that the next day would be smooth sailing for a ship, but a red sky in the morning signaled a day of stormy seas. Heath says he thought it could be a metaphor for the Christian faith, “What a cool way to say, ‘God, show me that tomorrow’s going to be a better day because this one is scary. If you’ll give me a red sky, at least I’ll know that tomorrow’s going to be a better day.’” It is with a red sky that Heath prays his friend will be covered.

Living an authentic life is important to Heath. “I’m not as cool as you think I am,” he assures and then emphatically adds, “I don’t think people just want rock stars anymore. They want to know that people who are doing music are just like them. That’s what I want! I look up to people who I feel are somewhat attainable and their lives aren’t squeaky clean.”

Heath’s ability to be real about his experiences not only shines through his music, but his lifestyle as well, “It’s a challenge for me to live what I preach. If I say I’m gonna do it, I gotta do it or I’m a fraud.” And if anyone will spot Heath as a fraud, it’s the teens he works with at Young Life summer camps.

After becoming a Christ-follower at Young Life camps as a teenager, Heath has devoted part of his summers playing music for and with teenagers at camps. “A lot of times kids bring their guitar to camp and they may or may not be a good songwriter. So I’ll sit down with them and we’ll write a song together, then I have the kid come up on stage and we’ll sing,” Heath says. Empowering teens is an important part of youth ministry according to Heath, who didn’t write himself until a camp counselor gave him a journal. Heath felt that it was the first time in his life that someone gave him “permission” to write. Doing the same thing for inspiring songwriters in your youth group can be the push students need for success, but be honest when you give your student feedback, Heath advises.

“Do things that inspire you,” Heath says, still talking about teenagers. “Don’t be afraid to write down your thoughts and share them.” But, then again, it’s a message everyone needs to hear. Sometimes following God can cost a great deal, even our comfort. But if you ask Brandon Heath, life is far better when it’s uncomfortable.

Update: Brandon Heath recently joined together with fellow musicians to raise nearly $20,000 for the Macon County, Tennessee hurricane victims. He has also received three 2008 Dove Award nominations in both the Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song categories for “I’m Not Who I Was” and also a nomination for New Artist of the Year. Click here to see the music video for “I’m Not Who I Was”.

Print copy of article.

Music Review: Ringing in Christmas

Written in December 2007

By Amy Sondova The sounds of the season are all around us—screaming kids who can’t wait for Santa, blaring horns from traffic jams in mall parking lots, the sound of the Christmas tree being knocked over by the pet. Ah, Christmas! But fortunately you can cover all that pesky background noise with albums by Relient K, Bebo Norman, Michael W. Smith, and Jars of Clay that were just released this holiday season.

Relient K, Let It Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer (Capitol)
This year Relient K released their first full-length Christmas album reworking some classics like “12 Days of Christmas”, “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas”, and many more. Pulling songs from their EP Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand and other holiday compilations, the result is a pleasing, solid album, which makes a perfect present for everyone on your list, except maybe your grandmother. The band’s rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” will sound oddly familiar to fans of the Beach Boys Christmas Album. Right down to the last detail, Relient K does an impressive cover of the Beach Boys’ version of “Auld Lang Syne”. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Relient K album without a couple of moody ballads like “I Hate Christmas Parties” and “In Like a Lion (Always Winter)”. It’s a grand mixture of rock, pop punk, excellent vocals, merriment, and melancholy—like a nice holiday meal at a Christmas party; that is, unless you hate Christmas parties. (You can read more about Relient K in the interview, “Building on the Best Things ”).

Bebo Norman, Christmas: From the Realms of Glory (BEC)
Bebo Norman’s acoustic guitar skills, smooth vocals, and gentle spirit come together to capture an element of wonder at Jesus’ birth more than 2000 years later. Using the song “Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Browne as the foundation for this album, Norman takes us through the scandal of Jesus’ birth to the wonder at the event to the reaction of the heavenly host. “Rebel Jesus” is a haunting reminder of the purpose behind Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection reminding listeners to take care of the poor and oppressed. Looking at Jesus’ birth from a heavenly perspective, “Born to Die” is a song about how the angels may have been perplexed by the God coming to earth as an infant. The chorus resounds, “And the angels filled the sky/All of Heaven wondered why/Why their King would choose to be/Be a baby born to die.” Drawing heavily on acoustic guitar and folk/grass roots, the album is simplistic and uncomplicated, yet deeply thoughtful and profound.

Michael W. Smith, It’s a Wonderful Christmas (Reunion)
Four different choirs and an orchestra of 67 different instruments have come together with the vocals of Michael W. Smith to make a Christmas album that is sure to please almost everyone. Masterfully orchestrated, It’s A Wonderful Christmas, takes listeners on a journey of delight with old time melodies such as “What Child Is This” and “A Highland Carol”. The album is composed of mostly original MWS material including “Audrey’s Gift”, a pretty little instrumental track. Citing John Williams as one of his inspirations when composing this epic album, the result is an album that is truly bright and beautiful, like a well-decorated Christmas tree. It’s MWS’ twentieth album, yet he remains ever the gentleman presenting listeners with a tasteful, yet elegant, Christmas recording. It also comes highly recommended by Smith’s son-in-law Jack Mooring of the band, Leeland.

Jars of Clay, Christmas Songs (Nettwerk)
Christmas Songs is one strange album. After a few spins on the DVD player, the album begins to rub off on listeners. Jars of Clay once again challenges the norm, by making an ethereal Christmas recording that builds on the experimental elements of Good Monsters. The band even remixed their previously released version of “Little Drummer Boy”. Christmas Songs includes classics as well as a few original songs including “Winter Skin”, “Hibernation Day”, and “Peace Is Here”. Jars of Clay’s version of “Wonderful Christmastime” is even better than the original. It’s far from a typical Christmas album, yet its artistry is as undeniable as its charm.

Print copy of review.

Top 10 Best Christmas Songs

I’ve told you what songs I don’t get, but here are a few of the songs I love!

1. “I Celebrate the Day” by Relient K One of the best Christmas songs ever written. Full of meaning and wonder, Matt Thiessen is a gifted lyricist.

2. “Born to Die” by Bebo Norman Off of Bebo’s latest album, Christmas From the Realms of Glory, this song has really put Christmas into perspective this year. Go Bebo!

3. “Carol of the Bells” Mae’s version I’ve always loved this song, and Mae does it best.

4. “River” by Sarah McLachlan I love depressing holiday songs. A big shout out to Dan Fogelberg’s “Another Auld Lang Syne.” It was my favorite depressing song until Sarah released Wintersong last year.

5. “Santa’s Beard” by The Beach Boys A kid meets Santa, figures out he’s a fraud, but then there’s a happy ending! Yay!

6. “O, Holy Night” (Rebecca St. James does a killer version of this song!) I love this song, except for that horrible version circling the internet. Rebecca St. James put out a great Christmas album in 1997ish.

7. “Of Hearth and Home”–Phil Keaggy & the London Festival Orchestra If you don’t own Wonder and Majesty, you’ve got to get it.

8. “You Gotta Get Up (Christmas Song)”–Rich Mullins This is such a cute song about kids who are excited about getting up on Christmas morning.  Sarah and I play it ever Christmas morning.  And, it’s Rich Mullins.  He’s one of the best singer/songwriters in the history of singing/songwriting.  Buy all his albums…NOW!

9. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24–Trans-Siberian Orchestra You can’t have Christmas without the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

10. “Strange Way to Save the World”–4Him I love this song!

**Best Ghost Track on any Christmas album–”Good King Wesceslas” from Relient K’s Let it Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer**

Oh My God Link

Today’s thoughts can be found here. Why post again when I got it so good the first time? But I will post the video of the song that inspired it all.