Eisley on Conan

Just found out that Eisley will make its first, national television appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tonight.

Kearney on Tonight Show

Mat Kearney will perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening.

Spinning This Week:

Hillsong : Mighty to Save
Josh Schicker : Moonlighting
Josh Schicker : Self-titled
Patty Griffin : Children Running Through
Over the Rhine : Good Dog Bad Dog
Feist : The Reminder
John Reuben : Word of Mouth

His Two Cents: The Trumpet Child

I'm trading in my two cents on Over the Rhine's latest record for ChristianMusicToday.com's comprehensive review by Russ Breimeier. I couldn't have written it better.

I Am Not a Purist

Blame it on Toby McKeehan (at right), the "musical gumbo" king who forever ruined my tastebuds for "the straight and narrow." I rarely like any pure genre -- I don't like straight pop, I like pop/rock. I don't care for straight alternative, I like alterna-pop. I don't like straight folk, I like folk rock or pop-flavored folk. I don't enjoy straight rap or hardcore, I like rapcore. I don't like straight bluegrass, Americana or blues, I like bluesy, Americana-tinged pop/folk/rock with hints of bluegrass. I was reminded of that this week, while spinning Alison Krauss & Union Station's So Long So Wrong (which I borrowed from my manager's manager, Linda) in preparation for the show I am to see (for free) tomorrow night. I generally get bored with "the straight and narrow" (as it's used in this context). Perhaps that's why some of my favorite artists are Mat Kearney, Over the Rhine, P.O.D., Sufjan Stevens and, of course, tobyMac.

From Hooks to Books

According to ChristianMusicToday.com's Andree Farias: Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine (second from the left) will release The One, The Only, Magnificent Me, a children's book via Mackinac Island Press. Haseltine teamed up with illustrator Joel Schoon Tanis for the book, which will be available in more than 1,100 Target stores and other retailers when it releases on Sept. 15. "I wanted to write a book that reminded children that they are amazing and wonderful," said Haseltine. "All children need to know that they are magnificent -- with or without feathers."

Personal Note: I became acquainted with Tanis during my residency in Holland, Mich. We share an alma mater, though he is many years my senior. I own a couple of his books and a print of one of his paintings. I also interviewed him for our college newspaper, the Anchor, while a student at our beloved Hope College.

Hot Picks: Out Today

Over the Rhine : The Trumpet Child

Allow me to gloat a moment: Because I pre-ordered this disc from OtR's Web site, I got my copy in the mail last Thursday (along with a red, white and blue Bergquist/Detweiler 2008 "If a Song Could Be President" bumper sticker)!

Spinning This Week:

Over the Rhine : The Trumpet Child
Over the Rhine : Drunkard's Prayer
Alison Krauss & Union Station : So Long So Wrong
P.O.D. : The Warriors EP, Vol. 2
Mute Math : Reset
Jonny Lang : Turn Around
Rosie Thomas : These Friends of Mine
Plankeye : Relocation

Switchfoot Says Sayonara to Sony

Per Switchfoot's Web site, the band has officially severed ties with Sony Records due to "differences in vision and goals." Bassist Tim Foreman reports, "As a hands-on band, we feel so grateful for our newfound freedom." The pop-rock five piece plans "to pursue making music independently."

Hot Picks: Out Today

Eisley : Combinations

Spinning This Week:

Eisley : Room Noises
tobyMac : Portable Sounds
Mindy Smith : Long Island Shores
Patty Griffin : Children Running Through
Plus One : Exodus
Amy Winehouse : Back to Black
Feist : The Reminder
Larry Norman : Only Visiting This Planet
Eisley : Combinations
Over the Rhine : The Trumpet Child

Eisley in Concert

Can't wait to see family art rock act Eisley tonight at The Belcourt Theatre.

Belated Birthday Wishes

This blog turned one year old on July 3. Happy birthday, SPIN and TELL!

My Two Cents: Undiscovered

I hate it when pre-releases (or radio edits) ruin me for other song versions. It's happened again with soulful singer-songwriter James Morrison's debut, Undiscovered. I picked up Borders' free, exclusive, two-song, live, acoustic James Morrison sampler months ago. I much prefer those versions of "You Give Me Something" and "Wonderful World" to the full-band, studio recordings on Undiscovered. I think it's safe to say that I would enjoy a fully acoustic, live record more so than what was crafted on the Brit's freshman release. Regardless, Morrison is a notable talent. His rich, raspy voice does not match his skinny-white-poor-boy look. I will say, however, that the sonic flavor added to Morrison's vocal and acoustic guitar tracks during production match well with and support his accessible, other-era sound. His list of favorite artists -- Otis Redding, Al Green, Cat Stevens, The Kinks and Van Morrison, per Wikipedia -- lends an accurate composite of his own style.

Spinning This Week:

John Reuben : Word of Mouth
Paul Wright : Wright or Wrong These Songs Are Paul's
James Morrison : Undiscovered
The Rocket Summer : Do You Feel
David Mead : Indiana
Ray Charles : "Ray" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Eisley : Room Noises

Love at First Sight

I love CDs. I love getting a new stack of them all at once. Of course, that rarely happens. However, as a member of Sound and Spirit music club, a division of BMG, whenever S&S offers its buy-one-get-four-free specials, I jump at the chance (assuming there are five discs in the catalog that I'm jonesin' for). That special gives me the excuse to buy records that I wouldn't buy otherwise (i.e. complete-the-collection albums, soundtracks, discs that I'm not certain, but curious about, those that would seem to be extravagant purchases, etc.). I just got such a shipment in the mail today, in fact. I love to rip into the box and carefully remove the shrink-wrap from the CDs. Then I open each jewel case, one by one, and look at the artwork. Every disc is like a present that I give myself. My selections this time around: Jonny Lang - Turn Around James Morrison - Undiscovered John Reuben - Word of Mouth The Sound of Music Original Soundtrack The Sound of Music - 40th Anniversary Special Edition Paul Wright - Wright or Wrong These Songs Are Paul's P.S. The photo above looks just like the view in my college radio station's back room. Ah, the memories.

My Two Cents: Do You Feel

I interviewed Bryce Avary (a.k.a. one-man band The Rocket Summer) for HM Magazine a couple of years ago to promote his sophomore indie label release, Hello, Good Friend. I had the chance to see him and his touring band some months later when they played the basement of Nashville's Rocketown. I almost didn't buy his first major label project, Do You Feel (released July 17 on Island Records), because, despite his obvious talent and passion, HGF did not excite me. But being a sucker for a good price, I found the new album at Target for $9.99 (regular price). I was pleasantly surprised. The 24-year-old has definitely matured over the past two years. His vocals sound a little more developed and the lyrics a little more grown-up. I like the guitar-driven pop/rock of DYF much more than the piano-pop-driven sounds of HGF. And it's amazing what a bigger recording budget can do for ya.

The Little Things

I recently experienced great joy thanks to a little piece of news from my friend and former roommate, Taryn. Upon googling the band Cool Hand Luke, she discovered that the band's Wikipedia page cites me as a reference. (I covered the band for HM Magazine in the March/April 2007 issue.) What an unexpected thrill! Of course, that enticed me to set out on a quest to find out if any of the Wikipedia pages for the other bands/artists I've covered have listed my name, as well. The only other citing I found was on All Star United's Wiki page, referencing my piece in HM's May/June 2007 installment. For someone who gets excited to see her new business cards in print, it was a happy moment. Thanks, Taryn! As I've posted on Once Upon a Line, "Little things that mean a lot make every day a holiday." Or, as India.Arie sings, "It's the little things and the joy they bring."