"You Are My Peace" - Inhabited

Song: You Are My Peace

Artist: Inhabited

Album: The Revolution

So, a buddy of mine from work passed away recently.  As I was driving to his memorial service, this is the song that rose up in me.  I wanted to share it with you.

I've always enjoyed Inhabited's music, and they deserve more recognition than I'm giving them here. Given the circumstances and the inspiration behind this post, though, I'm going to keep it to this.  Please enjoy the song, and I hope it helps you find peace in whatever situation you are dealing with right now:

"Vanity" - Monday Morning

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.

"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.

"Better For You" - Kutless

Hello, Christian music fans!

Today's number is Kutless' "Better For You" from the album "Sea Of Faces."  Now, everyone probably remembers the song "Sea Of Faces"; it really was one of Kutless' greatest hits.  What made me little sad, though, was how much it obscured the rest of the album.  "Sea Of Faces" (the album) was one of those albums where you can sit and listen to the whole thing without skipping a song, and "Better For You" is a great example of why.  It's not even my favorite song from the album, but it rocks, and talks about the importance of taking the more narrow, seemingly more difficult road, instead of taking the wide road that leads to destruction.  Did I mention it rocks?  

Enjoy the video below, and don't forget to keep checking back with us for more updates at Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian music.

"Under My Skin" - Skillet

You can't say enough about Skillet: dynamic songwriting, well-blended vocals, intricate musical arrangements, and, most importantly, a kick-you-in-the-face sound that leaves you wanting more every time.  Yet, for all the things that can be said of Skillet, it saddens me sometimes that some of their best work goes largely unrecognized.  Case in point?  The song "Under My Skin" from the album "Collide."

Now, Skillet's sound is unmistakable: thick, often crushing guitars typically teamed with violin and cello, and the occasional keyboard or piano.  They usually take you for a ride right from the get go and keep you at full speed until the end.  So it's something to note when John Cooper, Skillet's frontman and lead songwriter, starts us out with an acoustic guitar on "Under My Skin:" something important is going to be said, and we need to pay special attention to what's coming.

The message behind "Under My Skin" is simple enough: even when everything on the outside (and even the things on the inside) seem chaotic and out of control, the peace that comes from God's presence inside completely overtakes the pain, and as we draw close to Him, everything else just fades away.  A powerful message, yes, but the thing that makes this song extra special is the way that message is communicated.

The first words that the listener gets to hear: "When I feel You close to me, it's easy to believe."  That's an extremely profound statement.  At the time, the listener may not feel like God is anywhere near them, but John Cooper helps us understand that God is near, and we need only allow Him to come in.  "You calm the ache, I come awake when you are everything you are."  Yes, God is a God that is able to heal us in times of hurt and pain.  What a wonderful truth.

Now, in terms of their normal sound, Skillet doesn't disappoint; "Under My Skin" still kicks in with a heavily driven chorus.  The lyrics here serve to neatly sum up the message: "When I hurt, when I bleed, You're holding me, feel you scratching at the surface under my skin."  Yes, that just about sums it up.  But there's one more part of this song that makes it extra special, and it's one of the reasons why I feel this song is one of Skillet's best: the bridge.

After a mild guitar solo and several hits, we arrive at the point of refreshment: we're given a moment of severe calm, of simple piano with some mild synth.  And then, the poem starts:

Could I be lost, could I disappear?
Could I be lost, would You find me here?
Could I be lost in a secret place?
Could I rest in the shadow of Your face?

and, to compliment, a beautiful descant part:

Oh, the sweet serenity, beautifully a part of me

And you're left feeling, "Wow, God actually cares about me that much."  Yes, He does, and that's the point.

And yes, we get a big ending with some fantastic emphasis hits on the final chorus, but it's the bridge of "Under My Skin" that makes it a song that deeply affects the listener for the better.  That's what makes it a song that really sticks with you.

You can listen to "Under My Skin" on the YouTube video below:




I hope you enjoyed this selection.  Remember, we always welcome feedback and suggestions on great finds, new and old.

As always, thanks for checking out Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian Music.

"Falling In Love" - Falling Up

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a special day for me; I'm about to tell you about one of the biggest influences behind my starting Christian Music Discovery: Falling Up's powerful worship offering, "Falling In Love," from their debut album, "Crashings."  This story takes a little time:

I remember being in the offices of my church just after having started college, and the girl that was interning for the youth minister and I were discussing the "Crashings" album.  "Broken Heart" was a huge radio success, and Falling Up was quickly establishing itself as a new force in Christian music.  As we were talking, she said to me, "Have you listened to track ten yet?"  I replied, "No, I haven't."  She insisted that I do so as soon as possible.

I am eternally grateful that she did.

As I sat and listened to the song, I was immediately drawn in by the intricate opening set up by the guitar and drums (BTW, Josh is one of the best drummers in Christian music, hands down.)  And then, the lyrics came: "You are my one true love."  Is there any better way to describe God? 

As I continued to listen, and the music continued to draw me in, almost into a worshipful trance, the chorus came, and I was launched into the words "All of my dreams and my passions are in your hands."  This was the point at which "Falling In Love" began to change me.

You see, at the time, due to some certain circumstances, I was having trouble understanding what God's will for my life was in the long run.  I had so many things that I wanted to do, but I didn't know which of them were God's plans and which of them were mine.  This song gave me such a peace about letting go, and letting God.  It took me back to what Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12 - " . . . I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."  I could place all my plans and dreams in His hands, and know that he would hold them for the appointed time. 

At the time, it astounded me that such a masterpiece of Christian music was so widely unheard of; I kept waiting for them to release it as a single, so that others could partake of the powerful ministry given through this song, but it never happened, and so came Falling Up's next album.  This contributed to my eventually starting Christian Music Discovery: I wanted to make sure that people knew that songs like "Falling in Love" were out there, waiting to be heard.

I'm thankful that, after several years now, "Falling In Love" has become one of Falling Up's most popular songs (it's one of the bestsellers on their greatest hits album according to iTunes, and the most popular YouTube video of theirs by far,)  but I wanted to go ahead and share this song with you anyway, because I really feel that as many people as possible need to hear and know this work.

Now, I could go on and on about the intricacies of the music, the dynamic shifts in rythym and progression, the power of the lyrics, and the emotional evocation that the whole song brings, but when all is said and done, the only thing that can really do justice to "Falling In Love" is to say this:  it is absolutely Falling Up's best track ever, and one of the greatest and most under-appreciated peices of Christian music of all time. You need only hear it to know.

That being said, you can listen to "Falling In Love" on the YouTube video below:




I hope you enjoy "Falling In Love," and stay tuned for more great music from Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian music.

"Free" - Strange Celebrity

The music industry can be a funny thing sometimes.  Let's take the band Strange Celebrity as an example: They only had one major album release, "Remedy," back in 2003, which was not very successful. And the one single that got play time on Air1, a national Christian alternative station, was "Rise," which, in my opinion, was not the strongest of all debut singles, although the plan may have been to release a better song as the next single (though that never happened.)

Listening through "Remedy" shortly after it came out, I wasn't really impressed with any of the songs, except the first one, a song entitled "Free."  I heard this song and thought, "Whoa, these guys may really be onto something," only to be disappointed by the rest of the album.

That brings me back to my point: it's funny how the best song on an album can potentially never reach the ears of an audience who would jump at the chance to purchase it, if they only heard it.  Such is the case with "Free."

As soon as "Free" kicks in, you start bobbing your head to the unique rhythm that is laid down by the guitars and bass.  The slight dissonance that the lead guitar gives in it's opening riff is something that you're not quite sure that you've ever heard before, and serves to set the mood for the rest of the song which is, in a word, "refreshing."

As the vocals come in, they are underscored nicely by a playful back-and-forth between the bass and the guitar, which helps maintain the established rhythm.  Luke Brown then takes us on into a conversation with God about leaving behind the things that weigh down and being lifted up into freedom.

As we proceed into the chorus, it builds in such a way that the listener feels carried up and over, just as Luke is asking.  The weight is lifted, and the freedom has set in.

As we proceed to the bridge, the guitar lays down what is really a liberating guitar solo against a definite change in progression.  Then, it's back to the chorus, bringing the point home, and leaving the listener satisfied.

Really, "Free" is the complete package as far as songs go.  It's themed well, it moves well, it stays fresh, and it really communicates the point well through both the lyrics and the music.  I may not have been impressed with the rest of Strange Celebrity's music, but I absolutely love this song, and it is definitely a song worth purchasing.


You can listen to "Free" on the YouTube video below:




Like what you've heard so far? Stay tuned for more great finds at Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian music.

Don't like what you've heard so far? Let me know! Click my profile link on the right, and shoot me an e-mail to let me know about an artist, album, or song that you think we should feature at Christian Music Discovery.

“Cross The Line (Box Office Blockbuster Remix)” - Superchick

If P. Diddy invented the remix, Max Hsu of Superchick perfected it, and this remix of the hit “Cross The Line” proves it.

Whereas the original version of the song was simple, tight, driven rock, the Box Office Blockbuster Remix comes from a completely different angle.

Here we have a super-expansive, even explosive, alt-metal-ish sound laced with just enough electronic backing as to add the superbly blended background noise.

The guitars have a completely different attitude from the first version: whereas, with the original cut of “Cross The Line,” you got the impression of a group of twenty Gen X-ers running through the city streets, yelling at the top of their lungs at the establishment, the Blockbuster Remix paints the picture of a crowd of twenty-thousand marching into the city, ready to break down the walls and take it over. From the get-go, you'd almost assume that it's a different song, if you didn't know better, which only serves to reinforce Hsu's gift for remixing Superchick's music.

In a word, lead singer Tricia Brock's vocals on “Cross The Line” can be described as “genuine.” The listener can completely relate to her cries as the leader of a movement of people who are willing to take the demonstration of their faith to the next level, and, most importantly, she's believable as the driving force behind such an idea.

I loved the original of “Cross The Line,” but the Box Office Blockbuster Remix took me to a whole new place with the idea.

You can listen to the remix on the YouTube video below:

I hope you enjoy the remix (and the original), and keep coming back for more great music at Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian Music.

“Grace” - Ed Kowalczyk

Just in case you didn't know, Ed Kowalczyk, the former frontman of Live, went solo, and with a holy vengeance at that.

On his debut single, Ed shows a passion that we've never heard from him before. Ed works hard to get his message across, that, no matter what you look at or what you have to say, his faith is real. It's the kind of intensity that makes you want to stand up and shout “Yeah, that's right, I do still have faith; so put a sock in it!”

Okay, maybe holy vengeance was the wrong term to use. How about a holy passion? Yes, that will work.

This is quite the contrast from his days with Live. I went back and listened to two of Live's most loved songs: “I Alone” and “Heaven,” songs of similar tempo where Kowalczyk sings in a similar range, and I was shocked at the difference in the intensity of his voice on “Grace.” Whereas, with Live, it almost sounded easy (even on “Heaven,” which is another faith declaration), Kowalczyk works hard to make sure that you know that he means and believes every word he's singing.

Now, if a line a ever existed between alt-rock and alt-metal, EK sure found it on “Grace.” The song starts out nice and easy, and doesn't immediately give the impression of a smashing power-song, but once the drums and EK's voice kick in, you get the impression that you're in for something good, and something intense. The chorus rolls along nicely until the whole song finds a new level when, on the bridge, we get some distortion scratching and those metal-esk guitar riffs. The change is subtle, though, and only serves to tie the whole song together into one extremely heartfelt message.

In four words: “I love this song!”

In three more words? “You will too.”

You can listen to "Grace" using the YouTube video below:

Like what you've heard so far? Stay tuned for more great finds at Christian Music Discovery, the place for good Christian music.

Don't like what you've heard so far? Let me know! Click my profile link on the right, and shoot me an e-mail to let me know about an artist, album, or song that you think we should feature at Christian Music Discovery.

Afterthought: After hearing this song, my wife better understood what many of Live's songs were about. I'm sure some of you can appreciate her epiphany.