On Songs & Albums

A collection of 492 posts

On Songs & Albums

Turn it up: Your favorite scary song?

Here comes Halloween. What're some of the scariest songs you know? Add to this playlist in the Comments. And proceed with caution. Some scary songs are fun in a costume-party, make-believe kind of way. Some are scary in ways that are useful, because they're telling the

On Songs & Albums

Music for launch time

What song makes you dream big?

Interviews

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

Interviews

The Innocence Mission Returns

The Innocence Mission have a new record coming out this week: Hello I Feel the Same, from Korda Records. To mark the occasion, I've rediscovered a conversation that I enjoyed with them way back in 2002, and that got lost as this blog moved from place to place.

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

Interviews

A film score scholar defending... Ladyhawke?

An interview with film score scholar Timothy Greiving about his passion for soundtracks... including one of the most unpopular scores ever composed.

On Songs & Albums

What do 1989, Moonrise Kingdom, and Gattaca have in common?

Imagine this if you will: I've started hosting a regular evening discussion group where all of us who love to look closer gather and watch films, or listen to albums, and then stay up late discussing them. Imagine I give each one of you an opportunity to choose

On Songs & Albums

More than just buzz: Elbow's knockout EP

Elbow — an English rock band that is fulfilling the promise I once heard in Coldplay, and who are consistently taking risks and embarking on songs so ambitious that U2 would do well to learn form their example — have followed up my favorite album they've released so far (2014&

On Books & Writing

Danger: Art on a vehicle

uration of sound or shape which requires attention and development from the artist. In the process of that development, we find meaning we had not suspected; but if we try to begin with the meanings, they will shrink to the scale of what we already understand: whereas the creative activity

On Songs & Albums

2015 So Far: What's your favorite music?

So far, 2015 has been an impressive non-stop parade of great albums. I could easily turn in a Top 10 of the year today if I was asked.  But we're only halfway there. Dr. Jeff Keuss of Seattle Pacific University hosted this live podcast discussion of some of

Journal

From the writer of Amazing Grace

"Our pleasure and our duty, Though opposite before, Since we have seen his beauty, Are joined to part no more..."

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

How to hear my 2015 playlist-in-progress

I'll let you in on a little project in progress. In my deep dive into the music of 2015, I'm adding tracks to a Spotify playlist of the tracks that get my attention, compel me to listen closer, and end up in frequent rotation. This is

On Songs & Albums

Turn-It-Up: Rhiannon Giddens, TMBG, Laura Marling

During my commute to and from my daily responsibilities at Seattle Pacific University, I often listen to audiobooks, podcasts, and new releases. But most of the time, I just hit "Shuffle" to see what pops out of my lifelong music library. When it's a happy surprise,

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

Bruce Cockburn: Psalms in Seattle

Legendary guitarist and songwriter Bruce Cockburn spoke about the Psalms as he moved from song to song during his short, seven-song set on Thursday in Seattle.

On Books & Writing

Q&O: Galaxy Quest, 2015's Best Record, & They Might Be Giants.

Are you excited about Galaxy Quest coming to television? What's your favorite album of 2015 so far? How about They Might Be Giants — what's your favorite album from their 31 years of recording?

On Songs & Albums

Join me for a talk about 2015's best records so far

What's your favorite record of 2015 so far? Let me know, and I'll try to make find time to mention it during the live podcast recording of the show.

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.

Journal

Up on my sweet-smelling soapbox

Soap A makes your hands smell fruity and fresh. Soap B has no scent at all. Which one makes your hands cleaner? And what does this have to do with movies?

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

Journal

An Hour of Wisdom and Storytelling with Joe Henry

Joe Henry, who recorded my favorite record of 2014 (Invisible Hour), was the guest on the latest installment of the excellent podcast "On Being," with Krista Tippett.

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