by Jesse Baker | Apr 18, 2010 | News Slider
Just in time for sunny skies Darwin Deez has dropped a self-titled album that displays a refreshingly unique style that will move your feet and put a smile on your face. If you happen to search Deez on YouTube, you will find he is the prototypical “hipster” that may look like he’s just having a bit of fun with music, but if you dig a little deeper into the album you’ll find a delightful collection that is far more impressive than his goofy videos might lead you to expect. The upbeat songs, mostly set to electronic beats are a throwback to popular 80s sounds used by Duran Duran, but you might also compare Deez’s sound to that of Cake or maybe even Jon Foreman with a drum machine. Although Deez may not be up to win any songwriting awards, the ways in which he is able to tell familiar tales of love with a completely unique spin stands out in a big way. How many other artists write love songs from the perspective of a nuclear fallout shelter? In “The Bomb Song” Deez pleads, “The sky is green / It’s been that way since they dropped the bomb […] Say you love me now / Maybe you will say you love me now.” Or in “Bad Day,” Deez sings his mischievous wishes for a romantic rival, hoping for everything from the last page of his 800-page novel going missing to rain falling in the open window of his car, because “every day ought to be a bad day for [him].” As playful and silly as Deez may be, the...
by Jesse Baker | Apr 11, 2010 | News Slider
Dr. Dog has long walked the line between indie-rock stardom and virtual obscurity, but if it keeps releasing albums like Shame, Shame, the thought of obscurity will be quickly forgotten. Ripe with driving bass lines and sweeping harmonies, Shame, Shame is yet another home run from the folk-rock sluggers, and it is an impressive follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2008 release Fate, when even the most loyal of fans struggled to see any room for improvement on such a great album. Shame, Shame is far from a letdown off of a successful album; in fact it may be the band’s best work yet. Songs like “Shadow People,” “Jackie Wants a Black Eye” and “I Only Wear Blue” are great examples of how Dr. Dog can stay true to its distinctive sound while still growing and maturing as innovative musicians. Among the familiar sounds of Dr. Dog are the voices of co-lead singers Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken. Although Leaman’s raspy notes and the resonating tenor of McMicken are completely unique, the tones also seem as if they were made for one another. And the bond shows in the ubiquitous Beatles- or Beach Boys-esque harmonies and varied vocal textures exhibited on the album. Also making welcome reappearances are Leaman’s masterful driving bass lines (one of the most outstanding elements of Dr. Dog’s music), the reverberating snare that almost adds the nostalgic rhythm of a steam engine to the songs, and the brilliant guitars, especially on display in “Where’d All The Time Go?” and “Mirror, Mirror.” All these elements come together to make an album that may already be making bids...
by Jesse Baker | Apr 10, 2010 | News Slider
Mention Psalm 13 in most places and people will think first of the Old Testament passage penned by David; but mention “Psalm 13” to a Lipscomb student, and most will think first of a much newer song. However, although many Lipscomb students know of “Psalm 13” (the song), there are still many who don’t know anything about the song’s origin, or why they just can’t seem to find it on iTunes. Some might be surprised to learn that “Psalm 13” was not written by a recognized name in contemporary Christian music, but by Lipscomb alum Nathan Hale. A Time of Questioning In 2004, Nathan Hale was a freshman at Lipscomb struggling through an extremely difficult time of life. Many struggles and outside forces were leading Nathan to question God and begin to lose hope that God was listening. It was from this state of mind that Hale turned to the Psalms for comfort. After a night at church Hale connected with Psalm 13, and he immediately returned to the High Rise computer lab where he studied the psalm further in several different translations. After printing out different translations of the text, Hale made his way to the music department practice rooms in McQuiddy, at the time, where the song began to take shape. “When I wrote it, it was one of the scariest things that had ever happened to me. I had never put words and music together that quickly, words and chords together. I just remember screaming out the chorus and tearing up all alone there in that room,” Hale said. “After I had written it down and...
by Jesse Baker | Apr 6, 2010 | News Slider
Zooey Deschanel may have debuted her beautiful singing voice with her rendition of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in the hit movie Elf, but it has never sounded better than in She & Him’s sophomore release “Volume Two.” Deschanel and modern folk music cult sensation M. Ward have teamed up once again to prove Deschanel is not just another actor trying out a career in music, but few can argue that she has truly earned her spot behind the microphone. “Volume Two” evokes the same feel-good emotions as much of the great music from the late 50’s and 60’s with Deschanel’s sultry, yet playful, crooning and Ward’s almost Brian Wilson-esque songwriting and musicianship as the two build on the success of their first album, “Volume One.” Songs about love and love she never needed anyway will cause listeners to grin and sing along as Deschanel vows she’s “Gonna Get Along Without You Now.” The foot-tapping first single, “In the Sun,” will surely sound from many car stereos and out through open windows through the spring and summer. Other highlights include the opening track: “Thieves,” that may as well be a classic The Mamas & the Papas’ hit, the NRBQ cover “Ridin’ In My Car” (for which Ward offers one of his few vocal performances on the album), “Lingering Still” one of several songs that remind of The Ronettes (of “Be My Baby” fame), one of the slower ballads on the album “Brand New Shoes,” and what stands out as a personal favorite, “Me and You.” This only being She & Him’s second album shows a great deal of promise for...
by Jesse Baker | Mar 29, 2010 | News Slider
After January 2010’s Passion Conference in Atlanta, over 20,000 college students started counting down the days until March 9th: the release date for the live album from the conference to be titled “Passion: Awakening.” The Passion gatherings have been taking place since 1997 on a nearly annual basis where of thousands of college students come together to worship with some of the most recognized names in Christian music, hear lessons from popular Christian authors and speakers, and raise money to enact justice for causes around the world. One may recognize the Passion brand from past live albums containing songs like “How Great Is Our God,” “Everything Glorious,” or “God of This City” that quickly found homes in churches around the world and set new standards for worship music. The newest album from the Passion artists (including Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, David Crowder Band, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill, Fee, Charlie Hall, and, this year, Hillsong United) is no exception to this stellar legacy. Surely, the songs “Our God,” “Awakening,” “Where the Spirit of the Lord Is,” and “Chosen Generation” (among others) are already making waves in churches around the country and the world. Passion’s stated purpose on their website, 268generation.com, is, “to glorify God [by] uniting students in worship and prayer for spiritual awakening in this generation” based on Isaiah 26:8 which says, “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.” Although the music is clearly one of the ways Passion is awakening a generation, it is also important to note students at...
