Bunch of Nonsense
Music, Books and Life in the SpiritTime to put up or shut up
Recently two of my writing projects were completed and were presented in their various forms. One went over well and was well received and one was somewhat of a bomb to which I received some criticism (well deserved). In the first writing project (The Grow Class curriculum for Calvary Church) contained a quote by Henry Nouwen that said that we (wrongly) find our identity in one or all of the following ways: “I am what I do. “I am what others say about me” or “I am what I have.” Again I reminded that God has a way of bringing these things home to us. Randy, repeat after me… my identity is not found in what others say about me, my identity is not found in what others say about me, my identity is not found in what others say about me (or my writing projects).
new music
As something of a semi-old dude (52 and counting, duh) who is pretty much stuck in the music past. How many other people are listening to this much Mott The Hoople? (There’s some. I saw them at the Ian Hunter show last year… ouch!) Anyway, for someone who pretty much believes the 60s and 70s ruled all things music. I loved much in the 80s too, but the 90s (as far as the all-time greats are concerned) consists of two bands (I won’t name them, you should know them, one was British and one was from Seattle), BUT (and I’m not saying these guys are all-time greats) there is a lot of great music being released these days from bands who were in Jr. high in the 90s. BTW, I’m not suggesting these are the only great bands that would fit that description, but these are six that have caught my ear.
MIDLAKE: These guys are from Denton Texas and sing like birds and write timeless music. Only two releases, but they are both worth owning and playing over and over and over. (I know they have an earlier EP, I have it, skip it, they hadn’t figured out who they were just yet and were a little too influenced by a certain all-time great 90s British band I didn’t name earlier).
AUGIE MARCH: From Australia these guys write breathtaking great poetic Beatle-ish music that you can’t dance to, but it gets under your skin and can make you weep for no reason.
GRIZZLY BEAR: a Brooklyn based band who play everything but the kitchen sink, kind of a twisted sideways experimental folk band with amazing harmonies. They have two full lengths and an EP. Best starting place, the second release Yellow House.
M. WARD: He doesn’t really fit with my description of “being in jr. high” in the 90s (maybe the early 90s), but I couldn’t resist. He’s just special. Utterly unique in every way (playing wise as well as a vocally) M. Ward has been consistently great, sometimes his recordings sound they were made at a blues or folk hay ride circa 1948. All four of his full lengths are excellent and worth owning. If I had to pick one it would be his first one “End Of Amnesia.” Indeed.
RUBY SUNS: New Zealander Ryan McPhun’s little project, its got a whole lot of cool vibe, amazing arrangements, great beach boy-ish vocals AND originality too.
FLEET FOXES: obviously the newest on this list, these guys only have one release (and it just came out) (and an earlier EP I’m not familiar with) but its a real winner. I suppose the jury is still out as for the long run, but I’m a believer (at least so far).
Bella
In a time when many supposedly great movies don’t know how to tell a story or write a script worth beans along comes Bella. A movie that tells its tale so effortlessly and well done that you don’t even noticed how it has pulled you into its world. This is a movie with some good old fashion moral backbone but is never saccharine or sugary. A movie about tragedy, family, hope, redemption. This had to have been a work of love as I’m sure getting it made and seen by people in today’s movie climate couldn’t have been easy. Bravo writer/director Alejandro Monteverde and stars Eduardo Verástegui and Tammy Blanchard.
Joseph Parker
I have been reading a lot of emergent church material lately, and have been thinking a lot about John Eldredge’s new book. I will write about John’s new book someday soon. All I can say for now is this… for me it’s very refreshing to read the greats from the past. It refreshes my soul. The following quote is from Joesph Parker (1830 to 1902) the great preacher of London in the late 19th century.
Regarding Matthew 10:21, he said,
“Do not imagine that goodness is peaceful. Goodness is controversial. It always sends a sword upon the earth and kindles a fire, dividing families. It sets the father against the belief of the child, and the child against the father, and the brother against the brother, and it kindles a great fire upon the earth. We have succeeded now in putting the fire out and have come to the age of courteous civilities and tender regard for one another’s evil habits. The old goodness, the Christ-goodness, fought every day, not with blade of steel but with keener blade of conviction, enthusiasm onto itself that it might win the battle against evil and darkness and corruption.”
