Tag: song of the day

I feel a supernova swooping over you and your uh / Sit and wait a minute man, seldom into sentimental propaganda / Elements of enemy headed for the pedigree / Deader than the beat or the feet of a centipede recipe / Better go retreat hypothetically… Continued →

Here’s the thing . . . Sufjan is incredible. Whether or not you like his music, one has to acknowledge the astounding amount of talent the guy has. To me, he is the musical equivalent to the literary Tolkien. What I mean is this: somewhere in the deep recesses of their brains, the creative impetus for all those ideas already existed. For Tolkien it was a myriad of languages, races and lands–each with their own histories and storylines. For Stevens, it’s his complex musical compositions alternately cloaked in folk, electronica, and baroque hues.… Continued →

Long before the Christian music industry had become familiar with industrial music via the likes of Deitiphobia, Mortal or Circle of Dust, indie stalwarts Blackhouse already had 9-10 albums out. Most of them were only available as imports or through independent mailorder, and many were on secular labels. Case in point is “We Will Fight Back,” with its provocative album cover. The crucified rabbit was done by the label without artist consent, or so the story goes. Never one to be pigeonholed, Blackhouse experimented with noise, hip-hop, electronica and more, but all functioning out of the foundation of industrial.… Continued →

Soul-Junk are one of those bands that are immensely difficult to keep up with. Incredibly prolific, they’ve released at least a dozen albums, and roughly 14 EPs. All of them are named after numbers, presumably years (mostly in the 1930s-1950s), but they don’t follow any logical sequential order. To make matters even more perplexing, often the LP releases have altogether different tracks or sequences from the CD versions of the same album. This is not to mention the way they float through styles and genres as if distinctions didn’t exist.… Continued →

Folk really has to have something special if it’s going to catch my attention. Sure, there are a lot of great artists out there, but there are so many that it’s hard to stand out. A unique vocal, guitar prowess, or lyrics that hit that spot right in your gut that makes you either want to cry out at top of your lungs, or just really and truly live. Harrod and Funck managed all of that (their Mark Heard-produced full-length Dreams of the Color Blind is worth checking out in full if you like this style).… Continued →

I don’t know what it is but maybe today’s dark and stormy skies along with a heavy downpour elicits a moody yet introspective response to music. A song such as “Handshake” really makes you stop and think. I still believe after all these years that the band Black Eyed Sceva (and later known as ‘Model Engine’) were brilliant songwriters, Jeremy Post in particular. There was something magical in their music and the way they conveyed these emotions through song. They may not have been widely known or celebrated as “Rock stars” but their music was incredibly important to me.… Continued →

Featuring ex-members of Jeremiah’s Grotto and pre-members of Rookie of the Year, emo band Farewell to Fashion disappeared just as quickly as they sprung up. They released one split EP with Inez called The Price of Fame (highly recommended), and then a full-length. Both were on Future Destination Records (Neutral Agreement, Hotshot Freight Train). “Morning Grey” highlights all that was great about third wave emo–raw, melodic, punkish, and at times sloppy, but always full of emotion. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q36TfdhF6UI… Continued →

I’m a sucker for this style of hardcore–really fast, short songs, with equal parts melody and anger thrown in for good measure. For some reason, this subgenre didn’t have nearly as much of a following in Christian circles as their secular counterparts, making Hit the Deck stand out even more. They released one full-length on Facedown imprint Strike First Records, and had a couple of demos as well, all of which can be found as digital downloads if you know where to look.… Continued →

Paramaecium. Legendary. Heavy as a concrete slab, and slower than a slug. The band’s debut, Exhumed of the Earth, shocked metal fans everywhere with slow, heavy riffs, string parts, and death metal vocals that were juxtaposed with occasional operatic female vocals added in for good measure. Their sophomore album Within the Ancient Forest changed styles somewhat by cranking up the folk and classical elements and adding a technical flair. But by the time A Time to Mourn came out, the band had shifted styles again–still within the doom metal category, of course–by adding a touch of groove and including Seventh Angel/Ashen Mortality frontman Ian Arkley (later of My Silent Wake).… Continued →

Bloomsday’s debut “The Day the Colors Died” was brilliant, if a little disjointed. The trio ambitiously covered indie rock, shoegaze, jangle pop, slow-core, lo-fi, and emo all in the span of 10 songs. Amazingly, 20+ years later it still holds up. But it was their second release, this time an EP, that really caught listener’s ears and held them in a death grip. It was much more focused this time around–emotionally charged indie rock that somehow managed to merge emo and shoegaze into a singular, cohesive unit that was both of those things and yet neither of them entirely.… Continued →

It’s been awhile since I last posted a song of the day. But this week while I was compiling my new releases list I stumbled across this excellent folk song by Amanda Opelt that I wanted to share with you. It’s called “Song to My Heart” and can find the lyrics and the inspiration behind the song in this blog post. Enjoy! Listen on: Apple Music | Amazon Music | Spotify… Continued →

You might say that Mineral was “almost a Christian band.” Vocalist/guitarist Chris Simpson stated in an interview with NPR last year: “I have no qualms about being a seeker, as it were. But as I have grown into myself, I’ve realized that I’m definitely not a Christian, which is where I felt like I was in the Mineral era.” Beyond the label, the band has some incredible emotional rock music to their name. “I just want to be something more than the mud in your eyes” recalls the story of Jesus healing the blind man in John 9.… Continued →

To commemorate the deluxe vinyl re-issue of Starflyer 59’s legendary sophomore album, Gold, our Song of the Day has to be a pick from that timeless release. The first time I heard this song was also my first time catching the band live. It was the very first Tooth & Nail Weekend at the Where-House in Bartlesville, OK. Also on the bill was Focused, Unashamed, locals Mr Bishop’s Fist (if you know, you know), Wish for Eden (whose van broke down en route so they were unable to join, unfortunately), Chatterbox, and Plankeye.… Continued →

Last week, over at the IVM discussion group on Facebook, a conversation ensued about indie labels within the Christian music scene. Mono vs. Stereo was mentioned, and I commented about their impressive 2005 compilation, The Revolution Will Begin in the Blink of an Eye Vol. 2. One of the artists I enjoyed most on this CD was A Farewell to Arms, who later went by his personal name, Corey Crowder. Currently, it looks like Crowder is more involved in the country music scene as a producer/songwriter, rather than focusing on his work as a solo artist.… Continued →

Over the past 2-3 years, I’ve been discovering a bunch of old Christian punk, post-punk, and new wave that I didn’t know existed. One of the best examples is a short-lived band from the south coast of England called Crowd Control. I only know of one track they recorded, which can be found on the excellent “Shots in the Dark” compilation. The album features other UK-based punk, new wave, and ska tracks. “There are Houses” is brilliant. It’s dark, brooding, true post-punk with enough keyboards to keep things interesting.… Continued →

Mars ILL’s “Inside Out” is one of the most convicting songs I’ve ever heard. Backbreakanomics (2003) is a classic album as a whole, but Dust’s production on this song is what really sets it apart, with its haunting samples and DJ scratches. Manchild uses the occasion to tell a story which focuses on social inequality, spiritual transformation, and justice. Blames the system that built jails instead of schools / Blames religion as a set of useless rules / Blames his father that he never even knew / Looks in the mirror.… Continued →

Where are my hip-hop heads at? Lightheaded is/was a collaborative project between Ozay Moore (FKA Othello), Braille, and Ohmega Watts. Each of these MCs have had significant solo careers on their own. This track brings the three of them back together after a long hiatus. Super-cool stuff! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wk8aWiY0PQ… Continued →

Norma Jean’s upcoming record, All Hail, releases next week on October 25. Truth be told, I only listened through O’ God, the Aftermath (2005) for the first time this year, and was very impressed by its balance of chaos and complexity. As we anticipate All Hail, here is a classic song from one of 2005’s metalcore masterpieces.… Continued →

Lo-fi indie rock never made a huge impact in the Christian scene. To be fair, it was a niche market even in mainstream circles. Beck and R.E.M. were the only 2 artists to break out of the underground, and both of those bands more or less ditched their lo-fi roots to do so (Beck only temporarily). I can only think of a handful of Christian-themed lo-fi bands: Jetenderpaul, Danielson Famile, Pedro the Lion (early stuff), Sappo, Joe Christmas, and some early Damien Jurado projects. Enter Jupiter James.… Continued →

Some music videos deserve to be shared, even if they’re only 144p. “Falling Further” by Spoken tells a story of prodigality, placing emphasis on feelings of regret and the rejection of God’s love. While the band has a lot of great songs, I always thought the chorus for “Falling Further” was particularly strong in its emotional communication.… Continued →

In the late 90s, I lived in Atlanta, GA, doing inner-city ministry and discipleship training. An old college friend of mine from the area, Darrel, invited me to a show south of the city. Blindside were doing a U.S. tour and this new band was opening, featuring ex-members of Spudgun and Joe Christmas. I’d been hearing from others about the intensity of their live shows so I was eager to attend. Pop-punkers Jesse and the Rockers also played, as well as a new band made up of high school kids, called Luti-Kriss that never went anywhere (I kid!)… Continued →

Since it’s snowing today, I feel like this Monday deserves an emo song (it’s not even Halloween yet!). “Not All Bad” is one of the more hopeful Terminal tracks, with its bright guitar strums and lyrics that fight against self-deprecation and apathy. Maybe if the snow doesn’t let up, I’ll blare this song outside and try to melt it with some musical positivity?… Continued →

Huntingtons were a prolific punk and/or pop-punk band, as most of you will know. For me, you just can’t beat their sophomore album, “Fun and Games.” The title says it all. This song has that punk rock meets 50s style doo-wop that many bands tried but not many could pull off. It works incredibly well here! Listen here: Huntingtons – The Only One… Continued →

Rarely do I hear music and feel as though I was meant to hear it. However common it is to hear good songs, bad songs, and even very impressive ones, a lot of music doesn’t strike me as having significance beyond random chance. Earlier this month though, there was a day when I was listening to “Rain Song” by Ana Sapphira over and over. I decided to visit their Facebook page shortly after, and sadly, it looks like the band broke up last year. I first heard “Rain Song” in a HeartSupport video featuring lead singer Jonathan Lamper, which I will also include below.… Continued →

I don’t suspect many of our readers will be familiar with What of the Night, which is a shame. This Irish & English punk band released only one album in 1979 (yes, you read that right!) making them the earliest Christian punk band (if we don’t include Death, which is a discussion for another time). The LP features post-punk, mod, and garage rock sounds and would be at home next to the likes of The Undertones, The Jam, Buzzcocks and so many others. It’s super rare and hard to come by, but I managed to track down a copy for myself a couple of years ago.… Continued →

Last week, Joshua S. Porter of Showbread was interviewed on the Labeled Podcast. Here is a classic song from the band, before they were even signed to Tooth & Nail, selected from Life, Kisses, and Other Wasted Efforts.… Continued →

Come to Pass is a one-piece lo-fi death metal band from Virginia. The band has recently released an EP through Bearded Dragon Productions, but instead I’ve chosen a track from the “Words of Endurance” compilation on the same label. Raw and heavy stuff. Stream or download the track here: Come to Pass – Confessions of the Cursed… Continued →

“Ain’t been to church in about a year / All my old friends are outta here” I finally got around to listening through The Fall of the Light Bearer (2015) this year, and it’s turned out to be one of the best albums I’ve heard as of late. Serious lyricism and experimental production abound. The melancholic “Unforgivable” is accompanied by fine cinematography and gives an accurate impression of what the album is like as a whole.… Continued →

Two thousand and five was a very strong year for Tooth & Nail Records, as they released classic albums from Anberlin, Mae, Terminal, and Emery. Another impressive album, though overlooked, was Composure by Waking Ashland. The San Diego four-piece created some seriously catchy indie/piano rock tunes, and “Edinger” proves this point 14 years later.… Continued →