Songs We Wish We’d Written – Footshooter
Footshooter by Frightened Rabbit - Proof that there is hope for the music industry. Only downside is that most of it is in Scotland and Ireland. I love this band. I saw them last month. Someone in the crowd shouted out this song and Scott said he would play it later. For the encore he came back out by himself and said that it was the first and probably only time he would play it on the tour. He unplugged his guitar and walked out to the very edge of the stage and we all got real quiet. Then everyone sang along for the "oohs". It was amazing. This guy can just write a stinkin song.
[Disclaimer: if you check them out, their album "Midnight Organ Fight" contains some strong language, but "The Winter of Mixed Drinks" only has one or two occurrences. This song is from the latter.]
The Caroline EP – More to the Story
So, you probably know by now that I'm making a record, The Caroline EP. It's coming along and even though it might take a few weeks longer than hoped for, it will be done by Christmas.
In thinking about it, I realized that I've probably offered precious little description of what the record will be, so, for the first time, here it is...
Music: The Caroline EP is 6 original songs, written by me, and performed by me (acoustic guitar, vocals) and some other musicians that have generously lent their amazing skill. It wouldn't be what it is without the influence of master producer, Wes. Musically, you can expect to hear the major influence of Augustana and The Fray, there are also traces of early-Caedmon's-era derek webb and early Dashboard Confessional.
Story: This is a "concept album" that tells the story of a young girl who makes a bad decision and the journey that decision takes her on. It deals with issues of self-doubt/self-worth ("Caroline"), fear and devastation ("Lights Over London"), condemnation ("S.A.M."), anger and self-deception ("Missing You"), and the possibility of hope and redemption ("She Deserves")
The Project: I've been writing music for 13 years. For the last 10 of those years, I've been aiming at something, but I never quite knew what it was. The songs on the record span 6 years, but it wasn't until I wrote "Caroline" and "Lights" that it all sort of fell into place.
As I'm sure you're aware, there's always one key ingredient that helps get things done: $. I've been trying to scrape together a few dollars to finish the project and pay a couple of people for their contributions. In order to do this, I've been offering special edition packages of the album in exchange for donations. Call it a reservation of sorts.
So far, several kind and generous folks have gotten in on the action, but in order for any of their contributions to go through, we have to fully reach or exceed our goal. (As I write this, we're at 62% with 12 days remaining). So, if you're now intrigued by what is to come, please consider making a small donation (or a large donation would be cool too). Click the box below for more info and THANKS!!
Songs We Wish We’d Written – Desire
Desire by Ryan Adams - I put together a playlist in iTunes of songs that I had not listened to. This one cycled through amongst a wealth of mediocrity and from the first chord I latched onto it. It's vintage Ryan from some post-"Gold" (his second album) studio sessions. In an interview about the Demolition album on which the track appears, he's quoted as saying "My ambition is strictly artistic. It's not my job to care about who's listening to (my music) on the radio." A fair quote from a guy recorded probably 300+ songs in the last 10 years. Unlike many of those tracks, this one is a gem.
As a bonus, here's a live version. I really like this, but hate that they exchanged the harmonica for pedal steel.
Jesus, John, and Grace
Have we become so refined and so civilized that the benefits of our faith have become more precious and valuable to us than the benefactor of our faith?
Erwin McManus, The Barbarian Way, 49
Imagine these two scenarios.
Scenario 1:
I have this friend, his name is John. He's a musician and he travels, so I don't get to see him much. When he is free, though, we hang out and it's cool. We'll go see a movie or get dinner or whatever. Every now and then we'll bust out the guitars and play some songs, but it's rare because that's like his job. When he comes to town to play a concert, he gets me in and we'll get to hang out a bit after the show, but it's always really late and he's tired. I wish we could hang out more. He's got some problems in his life, but who doesn't? I think that if he had more stable friendships that maybe his life would be a bit less crazy. So, even if it's just a matter of being there, I try to make it a priority because I know that relationships are important.
Scenario 2:
Dude, my best friend is John Mayer. Seriously, new albums - get them before the come out. Bootlegs, check. Songs you'll never hear - all over my iPod. It's pretty sweet. When he comes to town, backstage passes. I always take my guitar and after the show we'll jam. That song "Daughters", I was there when he wrote it. People hassle him for saying and doing stuff, but I'm just like, "that fool is hilarious."
I think it's obvious that the second scenario smells a bit foul. And yet, I think that this is about how we treat Jesus. He's forgiven our sins and gets us into Heaven, so we're pretty well set. In short,
Grace has become better to us than Jesus
Or, rather, we've made grace and end unto itself.
There's this apologetic methodology of moralism that challenges someone to realize that they can't uphold the law. Even if they say that they could meet the 10 commandments, there's the challenge from Jesus
21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, You fool! will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matthew 5:21-22, ESV
We can never live up to such a law. So, this is our grace that Christ imputes His righteousness to us so that God would accept us. Sadly, one the other side of salvation, how quickly we slough off this law and say, "God, I'm so thankful for your grace that a) my sins are forgiven, b) I'm going to Heaven, and c) I don't have to worry about that darn "Law" thing. Oh yeah, Jesus is cool too."
Grace vs. The Law
So you take people who are motivated to behave nicely, then give them a fairly week set of ethical standards to meet. Now, instead of asking them to, "do it because its the right thing to do," you've essentially given them an alternate set of standards - do this so you can check off all these boxes.
Max Bazerman
Professor, Harvard School of Business
quoted in Drive by Daniel H. Pink (139-40)
As the church, we've talked for years about overcoming the concept of "check-box" Christianity. That is, people reading their Bible, praying, serving out of a compulsion to check those boxes that they feel they must in order to be "good" Christians.
What Bazerman is suggesting is that a low-demand set of ethical standards drives employees to only uphold the minimum. Perhaps there is a correlation to the church-world. That is, by holding up a set of standards that we have the ability of fulfilling in our own power, we have no need to really on a power greater than ourselves.
In our desire to direct people toward grace, we've sought to remove the standards created by the law. However, this stands in stark contrast to the words of Christ,
17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20, ESV
Perhaps if we swung the pendulum back toward the center, we would help people realize that they cannot live the Christian life in their own power. That set of ethical standards is beyond their own accomplishment. And this is where grace abounds, not in that standards have been removed but that we are free from the condemnation of our own inability to fulfill them.
Who I Am part 1
When the year started, I dubbed this "The Year of Self Discovery". How prophetic and unexpected that turned out to be.
This is part one of what will be an ongoing series.
I was thinking about the fact that I've never filled out the About page on my site. It's simply said "coming soon." Again, a bit prophetic. Part of the reason for never having built out that page has been forgetfulness. Another reason has been that I revolt against the idea of being defined by 1) what I do and, 2) what I like. And finally, I simply didn't know what to write.
One of the biggest stressors to me is our cultural bent toward defining people by those two things mentioned above: what we do and what we like. It causes me to shoot myself in the foot sometimes when it comes to making a good first impression. "So, Ryan, what do you do?" [internal monologue: "Hmm, how do I answer this question without setting this person up to pigeonhole me. What do I do? I do whatever I need to do."] "Um, a lot of different things."
I realize that there is a whole cultural component of these types of questions. It's just the way we talk. I'm making things harder than they need to be.
Coaches and mentors have always said that I need to have an "elevator pitch" to define myself to people. And I do.
But there's so much more to ALL OF US than that. And I think that one of the biggest illusions that assaults our culture is that we begin to define ourselves in this way. I am more than a husband, father, database manager, writer, and cook. You, too, are more than the sum of your labor. If this is all we have, then when any of these elements disappear, so does a part of us.
So, I'll set out to define these things that I do and things that I like, but I will do just that: define them... rather than letting them define me.
Am I Wrong?
So, am I wrong for liking Michael Vick? I was watching the dude on Sunday and couldn't help but cheer him at every turn.
There are some who might berate me for celebrating what they see as a deplorable human being. I'm not condoning anything that he has done or continues to do, except for being a phenomenal football player.
This begs the deeper question, though... Am I wrong for enjoying the music of Elton John? He's gay and has said some questionable things in recent years. I'm not saying anything about that, I just happen to think that the man has some great songs.
What about the countless other celebrities, athletes, artists, musicians that I like whose private lives are, well, private. Is there some responsibility on me to investigate who they are and make my entertainment decisions based on that?
Or can I just like a great song for being a great song?
Can I just appreciate a great painting without concern for the wretch who painted it?
I'm not trying to be argumentative. I really want to know what my responsibility on this issue should be. Thoughts?
New Music Tuesday
It's Tuesday... that means, new music.
5 Miles Inland: The Caroline EP
If you haven't already reserved your copy of The Caroline EP, you should. And do it now while you can still get all the bonus content.
Derek Webb: FEEDBACK
Derek's new, instrumental project based on the Lord's Prayer. The clips I've heard sound interesting. Great pricing structure for several different options. He's playing in Dallas this weekend, but it's hard to say if he'll be playing anything from this album.
Neil Diamond: Dreams
I previewed most of this on iTunes and all I could say was "Wow". All cover songs. Incredible. "Midnight Train to Georgia", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Yesterday", and his own "I'm a Believer". Hearing is believing.
While you're at it, Support Neil for the 2011 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
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