Favorite Music 2011

It is time once again for my year end (or beginning) analysis of the pop culture trends that caught my attention. As usual, my lists are completely subjective. I am including on this list the albums that I enjoyed most in 2011. That means that several of these- most, in fact- were not recorded or released last year. However, I heard them for the first time in 2011. (There is one album that I heard several years ago, but this year's listening was like a revelation, a completely new thing.

Another thing, I do not have any notion that these are the best albums of the year. These are merely the ones that I enjoyed the most. They made me think, or they made me happy, sad or angry. In any case, I will be listening to all of these for many years to come. Finally, I put these in no particular order.

• Joan Baez- Noel
• 77 Sunset Strip- Soundtrack
• Smith- Minus-Plus
• Jim and Jesse- Berry Pickin' in the Country
• Bruce Springsteen- 18 Tracks
• Roots of Rock: 1945-1956 - Various Artists
• The Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble- The Wild Field
• Huey Lewis and the News- Soulsville
• Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More
• Etta James- Matriarch of the Blues

My Favorite Hymns

A list of my favorite hymns (in no particular order):

• All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (I love all three tunes)
• Great is Thy Faithfulness
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• Amazing Grace
• Christ the Lord is Risen Today
• The Solid Rock
• O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
• Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Favorite Albums of 2010

I am aware that I may be the only one interested in these lists, but they do help me to think critically about the ways in which I spend my time. So, here is my list of my favorite albums that I heard this year. But first, my disclaimers.

These albums are not necessarily the best ones of 2010. They are the albums that I enjoyed, that entertained me, moved me, made me smile, or made me think more than any others this year.

These were not necessarily released in 2010. They are all new to me, however. I heard them all for the first time in this year.

I try very hard to not be influenced by what is popular. Consequently, I may be biased against the Hollywood blockbuster, Billboard Top 40 or New York Times Bestseller. But then again, maybe not.

Additionally, they are in no particular order. It is hard enough for me to come up with my 10 favorites. Ranking them would be almost impossible.

• Jamey Johnson- The Lonesome Guitar
• Emmylou Harris- Luxury Liner
• Matt and Jason- Wayfaring Stranger
• Flight of the Conchords- The Distant Future
• Johnny Cash- Ain't No Grave
• Hubert Laws- Family
• Dave Brubeck- Time In
• Randy Newman- Good Old Boys
• The Weepies- Say I Am You
• Dexter Gordon- Dexter Calling

In Praise of Vinyl

I came of age during the glory years of the long-playing 33 1/3 vinyl album. My high school years were colored by Frampton Comes Alive, Aja, Saturday Night Fever and Hotel California. These were the albums that we listened to, memorized and loved. For me there was also Red Headed Stranger, Some Girls and Bob Dylan at Budokan. Those were the days.

I had an 8-track player in my car, but I only used it to play the tapes that I recorded from my vinyl at home. When cassettes came along I could not get into them. They were boxy, inconvenient to play and had tiny print.

I remember clearly the first time I saw (and heard) a cd. It was 1985. I was at a friend's house. I was shocked that he was holding that disc so carelessly. He didn't seem to care that he might "scratch" it, or make it dirty. He treated it like it was virtually indestructible. But then... he put it in that funny looking drawer... he pushed play... he turned the volume up... and I had a religious experience. There were no pops, no scratches and no hiss. The louder he turned it, the better it seemed to sound.

But I had some problems with the cd. It was almost hollow-sounding. The artwork was too small. The size and shape of the disc (and its package) were not aesthetically pleasing to me. Not only that, I had thousands of albums and 45s that were suddenly becoming obsolete. (I have since found that finding replacement turntable needles is a real challenge.)

But the advent of the compact disc only heralded the beginning of the digital revolution. Now, it seems, the preferred way to access music is through digital downloading through sites like itunes, or streaming live over the internet. Again, I have problems with these avenues.

• Downloading too easily leads to illegal sharing and bootlegging. (But, let the one without sin cast the first stone.)
• Digital music is to sterile, hollow and "tinny."
• There is no artwork that I can hold in my hands, tape up on my wall or show off to my friends.
• Lyric sheets are extremely hard to come by.
• Ear buds do not allow you to get the full spectrum of sound that giant, cloth covered speakers do.
• Ear buds do not allow users to share their music in the communal way that listening with speakers do.

But, not only are the alternatives vastly inferior, there are many reasons that albums are better.

• The artwork was designed for a 12 x 12 album cover.
• Records sound better than any of the alternatives (even if there is a hiss and a few pops).
• A record is a substantial item. You know when you have one. Unlike downloads which you may not know you own for quite some time.
• Albums are very cheap. At garage sales and thrift stores you can get a classic album anywhere from $.25-$1.
• And besides, I have too many to turn back now. I am committed all the way.

The Best Rock/ Music Movies

It is a favorite thing of mine to make lists. If you have read this blog for very long you have figured that out. I keep track of things so that I can make lists. I have compiled lists of favorite concerts, favorite movies, favorite hamburgers and way more than that. (You should pray that you never get to read some of my more personal lists.)

Many people in the media have learned that lists are very popular. In fact, I believe that USA Today owes much of its existence to the bulleted list. Every paper and magazine formulates lists; Best and worst dressed, Newsmakers of the year, Best new reality tv series' of the year. You get the idea.

This is my very personal list of two of my favorite topics: Movies and music. These are my favorite movies about or containing music. These are not necessarily documentaries, but they are filled with music, or music is a central theme of the movie. I make no claims to the intrinsic value of the movie or the music contained therein. Only that the movie, and the music were enjoyed by me. You have no doubt seen most of these films. If you have missed some, look them up. You will not be sorry.

One last thing: Do not get excited. I have not listed these in any order. They are not arranged according to quality, musical style or preference.

• The Last Waltz. This is my favorite concert movie. It is the final concert of The Band with many guests. Watch this movie. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
• This is Spinal Tap. The original "mockumentary" is the funniest rock movie ever made. Rob Reiner directed an hilarious film that has become a cultural phenomenon.
• Almost Famous. This is a semi-autobiographical story about how one young boy became a writer for Rolling Stone Magazine.
• A Mighty Wind. A mockumentary from the mind of Christopher Guest. Think Best in Show with folk music. Although everything is completely tongue in cheek, do not take the music for granted. It is good!
• Walk the Line. This is not only a great music movie, it is a great movie. The story of Johnny Cash and June Carter is wonderfully played out and the music is not bad.
• The Buddy Holly Story. I believe that Buddy Holly was the true King of Rock and Roll and Gary Busey was never better.
• La Bamba. Lou Diamond Phillips plays Ritchie Valens. This movie, with music by Los Lobos, is wonderful. Did Phillips ever make another movie?

What movies would you add? What ones do you disagree with?

My Concert Wish List

I love music and attending concerts. In one recent post I listed the best concerts I have attended. Today, I give you my list of concerts that I would love to see, someday. There are a lot that I would love to attend, but will never get the chance (think Beatles, Sinatra, Buddy Holly). These are concerts that are still a possibility for me.

• Bruce Springsteen. I would prefer the Boss with the E Street Band, but heck, beggars can't be choosers.
• The Rolling Stones. Bill Wyman already retired. Brian Jones is dead. The rest of the guys are old. I'm running out of time.
• Aretha Franklin. No one sings like the Queen of Soul.
• Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. I am not sure that I can explain my desire on this one. I just think that he is funny and original.
• Harry Connick, Jr. A Christmas-themed show would make my wife very happy.
• Derek Webb. He makes me think and he challenges my thinking. One of his "house shows" would be perfect.
• Paul McCartney. If I can't have the Beatles, I'll take the best of the remaining ones.

Who would you add?

The Practices of the Christian Faith: Singing

If you know me very well, you know how important music is to me and my family. There is music in the car, in the office, at home. We go to concerts, play records, cds, mp3s, cassettes and even the occasional 8-track tape. We play games that involve music; games like “Name That Tune,” and “Don’t Forget the Lyrics.” We have even made up trivia games and singing games.

In church music is also important. We sing hymns every Sunday. We also have choruses, anthems, special music and praise and worship songs. The longest book in the Bible is a “hymnbook”- Psalms. There are even hymns written into the text of the New Testament. In our own United Methodist tradition, Charles Wesley, brother of John, was known for the hundreds of hymns that he wrote.

So why do we do it? Why do we sing?

• There is the obvious answer, we sing because the Bible tells us to (Psalm 96.1, Colossians 3.16 among others). Our singing is an act of obedience to God.
• We sing because it engages our spirits, our emotions in our relationship with God. There is something that is released in us, something beyond the intellect that takes place when we open our mouths with song.
• We sing because it allows us access into the communal aspects of the Christian faith. It is a time that we all can join our hearts and our voices in praise and worship.
• We sing because it allows us rhythmic expression to our faith. There is the potential for dance when we sing.

Before we finish today, let me encourage you to sing. Sing a lot. Make singing a part of your everyday Christian experience. Spend some time each day in reading the Bible, in prayer and in singing. You may need to find a quiet time and place to do this. If you are self-conscious about your singing, then sing while you are alone. But, and this is an important but, you will be blessed, inspired and encouraged when you sing.

The Best Concerts

What follows is a list of the best concerts that I have ever attended. Some of them are what you might expect from me, others are surprising even to me. Not much more explanation is needed so here it is...

• David Crowder Band, Elkhart, Indiana (2008)- It was a small theatre, lots of singing, all sorts of people. A great time. Good music. A really nice guy.
• FFH, Studio B, South Bend, Indiana, (circa 2003)- It was supposed to be a 30 minute television taping, but it turned into over two hours of requests and audience participation.
• Phil Keaggy, Pendleton, Indiana (circa 1999)- My first introduction to looping. Who needs a band when you can play and sing all the parts yourself. He plays. He writes. He sings.
• Tree 63, Elkhart, Indiana (circa 2004)- We were outdoors. It was a small crowd. There were sound problems but everything was perfect. They were impressive.
• Salvador and The Katinas, Indianapolis (circa 2000)- I had never heard of either group, but went to the show because it was free. I was not disappointed. Great music. Good fun.
• Planetshakers, Studio B, South Bend (circa 2005)- Another concert we attended because it was free. But we were certainly glad. Modern praise and worship music with an Australian feel.
• Willie Nelson, Lima, Ohio (circa 1983)- It was a free show to benefit the depressed community. There were thousands of people in a field with Doug Kershaw, Billy Swan, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings showing up. Not bad.
• Bob Dylan, Tucson, Arizona (1980)- It was during Dylan's "Christian" period. He was only playing gospel music. There were protests, heckling and more. It was my first Dylan show.
• Billy Joel, Fort Wayne (circa 1978)- My greatest memory is Liberty Devitto, the drummer, walking around the drums, while playing.

The King is Dead (#2)

Each summer while I was in high school our marching band would spend one week in the summer at Band Camp at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. This was always one of the highlights of the year for us band geeks. We stayed in college dorms and thought we were big stuff. We stayed up too late, goofed off, worked, marched, sweated and more. And something significant always seemed to happen. For example, one year I fell in love for the first time. Another time there was something of more consequence: Elvis died.

That is why it felt like deja vu two weeks ago while attending my church's Annual Conference, at Ball State, when I learned that Michael Jackson had died unexpectedly: First the King of Rock, now the King of Pop. I better stop going to events at Ball State.

There has already been too much said and too much written about Michael Jackson in these 13 days, but I want to add a little more to the pile. These are some observations I have made about Mr Jackson and his musical and cultural significance.

• There are many sins forgiven and forgotten when a person dies. It seems that all the controversy and negativity toward Jackson have disappeared. It is almost like there were never accusations of abuse, eccentricity and just plain weirdness. Never mind that his face changed with every album or that his skin kept getting lighter. Now that he is dead, people are truly focusing on only the good things.
• Jackson's influence in the world has been almost exclusively cultural. He changed the way people thought about celebrity. He was literally world famous. And in some places he was that rare celebrity who is famous for being famous. He came along at the perfect time. His product was perfect for MTV at a time when MTV needed a product. The two were a match made in heaven. In this way, MJ was a lot like Elvis. He was in the right place at the right time.
• Also like Elvis, Jackson's musical contribution was somewhat minimal. There was not much new that Jackson brought to contemporary music. He was successful in taking R&B to a white audience, but that was more marketing that innovation. If there had never been a Michael Jackson music today would still sound pretty much the same.
• The one way in which Jackson's influence has been profound is that before Michael singers did not have to be dancers. Today there is an expectation that people who sing will also be people who dance. I am not sure that this is a good development.

Song Poaching

I have a list of songs that should never be recorded or performed by anyone but the original artists. They are "signature" songs. That is, they are identified so closely with the original artist's recording that there should be a penalty for anyone else ever performing them. These songs, in addition to belonging to a special place and time, may also be classified as timeless.

• Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash
• Crazy, Patsy Cline
• Respect, Aretha Franklin
• (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
• In the Summertime, Mungo Jerry
• Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen

These songs should not be performed by cover bands, karaoke wannabes or established commercial artists.

I am sure that there are more songs that should fit into this profile, but these are the most significant that come immediately to mind. Be on the lookout. Stop song poaching.

More Philosophical Music

• "There's a thin line between love and hate." Rich and Rob Poindexter and J. Members
• "Why can't we be friends?" War

Selective Service

A group of semi- related musical observations...

• While watching American Idol last night I was shocked (that would be sarcasm) to discover that originality is frowned upon. What is necessary to win is for a contestant to be just like everyone else. Model yourself after whoever is popular right now.
• Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan could never have the impact on music and the world today that they had when they first burst onto the scene. They are just not pretty or sexy enough. If you can't dance, look good in a swimsuit or have a popular video, your music will never be heard by the masses.
• When trying to find new music, you have to wade through a lot of crap to get to something good. This is a life truth. It works in nearly every area of music. You have to hear a lot of Yanni or Kenny G before you get to one Miles Davis. Although this can be a tiresome and tiring process, it usually proves to be worth the effort.
• In the world of popular music the most prized attributes are mediocrity, imitation and commercial appeal. Originality is looked down upon and discouraged.
• The appeal of popular music is its 'rebel' status. We love rock and roll because our parents were against it. As long as the recording industry opposes music downloading and file sharing, it will continue.

More Philosophy

• "You can spend all your time making money. You can spend all your love making time." Randy Meisner, Don Henley, Glenn Frey
  
• "Everybody wants to go to heaven. Nobody wants to die." Loretta Lynn
• "The times, they are a-changin.'" Bob Dylan

Great Philosophers of Our Time

Some of the best pop-philosophy of our time comes from popular music. Well, maybe best is too broad an idea. In fact, it might be the better part of wisdom to simply acknowledge that there are songwriters who do dabble in philosophy. Music speaks to the soul and lyrics speak to the mind. The combination marries music to thought which is a very powerful thing.

I know that there is no end to philosophy. Likewise, there are innumerable songs that seek to make comment on the human experience. And although I am often critical of Christian music, I do find depth of meaning and purpose in much of it. 

Good music makes you feel. Great music makes you think about how and why you feel.

There is no way that I can do this topic justice. In fact, I am going to plan on making this an open-ended entry. I will periodically update or add to this entry as I discover new music, new philosophy, new ideas... you get the idea.

Here are my nominees for outstanding musical philosophy.

• "I don't want to die in the hospital. Get me back outside." Conor Oberst
• "Life goes on long after the thrill of livin' is gone." John Mellencamp
• "You're so vain you probably think this song is about you." Carly Simon
• "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." Kris Kristofferson

My Favorite Rock Songs

"I love Rock-n-Roll. Put another dime in the jukebox, baby."

That's just the way it is for me. Sure, there are other forms of music that I enjoy. In fact, i really, really like jazz, blues, folk, alt-country, modern worship... I could go on. But my heart belongs to rock and roll. Incidentally, every song I hear is compared to rock songs in general, and my list of favorites in particular.

I know that these are technically my favorite rock songs, but to me they are the greatest rock songs. (It's all subjective anyway, so let me have my greatest songs and I'll... tell you that mine are better than your greatest songs.)

So, without further delay, the greatest rock songs of all time:

• Lola, by the Kinks
• (I Can't Get no) Satisfaction, by the Rolling Stones
• Black Magic Woman, by Santana
• Take it to the Limit, by The Eagles
• Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, by the Hollies
• Respect, by Aretha Franklin
• Me and Bobby McGee, by Janis Joplin
• Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen
• Peggy Sue, by Buddy Holly
• Like a Rolling Stone, by Bob Dylan
• Deacon Blues, by Steely Dan

Perfect People

I am tired of perfect people.

Watching the Grammy Awards the other night, I was struck that there are almost no "plain" or "homely" people in the music business anymore. In this age of MTV and the music video, there is no place for the less than photo- or telegenic performer. In fact, a pretty face is not even enough. A singer today needs to have a "great figure" as well. Sadly, most of my all-time favorites would never make it in today's environment. Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin and Buddy Holly, legends all, but not beautiful or glamorous. The world would be a sadder place without Peggy Sue, Respect, Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain or Blowin' in the Wind.

Programs like American Idol only feed into this problem. Only the good looking get on the show. Only the really good looking have a shot at winning. People with facial blemishes, weight issues or- heaven forbid- bald heads should just pack it in. You are not good enough in today's world.

And those of you who want to defend Christian music as somehow superior need to get over yourselves. I challenge you to find the great artists who are not physically 'perfect.' 

I believe the best artists in all fields of music cannot be found today because of our bias toward pretty people. It is a sad state of affairs.

So I propose a change. For the next week let's support the plain people in the world. Let's watch television programs that feature the plain (there are not very many). Let's listen to music that is less concerned about how well the performer dances in the video than it is to the quality of the singer.

For one week, let's have no "perfect people" in our lives. Let us not try to look like Hollywood ideals. Let us not dress like them, or act like them, or talk like them. For this week, let's be anti-establishment. Let's be plain. Let us be normal. For one week.

My Favorite Albums of 2008

Here's round two of my favorites of 2008. This time it is my favorite albums of the year. Again, let me preface my list by offering the following disclaimers:

1. These are not necessarily the best albums. They are my favorites. They do not even have to be good. So there.
2. These albums were not necessarily new in 2008. But, I heard them for the first time in 2008.
3. I do not think that my opinions are better, more well-rounded, or more commendable than anyone else's. But they are mine.
4. These appear in no particular order.

So, here is my list:

• Amy Winehouse- Back to Black. (After hearing everything about Amy Winehouse I really tried to not like this record. I couldn't.)
• Bob Dylan- Tell Tale Signs.
• Bright Eyes- Four Winds.
• Juno- Soundtrack.
• Once- Soundtrack.
• Eagles- Long Road Out of Eden.
• Ray Charles- The Spirit of Christmas.
• Psalters- Divine Liturgy of the Wretched Exiles.
• Andrew Peterson- Behold the Lamb of God. (I have loved this album for several years, but just went to the concert and remembered how beautiful it is. It deserves to be on the list.)
• Willie Nelson- Moment of Forever.

Music: One More Reason

Here's one more reason to listen to music. It is good for you. A recent study found that happy music is good for your arteries (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1085026/Music-heart-Listening-John-Denver-classics-improve-blood-flow.html). That is, when you here a happy song your body responds in a favorable way. When you are filled with joyful music your arteries actually expand. This allows the blood to flow more freely and decreases the likelihood of heart disease and heart attack.

In this sense, music can cause the body to behave in exactly the opposite way that stress does. Stress tends to restrict blood flow in the arteries and veins increasing the possibility of heart difficulties. Happy music, like laughter (http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/laughter2.htm), actually makes you healthier.

Now you have all the proof you need. Listen to some good music and have a good life.

Let Us Sing

I was at a high school football game a couple of weeks ago when I noticed that a lot of people do not sing along with the National Anthem. I am sure that there are many people who have some very good reasons for not singing. Unfortunately, for many there is an assumption that if you do not sing the National Anthem you are not a patriot. I believe this is wrong (and wrong-minded) but it is beyond the intent and scope of this article.

I think that people do not sing because...

• They do not know the words. Although this is a sad commentary in a nation where the song is sung at every professional and amateur sporting event.
• They think that they cannot sing. Again, this is a real possibility, but in a stadium of hundreds (thousands) of people one person's voice is virtually unnoticeable.
• The tune is hard to sing. There is no argument here. There are very few tunes more difficult to sing in the popular culture.
• Some people have an emotional response to the song and the words. Singing may be too difficult for them to manage.

Any of these are possibilities, but I think the truth of the situation is more simple. People do not like to sing the National Anthem, or any song for that matter, because they are not used to singing in public- maybe they never sing at all. In fact, I think that there are only two places where most people are given the opportunity to sing in public: sporting events, and church.

Since most people do not attend church, even at Christmas and Easter, the football game is the only time they are expected to sing. When the time comes, they freeze. They may sing in the shower or on their morning commute, but unless they spend time at Gustav's Club on karaoke night, they do not sing where others can hear them.

So, I say that we should all sing, all the time. Sing wherever you are. Do not be afraid or embarrassed. The people around you cannot sing any better than you anyway. Sing aloud! Sing now! Sing!

Music is Communal

Music is a community event. It is hard, historically, to keep music to yourself. Until recently- about the last 100 years- to hear music you had to go to a public place, like a concert hall, a school or a church, to hear music. If you were fortunate you might be able to play an instrument and provide music in your home. Friends, neighbors and family members would gather round a piano or other instrument and sing, or at least listen to music.

Thomas Edison changed all of that. The invention of the phonograph meant that music was no longer participatory. When music is recorded it can become a spectator event, and much more private in nature. I can play music of any kind in my own home. No one else even has to know that I am listening. In many ways this was not a good innovation.

Eventually recorded music formats changed. We went from wax cylinders to plastic discs. From records we moved to a variety of tapes- reel to reel, 8-track, cassette- to the compact disc. These changes encouraged portable music devices. "Boom boxes," small battery-powered music players with handles, allowed music to be taken anywhere. Although the music was still communal in nature, it was becoming more and more private.

During the 1970's SONY introduced the world to the Walkman. The Walkman was a small cassette tape player with headphones that could be carried by an individual. This person could listen to music of his/ her own choosing without disturbing anyone else. Later developments of this technology included the Discman, which played Compact Discs in the same way. Finally, with advances in computer technology, we got the Mp3.

The Mp3, coupled with the advent of the internet, have allowed for greater access to a wider variety of music. Every conceivable genre of music is available to anyone with a computer at the click of a button. From the personal computer it is just a few connections and clicks to the personal (and tiny) Mp3 player.

Now, before I get too critical of the Mp3 player, let me say that I love creating my own play list and carrying it around in my pocket. I am a huge fan of having music with me wherever I go and whenever I want. In many ways the digital music revolution is perfect for me.

However, music has become too private. When I am in the department store and I see a person with ear buds in, I want to go listen. I want to know what they are enjoying so much. I go crazy in airports, malls and other public places. Joggers are the worst. They are working hard and getting in shape, but they are hearing music that I want to hear.

Listening to my own music does not help. I feel like I am missing something because I can hear nothing beyond my own play list. Although it is filled with my favorite songs, I am constantly wondering if there is something better out there.

Finally, and this will seem overly dramatic, Mp3 players are contributing to the breakdown of society. One of the greatest pleasures of life is discussing music with a friend. I love to argue over which singer, which songwriter, which band configuration is better. But as long as my friends and I are lost in our separate musical universes that will not happen. Here is what will happen: 

• We will all get used to the isolation of the personal ear bud. 
• We will forget how to interact with one another. 
• There will be fewer and fewer meaningful conversations.
• Music will die as markets get smaller and smaller.
  
• School music programs will get smaller and smaller because there are not musical discussions taking place in society at large.
• Music will go away.

It may take generations, but all those eventualities will come to pass if we do not return to the communal nature of music.