U2 Interscope, 2017 As a lifelong U2 fan, I’ve learned that the key to coming to grips with U2 in the 2010s is not to lower your expectations, but to allow them to be altered – not to something worse, but to something different. Granted, this can be a disorienting experience. We know, we’ve been here before. “Zooropa” and “Pop” had us wondering at the time what the heck was going on. Then “All That You Can't Leave Behind” pulled us back from the brink. Whew. U2's latest album, “Songs Of Experience,” will not magically transport us back to the glory days of the 80s and 90s. Then again, not much can. Bono is far past his twenties, as evidenced by a notably adjusted vocal range and the expected physical limitations (no more climbing on the rafters, old man). The passion is still there, but it's not screamed from the rooftops as much as it’s engaged in heartfelt conversation. "Experience" will do that to you. “Songs of Experience” traverses the musical spectrum in a way few … [Read more...]
Bach Trios
Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer Nonesuch Records Inc., 2017 A mandolin, a cello and upright bass playing some Bach treasures — what's not to love? Especially when it's Chris Thile on the mandolin, that freak of a musical talent who both hears and performs music in ways mere mortals can barely fathom. Whether he's single-handedly replacing "blue" with "new" in "bluegrass" as one-third of the Nickel Creek talent, or leading "Prairie Home Companion" to its next iteration, or performing Radiohead covers with a full symphony orchestra (saw that one in person, y'all), the consensus is clear: Chris Thile is not of this planet. And then there's Yo-Yo Ma, world-renowned cellist who began performing concerts at four and a half years old, the same age when I was still learning how to color inside the lines. Like Thile, Ma has been bold in stepping outside his classical focus, contributing his musical gifts to bluegrass, Latin American and minimalist circles. Watching him play … [Read more...]
Harry Styles
Harry Styles Columbia Records, 2017. Hi everyone. Hi. My name is Steve Lindsley, and I'm listening to the new Harry Styles album. Hi, Steve. I appreciate you not judging. But I wouldn't fault you if you did. I sure didn't see it coming. But there I was, watching SNL one night, somehow managing to stay up late enough for the first musical act (being a preacher I'm usually long asleep by then). And there he was, the One Direction heartthrob, standing at the mic looking all forlorn and contemplative over the lulling piano progression of "Sign Of The Times." As the song unfolded, I confess I wasn’t totally thrilled with what I heard – plodding in some places, repetitive. But one thing was for certain: This guy was looking to leave his boy band days behind, and he actually might have the chops to pull it off. Later when I checked out the full album, I realized what my musical collaborator and Montreat Youth Conference co-music leader concluded in a recent Facebook post: … [Read more...]
OK Computer
Radiohead On many different levels, it is hard to believe that this spring marks the 20th anniversary of one of rock's most innovative offerings, Radiohead's May 1997 release “OK Computer.” Hard in the sense that it's frightening to think 20 years have passed that quickly. Equally hard in the sense that the album still sounds as fresh as when it was first released – and certainly more relevant than some of its fellow offerings at the time (I'm looking at you, Spice Girls). Although, truth be told, perhaps no other album better encapsulates both the cultural and musical junction in which it found itself in the world of the late 1990s. Culturally: blissful growth in the worldwide markets coupled with the rise of terrorism and postmodern suspicion. Musically: the decline of the commercial success of grunge rock and anyone's guess of what would take its place. It was in this vacuum that the British rock band Radiohead boldly stepped. Having achieved some commercial success with … [Read more...]
Feel good 17 for ‘17
Folks, you don't need me to tell you this: There's a lot of hate, fear and divisiveness out in our world these days. People are on edge. Folks are anxious. These are trying times we're living in. It was American jazz saxophonist extraordinaire Albert Ayler who famously said, "Music is the healing force of the universe." Certainly it also takes community action and a prophetic word or two, but the truth remains: Music can most certainly make a difference. So I thought it would be a good thing in this new year to forego a true album review and focus instead on what I'm calling the "Feel good 17 for '17" playlist – 17 songs that speak a word of hope, promise and love we're all longing to hear, ready to brighten up whatever yuckiness comes our way. Let it be said: I am absolutely sure I left off some no-brainers. So feel free to add your selections in the comments below. Let's speak and live with our lives a word of hope, promise and love every day of this new year – and if this … [Read more...]
One Wild Life: Body (Gungor)
For a while now I’ve had it on my radar – a review of Gungor’s “One Wild Life: Body.” The inner dialogue went like this: It’s a cool concept that married couple Michael and Lisa Gungor came up with, releasing a trilogy of albums in the span of a single year (“Soul,” “Spirit” and now “Body”). And you’ve always admired and respected Gungor’s approach to spirituality in music. Nuanced, creative and thoughtful; the antithesis of the worst “contemporary Christian music” has to offer. All done with the highest musical standard. The thing is, Gungor’s offerings to the musical world are complex and diverse in a way that renders an honest review a bit of a challenge. For each track not only stands out from the ones before and after, but within each individual tune lie multiple layers of tone and construct, just begging to be peeled back. The result is something like trying to read Shakespeare or (for my pastor peeps) Barth for fun – in theory it can be done, but is it really worth the … [Read more...]
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