Ep 94: Rachel Wilhelm on Singing The Words of Jeremiah

 

Rachel Wilhelm joins the podcast once again to discuss her new album Jeremiah, a collection of song adapted from the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Like with previous episodes this interview is also a kind of deep dive "radio special" for the album featuring excerpts of the song and the background behind them. Rachel previously appeared on the podcast discussing her album Requiem and she has even written an article for PostConsumer Reports the blog. Please check out her work on Bandcamp and all the streaming platforms, book her for songwriting retreat through United Adoration, or check out the music she's contributed for other projects through Cardiphonia and Resound Worship.

You can find her work on Bandcamp (where CD's can be purchased).

You can book a creative or songwriting retreat through United Adoration.

You can hear some other recordings and collaborations with Resound Worship and Cardiphonia.

Chris will speaking about teaching Tolkien to young people at the Tolkien Conference, which you can attend in person and online.

Rachel has previously appeared on the PostConsumer podcast here, she wrote a blog article here, and Chris reviewed her lament album here.

Let's Not Think About the Election! Let's Listen to Music!—Songs Telling the Story of God

Let's not think about the election! Let's listen to music! 

It's the week before the 2016 presidential election but let's pretend it's not happening. Instead, if you happen to find yourself reading this article, please take a few moments to stop what you're doing, click play on the tracks below, and take in some beauty, truth, and goodness. I have curated a play list worthy of your consideration. May they work their way into your soul, embed themselves into your mind, and stir your strength into edifying action.

Today's list (Part 3 of 3):
Songs Telling the Story of Redemption
There is a story being told in our world that gets heard more than all the others. It is a story that makes you afraid. It tells you that if you don't do all you can you will lose everything. It is the kind of story that makes you want to win at all costs. It is a story of power and dominance and progress and accumulation. In this story we pick sides and if you aren't on my side, well, get ready to face the consequences.

But there is an alternate story being told. It is the way of Christ. It is the laying down of our lives willingly for the sake of others. Christ poured himself out and gave life to all the world. This is the story of new creation, of rebirth, of redemption. This is where justice reigns and truth finally wins. God is sovereign in this story and he has told us how the story ends. "Your mercies are new, new every morning..."

Featuring the songs of Rich Mullins, Fernando Ortega, Sara Groves Keith Green/Annie Herring, Andrew Peterson, Matt Redman, and Audrey Assad

Let's Not Think About the Election! Let's Listen to Music!—Songs of Hope & Peace

Let's not think about the election! Let's listen to music! 

It's the week before the 2016 presidential election but let's pretend it's not happening. Instead, if you happen to find yourself reading this article, please take a few moments to stop what you're doing, click play on the tracks below, and take in some beauty, truth, and goodness. I have curated a play list worthy of your consideration. May they work their way into your soul, embed themselves into your mind, and stir your strength into edifying action.

Today's list (Part 2 of 3):
Songs of Hope & Peace
When the whole earth is shifting beneath our feet, when everything around us seems to be crumbling, we desperately need a sure foundation on which to stand and a refuge from the chaos. These are songs that root us in the hope of Christ, of finding peace in him through times of trouble. Allow yourself to rest in these songs, but even more than that, allow yourself to rest in God our Savior in whom all things were made and in whom we live and move and have our being. Featuring the songs of Switchfoot, Rich Mullins, Phil Keaggy, Newsboys, Matt Redman, Delirious?, and Fernando Ortega.

The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian Music

Related article: A Classic Christian Music—A list of radio stations, websites, books, and documentaries

This past weekend I had a most amazing concert-going experience in Champaign, Illinois.

I was there seeing two little known aging rock artists. I say little known because the crowd was mostly in their 40's or above, with a few sprinklings of people in their 20's and 30's, as well as a few kids. I also say little known because only around 200-300 people were there, and though the venue was mostly full the two artists who performed have both had sustainable music careers for over 40 years. So...you'd think more than 200-300 people would be there...

And I should also say both of these artists are rock legends who continue to put out music showing they are still at the top of their craft. Well, what was the problem? Why weren't there more people there? The answer is easy: they both are "Christian" artists who put out "Christian" music within the realm of the Christian music industry. The concert I went to featured a doubling billing of Glenn Kaiser playing solo blues and Phil Keaggy playing a rare show with a full band. Most anyone who knows anything about these artists would easily call them "rock legends", most especially Keaggy but I think Kaiser deserves to be up there too. It was the best concert experience I have had in years and it made me a little bit sad.

"Christian"music, you see, has a legacy problem and it manifests itself in two main ways:
1.) there is basically no infrastructure for artists  to go on tour. 
2.) there is basically no infrastructure for artists' music to stay in print or reach a new audience.

Grandpa Rock Review: Paul Simon and Phil Keaggy

This summer I realized my album buying habits really reflect my age. I am only in my mid-30's but I am essentially a Grandpa Rock enthusiast. When given the opportunity to buy new music (which I still buy on CD and then possibly vinyl) I bypassed the most lauded Dad Rock album of the year (Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool) and went straight for the Grandpa Rock Royalty of Paul Simon's latest (and perhaps last) Stranger to Stranger. Added to this, I had been eagerly waiting since the end of last year for Phil Keaggy to release a new album, which got funded on Kickstarter. Those of us who backed the album, which is now called All At Once, got to download it earlier in the summer, but the official release came in September.

These are the albums I was most anticipating: 2 rock legends from the 60's and 70's, one an American icon and possible Greatest Living Songwriter, the other a pillar of the Jesus Music era and one of the world's most renowned guitar players.

PostConsumer Reports Podcast Episode 5: Singer/Songwriter Jeremy Casella

My wife and I first met Jeremy Casella after a 2004 Caedmon's Call concert on their Share the Well tour, where he was the opener. We both really enjoyed his songs and somehow we made our way back to his table afterward where he was selling his music. To my surprise we had a really nice and long conversation, with us sharing our common interests and with me asking him a ton of questions about the music industry. I've seen Jeremy a couple of times since then and have supported his music whenever it's come out. In fact, as I discussed here, I supported the Kickstarter campaign that funded his most recent album Death in Reverse.

Jeremy's been doing some touring this fall and last week, after a few shows around Chicago he stopped in Morton, Illinois for a house show where beforehand I was able to interview him for a podcast episode.

The Christian Music Supergroup

The release of Steve Taylor & the Perfect Foil's new album Goliath has got me thinking of an interesting phenomenon in the music world: SUPERGROUPS