I can’t take credit for anything I’ve ever done in the past or will do in the future. I have nothing that is my own. I’ve achieved nothing on my own. There is absolutley nothing in my life that I can take credit for.
Too bad I often try to take credit -
- for bringing in big $$$$ to the bank at work
- for coming up with a neat new arrangement for a song
- for being able to play multiple instruments
- for having a job that pays well
- for having a house to live in
and the list goes on and on. you probably have a list that could go on and on as well.
The problem is that we can’t take credit for anything. Everything in the heavens and earth is God’s. We own nothing. It is only by His grace that we have anything at all.
Hallelujah to My King is a new song that we sang this week at Midtown. I have been wanting to use this song for a LONG time because it is such an amazing song lyrically (the music is also just as good). Here are the words to the chorus:
Hallelujah, what a Savior. I owe everything to Him.
Hallelujah, what a Savior. Hallelujah to my King.
If you’d like to listen to the song, here is a youtube video to check out. If I were you, I’d click play, and then do something else on your computer because the video is not exactly the best you’ve ever seen.
Filed under: music | Tags: long island shores, mindy smith, one moment more, stupid love
I first started listening to Mindy Smith my senior year of college (2004) when her album One Moment More came out. Back then, her video of the Dolly Parton cover “Jolene” was on CMT about 10 times a day. Soon after the song “Come To Jesus” came out. That last semester of school wasn’ t the best, but one of the highlights was listening to that CD way way way too much.
The summer after I graduated in 2004, I met my awesome wife Ashley. The 2nd or 3rd time I ever saw Ashleyshe was singing some songs at the bottom of this outside staircase. Long story short, a guy had a guitar and I took it from him and Ashley and I started singing Mindy Smith songs. I’ll never forget it. We shared a love for listening to Mindy Smith and enjoyed playing and singing her songs together a ton. Mindy Smith sings almost as beautifully as Ashley does.
That same year (or maybe in 2005) we saw her in concert in Atlanta, and it was one of those experiences that you just want to bottle up and save forever. A lot of times, concert experiences aren’t much better than the CD, but this musically, this concert was 10 times better than the CD. It truly was an amazing concert with an incredible display of musicianship.
So with all of that said, Mindy Smith just put out a new CD last week (Stupid Love) and I bought it when I got home from vacation. After previewing it on iTunes, it sounded very different and I was very hesitant to buy it, but Ashley ended up buying it and I have really enjoyed it. If you like Mindy Smith, it is different. It’s more produced and it definitely has more of a “pop” sound to it and is much less country/folk than her 1st or 2nd album.
If I were you, I’d buy all 3 of her albums. You won’t be disappointed. These are some of my favorite songs, along with some YouTube videos to get you started.
- Hurricane (One Moment More)
- Down In Flames (OMM)
- It’s Amazing (OMM)
- Falling (OMM)
- Out Loud (Long Island Shores)
- Please Stay (LIS)
- Tennessee (LIS)
- You Just Forgot (LIS)
- Long Island Shores (LIS)
- What Went Wrong (Stupid Love)
- Love Lost (SL)
- Dissapointed (SL)
- True Love of Mine (SL)
- If I Didn’t Know Any Better (SL)
Filed under: music | Tags: glen phillips, luke bulla, nickel creek, toad the wet sprocket, works progress administration
I used to love Toad the Wet Sprocket, and still do. I love Nickel Creek. I really like Glen Phillips (lead singer for Toad who has done some awesome solo stuff since then). Sara Watkins has a great solo album out now. Sean Watkins had some great solo stuff as well.
I love good music. Works Progress Administration will no doubt be great music.
They will be in Columbia in September. I will be there. If you like any of the groups listed above, take a listen. This is an amazing cast of musicians.
Too many people don’t realize the goodness that is Led Zepplin. They weren’t just a hard rock band. I forgot how awesome this song is.
Psalm 98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things
Psalms 33:3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
It’s fun to look back at all the songs that have been sung in church since the “contemporary” movement started 10+ years ago. For example, Trading My Sorrows, Lord I Lift Your Name On High, Here I Am To Worship, The Heart of Worship, Come Now Is The Time To Worship, and many others. Some of these are still good today, but some are better left locked up in a vault somewhere. I love the new songs that we sing on a regular basis now, but I miss some of the old ones.
So, I’d love to have your help. What old songs are still “useable” and relevant in 2009. What old songs, in your opinion, are fine to never be used again? I would love to know your opinion!
I’m no good at jazz piano. I wish I was. If I was, I would find a drummer and upright player, and play this song for my wife to sing.
might as well add this video as well. the video is pretty useless, but this song is by far my favorite norah jones song. the piano is perfect. the electric sounds heavenly. and everything is is just fabulous.
Filed under: Sunday Night Music, music | Tags: midtown fellowship, Sunday Night Music
Your Love Never Fails – Chris Quiala
How He Loves – John Mark McMillian
You Never Let Go – Matt Redman
The Stand – Hillsong
In Christ Alone – Campus Praise Band
“We don’t obey to be accepted by God, we obey because we are accepted by God.”
Filed under: guitar, music | Tags: guitar, james taylor, john mayer, ron block, sean watkins, tony rice
Here are my top 5 favorite guitar players. The cool thing is that I’ve been fortunate enough to see all of them live in concert.
5. Ron Block
Ron Block is banjo and guitar wizard who plays with Allison Krauss and Union Station. He is equally amazing on each instrument. He can rip up a fretboard, but also plays incredibly tastefully. He has 2 solo albums that I love as well, but unfortunately most people can’t tolerate his voice. It doesn’t bother me too much, but I do understand. If I could take lessons from any one guitar player, I would probably sign up to take from Ron Block.
4. Sean Watkins
I was introduced to bluegrass style guitar playing by listening to Sean Watkins, the Nickel Creek guitar player, on their very first album. I’ve seen Nickel Creek multiple times, and he has a smooth flatpicking style and he writes some amazing lines. By far, his best work is done on his solo album “Let It Fall.” There is only one song with vocals (done by Glen Phillips), and the rest is all instrumental beauty.
3. John Mayer
I’ll never be able to play like John Mayer. Ever. He’s got some mad crazy skills, and when he’s playing, you know he could always play a lot more than he is. I really didn’t like John Mayer when his first album came out, but each one has gotten progressively more impressive. When I listen to him play, I really just don’t understand how you can do the things that he does.
2. James Taylor
As noted here on the old blog numerous times before, I have spent more time trying to emulate James Taylor’s style than any other guitar player. I believe that his playing influences my style more than any one else. Hammer on’s and pull off’s and learning how to use your right hand to pull everything together are just a few of the things I’ve learned from JT. I saw him in Charlotte a couple of years ago, and will always remember that. I really never thought I’d be able to see him in concert. He also plays an Olson, my dream guitar, which unless I win the lottery, I will never own.
1. Tony Rice
I have gone to see Tony Rice in concert twice, however he only showed up one of those times. The time that he did show up was without a doubt the most surreal experience I have ever had. Tony Rice is OLD. He’s been playing FOREVER. He just stands still and rarely shows any emotion, but he plays the nastiest acoustic guitar you’ll ever hear. If you hate bluegrass, but love guitar, you will still be impressed by his skill. There is no other who can play the way he does. Do yourself a favor and check his stuff out.
So, that’s it for this marvelous fantastic riveting series. I’d love to know who you would list as your favorite pickers.
Filed under: guitar, music | Tags: guitar, jerry douglas, jimmy page, keith urban, the edge, vince gill
10. Keith Urban
The best tone of any current guitar pickers in country music today. He has some completely cheesy songs, but I love to listen to him play since his first album came out. One of my favorite Keith Urban licks is in this song. Go the the video at 4:20 and listen to the end. It’s so simple (you’ll notice that is a common theme with what I like), and it sounds perfect.
9. Vince Gill
Now that you’re done laughing about me including Vince Gill, let me just say that you underestimate how good he is.He takes a Fender Strat – runs it straight into a sweet tube amp with no effects at all, and creates beautiful melodies. He always takes the melody of his songs and solos all around it. What I love about Vince Gill is this: you can hear a song you’ve never heard before and pick it up right in the middle of a solo, and can tell without a doubt that it is Vince Gill. He’s that good and his sound is so distinct that you can always pick it up. I saw him in concert when I was in 8th grade and remember being stunned to see someone play that way in person. He can shred, he can play tastefully, and do many other things I will only ever dream of.
8. The Edge
First of all, I’m not some U2 homer. I hardly ever listen U2 in my spare time. However, The Edge is copied by just about every electric guitar player somehow in the modern church worship circles. I could spend $3000 and still not get the delay sounds that he gets. He doesn’t play a ton of notes, but he makes them all count. He surely has a unique style that tons have tried to copy, but only few have been successful.
7. Jerry Douglas
Now, Jerry Douglas isn’t really a true “guitar player.” He plays the dobro, which is an acoustic guitar with the strings raised up about a half inch. You then play everything with a slide and finger picks. I have one and have tried to do it. It just ain’t easy. I saw him live in college, and will remember that day for the rest of my life. He is by far above and beyond any other human being who has every picked the instrument up and attempted to play it. He is the dobro player for Allison Krauss and Union Station, but has appeared on hundreds of other albums. Seriously. He also has a few of his own. Check these 2 videos out. The first is one with him by himself, the other is a tune that he wrote and it eventually ended up on one of Allison Krauss albums. This version is obviously very old, but still awesome.
6. Jimmy Page
This list wouldn’t be complete without Jimmy Page. I can play 1/100th of the stuff that he rips on a guitar, but I grew up listening to a ton of Led and still go through phases now when it is all I will listen to for a week or so. He was ranked #9 on Rolling Stone’s top 100 guitar players. Here’s a Whole Lotta Love, Ten Years Gone, and finally – maybe my favorite – Since I’ve Been Loving You.
Filed under: guitar, music | Tags: andy gullahorn, christian tyler, david wilcox, guitar, mark knopfler, ryan adams
- He was the lead guitar player and singer of Dire Straits. However, I never listened to them. This is based pretty much off of one song, Sailing To Philadelphia, that he recorded with James Taylor. His electric guitar parts throughout the song are spectacular. You may not like the overall song as well as I do, but I guarantee, you will love what he plays on the electric. On another note, he was #27 on Rolling Stones “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Spend a $1 and download Sailing To Philadelphia-Andy Gullahorn is an acoustic genius. He plays a lot of strange tunings with the guitar tuned in variations of open C and D. Most acoustics weren’t made to be tuned down to a low C on the E string, but he makes it sound heavenly. His wife is Christian recording artist Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn has some CD’s of his own that are out. Pick it up and try to learn some of his licks. Tough stuff.
- Andy Gullahorn is basically a rip off of David Wilcox. Wilcox had been copied many times, but nobody plays as smooth and creative as he does. He uses even crazier tunings, but makes everything sound beautiful. He also plays a guitar that just about every acoustic player dreams of owning, Olsen. Here is one of my favorite Wilcox songs. It’s old. This YouTube video must be from like 1938, but the sound quality is suprisingly good. You can hear how he straight masters using all 10 fingers on each hand.