Listening Closer - Jeffrey Overstreet

Songlights for a New Start: Part Two — Wednesday, Sarah McLachlan, Big Thief, Spyboy, Kae Tempest, Ezra Furman, Ashley Monroe, and more

Here is Part Two of the miniature music festival that I'm hosting to kick off my music coverage on this new platform.

Songlights for a New Start: Part One — featuring Peter Gabriel

As the Songlights series continues here, on this new platform, we kick things off with a special song that captures something of the vision I have for this website.

Music Reviews

First great rock band record of 2016

Put aside for a moment that the getaway-car rush of guitars in the song you’re about to hear sounds familiar; soon enough, I’m going to argue that the resemblance of Shearwater’s “Pale Kings” to another arena-rock anthem is appropriate, perhaps even deliberate. But let that go for

On Songs & Albums

What Laura Marling found in the dark

As singer-songwriter Laura Marling hiked up through the pre-dawn dark to fill a bottle with water from a Mount Shasta river, it occurred to her that she was following instructions from a stranger. A man. A much older man. And not just any older man — a self-proclaimed shaman. Whom she

On Songs & Albums

Why we need The Innocence Mission

What's your favorite Innocence Mission song? If you have one, post a comment. I'll share a few of mine, but first I encourage you to zip over to Christ and Pop Culture to read my impressions of what turns out to be a sort of 30th

On Songs & Albums

Listening Closer to Andrew Peterson

On Saturday, October 9, singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson celebrated the release of his new album The Burning Edge of Dawn with a joyous live show at Nashville’s Grace Community Church that featured a crowded stage of special guests. This was my first experience of a live Peterson hubbub, and

Music Reviews

The Force is strong in this one...

Let’s start with the obvious: Wilco’s lyrics can be weird. Cryptic, even. But I find them endlessly intriguing. They remind me of something Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote: Nobody … ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the

Christ and Pop Culture

Music from the ruins of Mars Hill

“If you know anything about the story of Mars Hill,” says Bryan, “if you know the story of the downfall and disintegration of Mars Hill Church, the story of [the pastor’s] resignation, and the relationship between him and Dustin, then you’ll know what Dustin is singing about when you listen to ‘Gall

On Songs & Albums

Josh Garrels goes Home

I admire Garrels’ willingness to sing honestly about the complicated journey of faith—that is, a journey of doubt, questions, and struggle, as well as hope and joy and gratitude.

On Songs & Albums

Belle and Sebastian's happy song about sadness

Want an injection of instant joy? I’ve just heard the most joyful song about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Thank you, Belle and Sebastian!

On Songs & Albums

Madonna, Bettye LaVette, Joe Henry: Whose version of Stop is best?

The new album by Bettye LaVette, produced by Joe Henry, features some excellent test cases when it comes to the subject of cover songs.

On Songs & Albums

Mother's Day prep: U2, Over the Rhine, Sufjan, St. Vincent, & more

In 2006, when U2’s Bono guest-edited an issue of The Independent, he interviewed comedian Eddie Izzard, and they explored questions about the influences of their mothers over their own desire for the affections of their audiences. Bono has, of course, sung about this. In “Mofo,” rock’n’roll becomes

On Songs & Albums

How to Get "Let It Go" Out of Your Head: The Hadestown Cure

I've spelled out some reasons why I think "Let It Go" caught on, and some reasons why we should question its widespread popularity. I've also recommended an alternative.

On Songs & Albums

Taylor Swift, Nirvana, Andrew Peterson, and Bob Dylan All Appear in This Headline

Imagine that your favorite band tries on a new sound, or a new look. Imagine that fans are not happy, and they complain about it. Imagine that the band decides to push back... in song. It's happened before. It's happened quite frequently, actually. Taylor Swift, Bob

On Songs & Albums

Soundtrack for a Day Job: Great Songs About Hard Times

Songs about this day-job, bill-paying struggle are a dime a dozen — or, rather about $16.99 a dozen in this economy. I asked my patient Facebook community if they had any favorite songs about hard economic times, and they filled my FB feed with a whole record store full of

Music Reviews

What Do Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Phillips, and the Movie "Amélie" Have in Common?

When a music critic declares an album “perfect,” it tends to say more about that listener’s enthusiasm—and, perhaps, hubris—than it does about the record. So I’m holding myself back from that kind of overreach here. Suffice it to say that I’d have a hard time

On Songs & Albums

The Lone Bellow, U2, Bob Dylan, and Aaron Strumpel – or, How I Learned to Stop Scowling and Love Liturgy

I may have sensed, on some level, the dissonance between such prejudice and Jesus’ own teachings. But if I did, I suppressed it. That sense of superiority, of being on the right team, of having Jesus’ favor: they felt too good to give up. One of the easiest targets on my denominational dartboard was

On Songs & Albums

What Breakup Record Cuts Your Heart Open? Readers Respond!

I posted a question on Facebook and elsewhere: What breakup songs or breakup records mean the most to you? What music do you find entangled in your own hurtful experiences of separation? The floodgates burst open.

On Songs & Albums

Listening Closer: Bjork's "Stonemilker"

Sharing your heart with someone who in turn takes sledgehammer to it understandably leaves an impression.

On Songs & Albums

Listening Closer to Joe Henry's "Sparrow," The Lone Bellow, and Jessica Pratt

The first song of Joe Henry’s album Invisible Hour — my favorite record of 2014 — is the subject of the second installment in my new series called "Listening Closer." Plus: Two new albums well worth your time and attention.