Christian Music - House of Heroes

I have to be honest: I had no idea that House of Heroes was Christian initially. You see, their three-song sampler was a free download from Amazon, and I liked it, so I downloaded the full album and did my usual research (wikipedia, etc.), only to realize after we had the music and liked it, that the band is considered under the Christian genre, under a Christian label (Gotee Records), and is on tour with two very well renowed Christian artists (Skillet & Toby Mac). There was much squeeing in the Punk household that day.

House of Heroes is feel-good music. That was my very first impression, and I firmly believe it's the best way to describe it. However -- here's the twist -- the lyrics are not... always. Sometimes the lyrics are downright gruesome and shocking, but, then, I've learned that surprising is exactly the quality I look for in music.

That said, holy moley does my nine-year-old love House of Heroes. I say, "We need music. What should we listen to?" Elijah says, "HOUSE OF HEROES!" (Asher says, "Our Lady Peace." I turn on City and Colour.)

It's a little daunting that he likes House of Heroes so much because the lyrics are a little intense. There's nothing quite as alarming as hearing your beautiful, sensitive chahead singing, "I'm thinking of you when I kill a good man to keep myself from being killed by him." I mean, yikes like whoa.

I do recommend House of Heroes. They are musically solid, lyrically off-beat but clean, and who doesn't love a band that can cover The Beatles and not suck?

(Postscript to add: A much more comprehensive and eloquent review of this particular album can be found at Jesus Freak Hideout.)

Like, legendary... and stuff

 Phil Keaggy is, as the kids say these days, epic.

I don't have a lot to add to this, certainly don't have a lot to say in general, if the two week lapse in posting didn't make that apparent. The Punk household is doing its thing. Homeschooling is actually good. Asher is a chahead but he's super cute so we forgive him.

Overall, though, I've come to a place where I don't think my mental meanderings and livelihoods are all that interesting. I'm doing my thing. I'm writing. I'm raising my kids. I'm learning new things and failing a lot (that's kind of my thing, failing & learning), but there's nothing really to tell the world at large.

My life is good. Simple. We're happy.

I ask for nothing more than that. Today.

How My Childhood Sounds From Here

Bryan and I talk about our childhoods a lot, and we've determined a few differences between how we grew up: 1) he watched a lot more television than I did, and 2) I listened to a lot more music.

I remember many mornings coming out to our living room where my father would be sitting in front of the stereo, recording our vinyl records onto tape because that's what you did. How would we listen to our music in the car otherwise?

I could go on a looooooong walk down memory lane about all the music my parents listened to, but this week I was reminded of a few specific musicians that I'd rather share. There aren't any stories to go along with the music, because so much of it was simply there, all the time. I took it for granted, and that almost makes it all the more precious when I rediscover it.

In the above video, the host mentions the song "My Tribute." I, of course, clicked related videos and listened to Andrae Crouch sing "My Tribute," thrilled because I knew this song. It's another staple of my early childhood! However, something was off. I knew it as sung by a female... and I couldn't figure out who.

Somehow, in the throes of a wild YouTube goose chase, I figured it out:

And finally, few musicians have had the impact that Keith Green has had, not only on me, but on at least three generations of Christians. He's been gone for nearly thirty years, and he's still missed.

My favorite Keith Green song and probably a fairly significant reason that I love the piano:

This has nothing to do with anything, but the crackle of a record player still fills me with a sense of comfort. Does anyone else get that?

Israel Houghton

I didn't have an actual, planned & thought-through post, but I wanted to share this video I just ran across. Just now. Yes, five minute ago.

It's too fun to not share. I'm now going to click through some more clickety-links and vids so to better inform myself of Israel Houghton and his music. Wish me luck.

Secret & Whisper (or: may my mother-in-law forgive me)

In honor of some extremely exciting news I recieved today:



Secret and Whisper is a fairly new band to our repetoire -- maybe six months -- added upon a recommendation by my brother Justin (my music dealer). The band itself is on the Tooth & Nail label which has long been considered a Christian label, but I think quite a few bands have been coming along the label that wouldn't consider themselves Christian. I'm uncertain where Secret and Whisper stands, to be honest. What I do know (and what makes them reasonable Sunday listening) is that their lyrics and content are clean, I don't mind my kids listening to them, and -- yes -- they're on a label that has given me music in years past.

Some of our family's favorites include:

Spider Besider
Looming Moon
and Attacker, which Bryan says has "sick, insane drumming." He's not wrong.

My mother and my mother-in-law may never forgive me for these, but if you're not my mother or mother-in-law, I urge you to give Secret and Whisper a fair trial. And, Mom, it's Jay's fault.

Oh, and that awesome news? New Secret and Whisper album releases 4/6. Woo!

Kicking it Old School

... which makes Bethany and Justin think of DC Talk, I bet. Am I right?

No, I was thinking more Sixpence.

Sixpence None the Richer was one of my favorite bands when I was in college. Matt Slocum -- guitarist, cellist, lyricist extraordinaire -- was my (not really) idol; I adored him. When I transferred upstate to finish my degree, I had no posters, so I plastered my side of the dorm room with Sixpence lyrics. When "Kiss Me" played over the college radio, I nearly peed my pants. Little did I know how I would come to despise hearing those lilting chords and Leigh Nash's sweet voice singing these sickly sweet lyrics. Little did I know that one of the more innocent, romantic songs from my listening collection would become unlistenable after having to hear it a GRAZILLION times.

Until I found the punk-reminiscent cover version, that is...

Sixpence has suffered a whole bunch of bad luck with labels, which if you're interested, you can read about here. They broke up in 2004, and that was that. Right? Wrong. In 2008, Sixpence reconvened to release an EP that is now unavailable anywhere, and, subsequently, a Christmas album. As much as I love Sixpence and as loyal as I am, I do not own this new album. I have a thing about Christmas music in case you've forgotten.

However, the band is working on a new album right now. *squee* Every few days, they post pictures via Facebook of themselves in the studio and hanging out. Very cool.

And so, in honor of Sixpence's impending album, go, listen:

Within a Room Somewhere

Love Salvation, Fear of Death

The Lines of My Earth

A Million Parachutes

Paralyzed

A lovely cover version of a Sixpence song

(Just because I never actually matured past putting pictures of the band everywhere...)

Confession of a music snob - Relient K

I'm not sure how it happened. I'll be honest about that much. One day, I was listening to the radio, the next, I shuddered if someone left the tuner awry. But it's true. Hello, my name is Jessica, and I am a musical snob.

My brother-in-law dubbed my taste "indie," but let's be even more honest, I'm a wimpy indie; I follow a few music blogs that would die laughing if my bar is where the bar is set. But isn't that just the way with, you know, pretty much everything in life? No matter how high-brow I might think I am, someone not very far from here is higher-brow and snickering in my general direction.

That said: my musical taste appears to be shrinking with age. It's not comfortable. I couldn't even describe to you the range I'm in at this moment, only that if it's top-forty, I probably HATE it. I was in the salon for ninety minutes (no lie) last weekend (for a two-inch trim and eyebrow waxing, ninety minutes), and in those ninety minutes, heard maybe two songs that didn't grate on me like a kitchen utensil. TWO. In NINETY MINUTES.

I'm in a bad way.

I tell you all of this so you can understand the bind I put myself in. You see, when I was growing up, our father put a prohibition down on secular music. We listened to our parents' old records and a lot of Christian music. There was even a station that, miraculously, reached us in the middle of nowhere. When, upon striking out on my own at some point, I began to listen once more to secular music, I found myself vowing that my Sundays would be dedicated to Christian music.

*Banging head on desk*

Do you know the state of the Christian music universe? It's there. It's not as though there isn't Christian music galore, musicians with a modicum of talent and heart for the Lord. I simply don't like most of it. You know who I like? Common Children. Yeah, they broke up in 2002. Sixpence None the Richer (I adore Matt Slocum). Jennifer Knapp. Secret & Whisper. Relient K (I'm a new convert). Phil Keaggy. Thousand Foot Krutch. Skillet. Old school MxPx.

My primary complaint is lack of creativity. So much Christian music is rote. I mean, seriously. How many times can I listen to "God of Wonders"? I own no fewer than four CDs with that particular track (City on a Hill, Caedmon's Call In the Company of Angels, Rebecca St. James Worship God, and GlassByrd Open Wide this Window). Sure, it's a great song... or it was. Now, though, I have to wonder, why is everyone else singing it rather than writing their own? (Nicole Nordeman went out on that branch and made a CD of original worship songs called Woven & Spun. I absolutely love it. It's heartfelt and honest and poignant and provocative, and I just love it.)

As I said, I'm a new convert to Relient K. I recieved the Mmhmm album for Christmas and have slowly been getting more and more into it. I enjoy the singer's voice (that's usually my draw, vocals), and the lyrics once in a while really tickle me. On the other hand, I'm also left with songs about his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend and how if said ex hadn't dumped said girlfriend, he wouldn't be the one reaping the benefits. I've taking to skipping these particular gems. However, the songs that question faith and our relationship with our Almighty God strike a chord within me.

(To my mother-in-law, this is not your cup of tea. However, if you can get through the first two and a half minutes, you'll be rewarded by my favorite part of the entire album. p.s. Please still love me after this.)

I guess that's what I want: I want to hear the resonance of something inside of myself that I can't create for myself. I'm not a musician. I'm not a lyricist; I'm barely a mediocre poet. But I am a worshiper, and I am a listener, and I can hear a whitewash from a mile away.

Please, artists, can't you tap that God-given creativity and push the envelope... just a little? Please? For me?

And to anyone out there reading this, I welcome recommendations. I can't guarantee that I'll love it, because, as I've admitted, my tastes are fairly limited these days, but, goodness, I always need fresh music. Always.