Song: "Vanity"
Album: Fool's Paradise
Artist: Monday Morning
Let me start with this: most of you probably know the most popular song from this album, "Wonder of it All." That song has been rock solid for me in helping me to remember that where I am is not where I came from, and qualifies as one of the best Christian music songs ever. Period.
You probably also know that the song still isn't available on any digital download format. Go figure.
I, as I did with our previous feature, went the extra step of tracking down the album and buying it second-hand (just like we used to do 20 years ago - buy the whole album just for one track . . .)
I was less impressed with this album, overall, but I did find a couple of songs that I really like. I'm going to share one with you today: "Vanity."
"Vanity" hits hard. The song was released at a time when alternative metal was still a large part of pop music (I miss those days), and it has a lot of the attributes you'd expect from an alt-metal classic: thick distortion, drop tuning, minor progressions, and self-reflection.
What I love best about this song is that 1) the lead singer from Monday Morning is singing from his heart, 2) the song has a strong sense of introspection, and 3) the song provides an answer. So much of the secular alt-metal from those days offered lots of emotional agony and sorrow, but never provided a lot of hope. "Vanity" points squarely at the reason for the despair: your own vanity. Solve that, and we can start to repair the emotional hurt that we've put ourselves through by not putting God first. Nice.
Please, let us know what you think of "Vanity," and stay tuned for more great selections from Christina Music Discovery.
P.S. Did you know that this album was produced by John Elefante? As in "That's Why God Made The Moon" John Elefante? Yeah, I was shocked too . . .
P.P.S. I love the imagery of the album artwork.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
"The Ringleader" - DJ Maj featuring Lisa Kimmey
Song: "The Ringleader"
Album: The Ringleader, Mixtape: Part III
Artist: DJ Maj featuring Lisa Kimmey
Before I get into the song, I have to tell you a story:
This album, The Ringleader, was one of the last CDs that I ever bough new. Like, new, with the original packaging and seal, sold as new at the store. I bought it at a Best Buy in 2003 (or '04; I don't remember exactly). I was seventeen.
It was the first CD that I had bought new in a while, and I absolutely fell in love with it once the first track started to play (which this track is, minus the intro). I loved it so much that I gave it to one of the youth leaders from church so that he could borrow it. I hadn't burned myself a copy, as I was certainly expecting to get it back.
Now, my youth leader really liked it, too. He liked it so much, in fact, that he was listening to it when he totaled is car. Now, he was fine - he drove one of those super-lifted mid-80s Suburbans, and someone ended up trying to make a left turn in front of him. His vehicle crushed the other one, but tipped over and fell on it's side in the process. Again, everyone was OK.
A couple of weeks after the accident, having not given it another thought, I asked for the CD back. It was at this point that he informed me that I wasn't going to get it back for the reasons stated above. Needless to say, I was devastated.
Fast forward a few years: after I got on the iTunes train, I kept checking periodically to see if it would become available (as of the publishing of this post, it still isn't). Then, I started checking Amazon MP3; still nothing. Finally (after somehow forgetting), I realized that I could check for it as a used item for sale, and after about nine years found it and purchased it. That's how much I enjoyed this album.
All that to say this: I love this song. I had never heard of DJ Maj before, and haven't really followed his music since, but this song is awesome. It has a very late-90s feel to it, good instrumentation, a fun and groovy beat, and great lyrics. Lisa Kimmy, the lead singer of Out of Eden (remember them?) and the featured female vocal on the track, sounds like she's having a lot of fun singing the song, and really gets the point across: no matter how hard you try to say otherwise, everything you see points back to God as the master and creator of all.
As Christians, we have a tendency to debate a lot, which is fine; some people won't come to Christ if you don't take the time to address their ideas and questions in light of His truth. Ultimately, though, people have to know that, no matter the questions, God is still the final answer.
You will enjoy this song. In case I'm wrong, though, feel free to leave us some feedback, and stay tuned for more great selections from Christian Music Discovery!
P,S. I think I'm up to four albums now that I've purchased used that I simply haven't been able to find elsewhere; you better believe I'm going to be featuring more music from them, so stay tuned . . .
Album: The Ringleader, Mixtape: Part III
Artist: DJ Maj featuring Lisa Kimmey
Before I get into the song, I have to tell you a story:
This album, The Ringleader, was one of the last CDs that I ever bough new. Like, new, with the original packaging and seal, sold as new at the store. I bought it at a Best Buy in 2003 (or '04; I don't remember exactly). I was seventeen.
It was the first CD that I had bought new in a while, and I absolutely fell in love with it once the first track started to play (which this track is, minus the intro). I loved it so much that I gave it to one of the youth leaders from church so that he could borrow it. I hadn't burned myself a copy, as I was certainly expecting to get it back.
Now, my youth leader really liked it, too. He liked it so much, in fact, that he was listening to it when he totaled is car. Now, he was fine - he drove one of those super-lifted mid-80s Suburbans, and someone ended up trying to make a left turn in front of him. His vehicle crushed the other one, but tipped over and fell on it's side in the process. Again, everyone was OK.
A couple of weeks after the accident, having not given it another thought, I asked for the CD back. It was at this point that he informed me that I wasn't going to get it back for the reasons stated above. Needless to say, I was devastated.
Fast forward a few years: after I got on the iTunes train, I kept checking periodically to see if it would become available (as of the publishing of this post, it still isn't). Then, I started checking Amazon MP3; still nothing. Finally (after somehow forgetting), I realized that I could check for it as a used item for sale, and after about nine years found it and purchased it. That's how much I enjoyed this album.
All that to say this: I love this song. I had never heard of DJ Maj before, and haven't really followed his music since, but this song is awesome. It has a very late-90s feel to it, good instrumentation, a fun and groovy beat, and great lyrics. Lisa Kimmy, the lead singer of Out of Eden (remember them?) and the featured female vocal on the track, sounds like she's having a lot of fun singing the song, and really gets the point across: no matter how hard you try to say otherwise, everything you see points back to God as the master and creator of all.
As Christians, we have a tendency to debate a lot, which is fine; some people won't come to Christ if you don't take the time to address their ideas and questions in light of His truth. Ultimately, though, people have to know that, no matter the questions, God is still the final answer.
You will enjoy this song. In case I'm wrong, though, feel free to leave us some feedback, and stay tuned for more great selections from Christian Music Discovery!
P,S. I think I'm up to four albums now that I've purchased used that I simply haven't been able to find elsewhere; you better believe I'm going to be featuring more music from them, so stay tuned . . .
Thursday, November 19, 2015
"Jesus, You Gave It All" - Darlene Zschech/Hillsong
Song: "Jesus, You Gave It All"
Album: Touching Heaven, Changing Earth
Artist: Darlene Zschech/Hillsong
One of my absolute favorite things in this world is hearing an awesome worship song for the first time, then finding out that it's already ten or fifteen years old. That's what Christian Music Discovery is all about: taking these gems of God-inspired music and sharing them so that they can bless the people of God.
That being said, I present to you one such song: "Jesus, You Gave It All" by Darlene Zschech (though you can tell that the whole Hillsong crew is there with her).
I absolutely love this song. Everything about this song is perfect, from the intro, to that recurring lick/progression, to the heavy bass (Hillsong has never been afraid of bass or distortion), to the hook at the end and the guitar solo. I love that Darlene always gives herself completely over in worship and literally gives it all.
It is also a fantastic reminder for every point in life: feel like living the Christ life (not a typo) is too hard? Jesus gave it ALL for you; does it feel like God has forgotten you? Well, Jesus gave it all for YOU. Feel like you're not worthy of God's love? Hey, Jesus GAVE it all for you.
No matter where we are in life, you can be comforted by remembering that Jesus gave it all for you. Let's celebrate that!
Now, as a bonus, I included this clip I found of them doing it live. You'll see what I'm talking about in giving yourself over in worship.
Album: Touching Heaven, Changing Earth
Artist: Darlene Zschech/Hillsong
One of my absolute favorite things in this world is hearing an awesome worship song for the first time, then finding out that it's already ten or fifteen years old. That's what Christian Music Discovery is all about: taking these gems of God-inspired music and sharing them so that they can bless the people of God.
That being said, I present to you one such song: "Jesus, You Gave It All" by Darlene Zschech (though you can tell that the whole Hillsong crew is there with her).
I absolutely love this song. Everything about this song is perfect, from the intro, to that recurring lick/progression, to the heavy bass (Hillsong has never been afraid of bass or distortion), to the hook at the end and the guitar solo. I love that Darlene always gives herself completely over in worship and literally gives it all.
It is also a fantastic reminder for every point in life: feel like living the Christ life (not a typo) is too hard? Jesus gave it ALL for you; does it feel like God has forgotten you? Well, Jesus gave it all for YOU. Feel like you're not worthy of God's love? Hey, Jesus GAVE it all for you.
No matter where we are in life, you can be comforted by remembering that Jesus gave it all for you. Let's celebrate that!
Now, as a bonus, I included this clip I found of them doing it live. You'll see what I'm talking about in giving yourself over in worship.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
"Truth About God" - All Together Separate
Song: "Truth About God"
Album: All Together Separate
Artist: All Together Separate
This whole album is amazing, but today we're featuring the blues. This track hits hard but maintains a wonderful, bluesy attitude, nicely integrating some organ and a fantastic guitar solo.
As far as what the song's about, the title says it all: you can look everywhere you want to, but ultimately, God is the final answer, and to look for fulfillment elsewhere is to commit yourself to a struggle that leaves you weary and restless.
Enjoy!
Album: All Together Separate
Artist: All Together Separate
This whole album is amazing, but today we're featuring the blues. This track hits hard but maintains a wonderful, bluesy attitude, nicely integrating some organ and a fantastic guitar solo.
As far as what the song's about, the title says it all: you can look everywhere you want to, but ultimately, God is the final answer, and to look for fulfillment elsewhere is to commit yourself to a struggle that leaves you weary and restless.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
"God Is" - R.W. Schambauch feat. Lance Palmer
Song: "God Is"
Album: "R.W. Schambauch: Live In Brooklyn"
Artist: R.W. Schambauch feat. Lance Palmer
This is an oldie, but goodie. A redo of the traditional gospel song by Reverend James Cleveland. Lance Palmer is the one doing all of the (male) singing. A truly strengthening and empowering song about allowing God to be your everything, and committing yourself fully to Him.
Enjoy.
Album: "R.W. Schambauch: Live In Brooklyn"
Artist: R.W. Schambauch feat. Lance Palmer
This is an oldie, but goodie. A redo of the traditional gospel song by Reverend James Cleveland. Lance Palmer is the one doing all of the (male) singing. A truly strengthening and empowering song about allowing God to be your everything, and committing yourself fully to Him.
Enjoy.
Monday, July 27, 2015
"All For You" - Fusebox
Song: "All For You"
Album: "Once Again"
Artist: Fusebox
An absolutely wonderful alt-metal worship song from little-known Fusebox (best known as Rebecca St. James' backing band back in the day). I love this song, and it's not even my favorite on the album.
Enjoy.
Album: "Once Again"
Artist: Fusebox
An absolutely wonderful alt-metal worship song from little-known Fusebox (best known as Rebecca St. James' backing band back in the day). I love this song, and it's not even my favorite on the album.
Enjoy.
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