The Best Christmas Music of 2011 – A wide variety of new yuletide music for your Christmas stocking.
Like CCM, Christmas music is defined by its lyrical content, not its music (though sleigh bells, chimes, and children’s choruses seem to be in every Christmas album from reggae to bluegrass). So, like CCM, it has spun off dozens of subgenres. On one end of the spectrum are “seasonal” albums that make no reference to... Continue Reading
New Album of Christmas Carols Available
“The Majesty of His Birth,” a collection of traditional Christmas carols, is a new album by former PCA pastor Hugh Davis. Each of the eight carols in the collection are orchestrated in unique ways to help the listener hear the news of Christ’s birth in a fresh way. The style varies throughout the collection, ranging... Continue Reading
Creed or Chaos – A review and theological analysis of the hit Broadway musical, ‘The Book Of Mormon’
Rigorous theology helps people avoid mindless conformity. Without timeless rules, we all have a tendency to be swept up in the temper of the moment. But tough-minded theologies are countercultural. They insist on principles and practices that provide an antidote to mere fashion You can feel a jolt of energy surge through the audience of... Continue Reading
Giano’s Christian Hip Hop with an Afro-Latino groove
What I really appreciate about Giano’s music is that, as a Latino, he has ability to reach a wide audience with an amazing mix, at times, of English and Spanish lyrics and he raps about the intersection of the gospel and real life. I was so impressed by this mix that I wanted to know... Continue Reading
God at the Grammys: Why do so many musical superstars think that their careers are part of a divine plan?
The hip-hop mogul Diddy, for example, has been in and out of courtrooms over the years, facing charges for assault, gun possession and bribery—yet he continually bounces back with a new name and a new career. When I asked him if he ever felt fear, he replied, “My faith is in God. Like, look who... Continue Reading
BeBe & CeCe Winans, Switchfoot Nab Grammy Awards
Brother and sister duo BeBe and CeCe Winans took home two Grammy awards on Sunday, adding to their already wide collection of gold statues. The two won for Best Gospel Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony. Other winners in the Gospel category included Switchfoot, Jerry Peters and... Continue Reading
An Interview with ‘Believin Stephen’ on “The Suffering Servant,” personal pain, and the future of Christian hip hop
Believin’ Stephen graciously agreed to an interview about his life and music from his hometown of Philly (one of my favorite cities in America). I am fascinated by the content of his lyrics because they address the types of topics in the lives of people in the Bible and tells a story of God’s healing... Continue Reading
Nominees for the 53rd Grammy Awards are in, Christian artists have been selected for seven categories
The nominees were announced Wednesday night. The 53rd Grammy Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Staples Center on Feb. 13, 2011. The categories include: Best Gospel Performance, Best Gospel Song, Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album, Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel, Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album, Best Traditional Gospel Album, and Best Contemporary... Continue Reading
Performers confirmed for 2010 Inspirational Country Music Awards
The 16th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Show (ICM Awards) announces that Ricky Skaggs, Katrina Elam and Steve Richard are confirmed to perform on the award show. Ricky Skaggs, Multi-Award winning giant and 2009 ICM Mainstream Country Artist of the Year, is nominated in four ICM award categories. Skaggs continues to add to his of... Continue Reading
John Lennon’s Dream: His 10 Best Songs – On the 70th anniversary of his birth
Editor’s Note: For all of ‘us’ in the 50 and over crowd! Youngsters are welcome. “Always know sometimes think it’s me/but you know I know and it’s a dream.”—John Lennon John Lennon was not just a great musician and songwriter. He was a dream-weaver who dared to imagine a world where human beings would put... Continue Reading