Awesome new music, anyone?

By Will G.

Yesterday was a day I had been looking forward to for some time… two of my favorite bands/Musical geniuses released new albums; Audrey Assad and The Digital Age. What’s great was that their albums came out on the same day, and what is even better is how these two albums work together…so check them both out for yourself!

The Digital Age is the new band that spun off of the The David Crowder* Band except David Crowder and the Asterisk. Everyone else formed this band and their first release, the Ep “Rehearsals,” is my weekly cure for the Mondays.

The Digitals New album is called “Evening and Morning.” It’s wonderful, everything I hoped it would be. Upbeat worship type and still spiritually deep. If you are a fan of what DC*B was then the Digital Age is still for you. A lot of genre bending music on here. When you listen through the first time, the first 30-seconds of every song is like a roller coaster filled with “I don’t know where this will take me” excitement.

Favorite Song: “All the Poor and Powerless”

 

Audrey Assad is a fantastic artist with whom I hope you are all familiar. I liked Audrey Assad when I first heard her, great music AND an incredible voice. I have since come to love everything she stands for. Three examples:

(1) Rejecting the labels of positive and encouraging as a description of Christian music (K-Love, a popular Christian radio station uses the mantra “Positive and Encouraging.”). I love it when she says, “I don’t think the words ‘positive and encouraging’ have ever historically been adequate to describe Christian life. Yet these are the words being thrown around now as the two main characteristics of music made by Christian people.” (Christianity Today)

(2) Taking to twitter, a very public medium, to talk about an addiction to pornography as a teen, a topic that is rarely discussed, and her ensuing struggle to overcome it. That takes a lot of guts and frankly, that kind of honesty breaks down our own barriers and inspires us all to continue fighting the good fight.

And (3) her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart” sealed the deal!

Anyways her album is also great, a really great album. The name of the album “Fortunate Fall” comes from the complex idea that the sin of Adam and Eve is “fortunate” as it “gained for us so great a Redeemer!” I feel like that’s the best way to prepare you to listen to the album. It’s not your typical Christian Music, mostly because it really feels like real-life Christianity. To be fair to other musicians this is a transition that has been happening for a while and Assad’s boldness is hopefully helping to usher in the next wave of music, music that is real and difficult. Christianity is not about life being good all the time, but about a God who walks with you through the hard times. In a way, this music embraces the hard times, precisely to remind you that you’re not alone.

Favorite Song: “Humble” (There is a version of “Come Thou Fount” released earlier that’s not on this album but do yourself a favor and Google that.)

Check our her album on iTunes!

What’s wonderful about these two-albums is in the truly universal (aka Catholic) idea that there are times to rejoice and to lament. The two new albums today, although not that black and white, do seem to capture this dichotomy for me. There is a place in today’s Christian music for suffering like Job and rejoicing like David. That’s why I encourage getting both albums and listing to them for whatever stage you happen to find yourself in; God is there too.

 

 

Will G. is a “professional” youth minister. He’s a good reader but a bad speller.

“Come, Holy Spirit”

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, the final Sunday of the Easter season and our final moment before Ordinary Time in the Catholic Church. At the Mass I attended yesterday, a song was played during Communion: “O Spirit, All-Embracing.” Now, when I kneel at Mass just before Communion, I’m not one to bust out my hymnal and start singing. I cherish those moments of silent reflection just before receiving the Eucharist. But then this song starts playing, and I recognize the melody distinctly as a hymn played at Easter Vigil this year. This song had followed me from the beginning to the end of the Easter season, from my home parish in Virginia to where I’m staying now in North Carolina. … So what song is this truly?

“Thaxted” by Gustav Holst. The melody has taken many forms. If you don’t believe me, check out its Wikipedia page. You’ve probably heard it before. If not, you’ve probably heard a similar melody in the score for the Lord of the Rings. It’s contemplative, it’s whimsical, and most of all, it’s triumphant. I can’t help but feel that all evil has been conquered when I hear this song. And this week, I can’t help but feel the Holy Spirit in the song’s beautiful chords and orchestrations. You will see this song twice in this week’s CatholicVine-curated Spotify playlist: “Come, Holy Spirit.”

The words, “Come, Holy Spirit,” are ones we use quite often. I used it most recently as I made a rather big decision in my life, saying the words “Come, Holy Spirit,” just before I picked up the phone to call a colleague. We use this phrase both in faith and in hope that the Holy Spirit will truly guide us where we ought to go. This week, I offer 7 songs in our Spotify playlist to help you wherever you are—to meditate on God’s will, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance in every part of our day.

Peace,

-Greg

Questions? Email me at  CatholicVine@gmail.com!

Saints

This is an easy one. Take a listen to the Litany of the Saints as arranged by John Becker.

You won’t regret it.

“White Flag” by Chris Tomlin

The song, “White Flag,” came up recently at a Youth Conference I was working at in my Diocese. The focus of the weekend was, “Rediscover the One,” inviting youth in the diocese to take the time to truly reflect on their relationship with God, the One. The keynote speaker opened the night by discussing the element of “surrender.” He led into this song by Chris Tomlin, where the chorus goes: “We raise our white flag. We surrender all to You. All for You.”

I remember hearing the words of the chorus and thinking, “White flag… isn’t that a bad thing?” Historically speaking, the white flag means you lost the war, that you’re giving up and that it’s all over. In America, we don’t raise too many white flags. But, this song calls us to think about what the battle is really against. What vices or fears are we foolishly fighting in our lives? When we surrender to those, we surrender ourselves to our God and His will: “All to You. All for You.”

Listen along to Chris Tomlin’s song, and check out the rest of his album. He always lays down some energizing tracks!

– Greg
Questions? Email me at CatholicVine@gmail.com!

“All the People Said Amen” – Matt Maher

Contemporary Christian Music artist, Matt Maher’s new live album is, in a word, excellent. With his own commentary throughout the tracks and excessive amounts of jamming, it’s just like being at one of his concerts.

On the track, “Turn Around,” a call to conversion is made quite clear: “All you’ve gotta do is turn around.” The Lord is always calling us toward His embrace. During a break in the song, Maher calls to mind the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32). The son who has run away with his father’s riches and in turn has lost everything, only has to return to the “property line” of his father’s home, to be greeted with open arms.

The Prodigal Son is a story we’ve all heard, but one we should never grow tired of hearing. I’ve encountered this story on a number of retreats, and I’ve always had a different experience. Sometimes I’m the foolish Prodigal Son, or sometimes I’m his jealous brother looking for some gratitude for all my hard work.  Who are you in the story? How is God calling you into His arms right now?

Take a listen. Preferably with the windows down in your car.

Learn more about Matt at mattmahermusic.org.

– Greg
Questions? Email me at CatholicVine@gmail.com!

Jesus, Firm Foundation: Hymns of Worship

A compilation by a range of Contemporary Christian music artists, “Jesus, Firm Foundation” is an album all about taking traditional hymns and turning them into contemporary worship songs.

One of my favorite tracks off of this is, “Holy Holy Holy (God With Us),” a track by Matt Maher. The beginning of the song is a melody typically heard at Christmas time. Similarly, I have often heard the song, “O Come Let Us Adore Him” not only at Christmas but during Eucharistic Adoration. It’s refreshing to hear songs like this throughout the year, to remind us of the many different ways we can adore Christ.

The album is also a great sampling of Christian artists you may/may not have heard before. So take a listen, and see what songs and which artists resonate with you.

– Greg
Questions? Email me at CatholicVine@gmail.com!