Some Things to Get Excited About

Looking into the near future, we have some reasons to get excited about the music industry. Mat Kearney is releasing his second full length album City of Black and White on May 19th, 2009. You can hear his new single, Closer to Love, on his site   http://www.matkearney.com/ I’ve been a huge fan of Kearney since he  he released his first album on InPop way back in 2004. Now that he has gained popularity and appeal, I am very excited to see what he is going to do with this album. This is something not to overlook!

FM Static is also releasing a new album this spring titled Dear Diary off T&N on April 7th, 2009. Some samples are avaliable at thier myspace:   http://www.myspace.com/fmstatic I’m not sure what to expect from these guys, but I am expecting at least a few good tracks from them. Hopefully I’m only underestimating.

What if We

Brandon Heath

What If We

Brandon Heath has been one of my favorite artists since his first release Don’t Get Comfortable. Well, I took his words to heart and was incredibly fidgety when I heard he was coming out with a new album. Now that it’s been released, I have can’t help but sit still and listen to this incredible album. I’m sure a couple of you are familiar with his most well known song right now, Give me Your Eyes, which is played on many stations around the country.

Strengths

I had the privilege of seeing Brandon Heath in concert just a few months ago, and one of the things that stood out to me was how much sincerity he performed with; this was not lost in his album. The depth and sincerity Heath sings with is one of the best attributes of his work. It’s incredibly touching to hear about him singing about standing on the streets of London and crying, praying for God’s understanding, and his experience with other hurting people. This is not a superficial album in the least bit.

Other strengths include his brilliant voice and the shift in style from his last album. You can still tell that this is the same guy, but something about this album is different. There is slightly a more rhythmic feel to some of his songs and you can tell that his musical maturity is growing. His voice clean and clear while the music is not muddled  or too overpowering. It seems that the balance between vocals and instrumentation is very well done.

When She’s Near

Here’s a link for a free download of Fiction Family’s new single, When She’s Near. Right click and select “Save Link as” to download.

When She’s Near

Rummaging for Acoustics

You may not expect to discover an incredible voice in a pub named after a cat, but after arriving only  to miss the first act, “hairball(ish)” is certainly the least likely way to describe Aaron Espe’s voice. Coming from a small town, Espe has managed to reach a much larger crowd (perhaps the size of a couple large towns) with his stunning acoustics in Songs from a Small Town.

I didn’t know what to expect upon deciding to go to the show at the campus “pub”, but after hearing just a few songs, I was glad I went. It was refreshing to hear a new voice, a voice that is not muddled like all of the other voices of the pop age that seem to blend together. His voice is intriguingly raspy, enough to bring it flare, but not enough to make it feel like sandpaper. But now that I think about it, “raspy” may not be the best choice of words, in light of how well he sings, but maybe “bark like” (tree bark) with a weathered and worn sound on top of vibrant and youthful budding would be better.

I would recommend checking this guy out. He may not be recognized by the celebrities of today, but Chester (the cat the pub is named after) certainly approves (and he’s one classy cat). Espe’s music has prompted me to rummage through the music sources I have in order to find more acoustic gems like this one. If you are from a small town, you may get along with this guy quite well.

Aaron Espe’s website

Crimes [These United States]

Crimes

[These United States]

I received Crimes from a good friend of mine a little while ago. I had never heard of them before but I really liked the album art the first time I saw the album (this is [almost] always a good sign). So over the past few days I’ve been listening to the intricate multi-faceted music of These United States, and I approve.

Strengths

I always appreciate variety. This album is variety, and therefore I appreciate it. One of the strongest parts of Crimes is the diversity in style. There are several upbeat and rhythmic songs, but they are complimented by those that are acoustic ballads full of emotions in quiet esteem. The lyrical depth of the album is also something to be commended. Lines such as “each wave a mirror, each crest a key” strike me with elegant beauty. I am glad the use of instruments is also not over done or too colloquial. Yes, there is your basic guitars and drums, but with the addition of banjo, piano, and synthetic sounds, that mundane guitar takes on some pretty interesting shapes.

Denison Witmer [Life Before Aesthetics] Free Download

Life Before Aesthetics.mp3

You can download Denison Witmer’s new EP, Life Before Aesthetics, from My Old Kentucky Blog for Free!

There is something about album art that makes me want to “judge a book by its cover”. I almost think you can. But besides that little note, I love this album’s album art. No particular reason why I am sharing this

Hymns Unleashed

The Hymns Unleashed

The other day I found out about a project that is focused on bringing older hymns to the forefront of musical appeal for youth today. Here is their statement:

“The Hymns Unleashed Project is all about trying to introduce some of those wonderful melodies found in famous hymns to those who would not otherwise know them.  We want talented musicians to take a priceless hymn (of praise, worship, adoration, prayer) and make them uniquely your own, much like Jesse did with “It Is Well With My Soul”. Let these songs inspire you, possibly leading you in a way that will utilize your own God-given talents in a way that might even suprise you! “

What’s interesting about this site is that it invites other Christian indie artists to rearrange, rework, and share their hymns that may never “have never been heard on anything but a piano or organ.” Here is a sample of what the site is getting at:

more about “About | The Hymns Unleashed Project“, posted with vodpod

This site has potential, and if you are a Christian Inide artist out there who wants to or has already rearranged some older hymns, you may want to give this site a second look.

The Hymns Unleashed