State Street Community Church
Music
Favorite Music of 2010 (So Far)
Aug 5th
I love to make lists of my favorite music at the end of the year. I then make a compilation album and hand it out to the people I love (and the generously accept so I don’t look like a mix-tape-handing-out fool). So, with that in mind, here are my favorite albums of 2010 up until now:
1. Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More
It’s my favorite album of this year. It’s one of my favorites of the last 5 years. It has all the make up of a good album; British 20-something hipsters + banjo and upright bass guitars + son of a pastor singing from a place that only PK’s can who also bears a striking resemblance to a young Alec Baldwin + clever and insightful lyrics. I’ve been asking the worship team at State Street to learn the banjo. Why? Because of this album. It’s just that good. Take a listen to them playing on the David Letterman Show:
2. Josh Ritter: So Runs the World Away
Josh Ritter and I would be friends if we’d meet each other. I’m convinced of it. He’s a deep thinker. I try to be a deep thinker. He’s really good at playing music. I would LIKE to be really good at playing music. It’s like we were in the same womb. This is his fifth album and it’s really delightful in a folky, sing-songy way. He can paint a picture through the medium of song like very few others can. Here’s a great song about a mummy falling in love with a archeologist. It’s easily the most romantic song I’ve ever heard about a mummy and archeologist falling in love:
3. Jonsi: Go
Jonsi is the lead singer of SIgur Ros. This is his first solo album and, much like the Postal Service was a few years back, it was a grand slam on the first album attempt. He has a way of adding and layering instrumentation and loops that just soothes your ears. It’s one of those albums that could very easily be the soundtrack to my day. Here’s one of my favorite songs from the album; Go Do:
4. Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
I would bet that this album will end the year higher than it is now. It was just released (though I’ve been listening to it for weeks) so it has to simmer a bit longer to take any of the top three positions. I love this band and this album. Great stuff. Here’s the title track from their latest album:
5. The Gaslight Anthem: American Slang
There are times when you just need to find some good rock music. The kind with two electric guitars, a bass guitar, and a drum set. The kind that appreciates the greatness of the rock greats that went before (Springsteen, the Clash, the Ramones, etc.). The kind that brings out the air guitar greatness from within you. The Gaslight Anthem is such a band. Here’s the title track from their album:
6. Freelance Whales: Weathervanes
I’ve read some reviews that didn’t like the Freelance Whales. One said it was a predictable ripoff of a Sufjan instrumentation laced with Ben Gibbard vocals. I just don’t get what the problem is with that combination. It’s not a perfect album but it’s really good. They did a small unplugged concert for NPR and it’s really good stuff:
7. The National: High Violet
I don’t love this album but I really like it. If you’re going to have any street cred in contemporary music reviews, I feel like you must put positive things about this album. And, for good reasons. It’s a nice album by a really solid band. If you’re not familiar with the National, think Nick Cave has a child with Coldplay and this child listens to a ton of Wilco and Joy Division. That’s the National. Here’s one of my favorites from this album:
8. Trampled by Turtles: Palomino
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that I’ve developed a sick attraction to the banjo guitar. If Lady Gaga would start including the banjo in Alejandro, I’d be the songs biggest fan. I just can’t get enough of it. Trampled by Turtles has been releasing albums for years but this is my first album bought. It’s the intersection of fantastic bluegrass and folk. I love it. Take a look at this and be impressed:
9. Gungor: Beautiful Things
MIchael Gungor has been on the contemporary worship circle for quite a while. I didn’t pay all that much attention to his music until he formed a new band simply called Gungor. The product is one of the most sincerely written and musically superb worship albums to come out in the last decade. Again, you’ll notice a banjo. I told you, I have a sickness. Here’s a Relevant Studio unplugged performance of their title track:
10. Johnny Cash: American VI
This pick is purely sentimental. It’s probably not a top-10 album but it’s still a nice one. But, it’s certainly not the best American album put out by Cash and producer Rick Rubin. For me, it still remains that Johnny Cash has a rare ability to truly make you feel his music. He means what he sings and it comes from a very honest place (I think this is especially true in the American album series even though they’re mostly covers). Here’s a song called Redemption Day that Sheryl Crow wrote and Cash recorded:
Albums that I either have, will like, or do like but haven’t listened to them enough:
Joe Purdy: 4th of July
Sam Amidon: I See the Light
John Mark McMillan: The Medicine
The National: High Violet
Best Coast: Crazy for You (Thanks to Colonel Foster)
Broken Bells: Self Titled (Thanks to Tony Steward)
Yeasayer: Odd Blood (thanks to Koren Grounds)
So, if you’re still reading this and want to contribute, what are you favorite albums of 2010?
Music That Moves Me | Johnny Cash
Apr 19th
My grandfather gave me my first Johnny Cash tape. He’s more of a Conway Twitty fan and thought that I could get more use of the cassette tape. He was right. I fell in love with Johnny Cash’s music personally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Johnny Cash has that rare type of vocals that truly make you feel ever word that they’re singing. Even when he hasn’t written the song, he emotes so much emotional and rawness that simply captivates me. To me, he’s honest vocally and knows how to tell a redemptive story musically.
Though I’m a huge fan of his earlier stuff, his Rick Rubin-produced American albums are my favorite. His second American album features covers of Soundgarden, Tom Petty, and Beck (among others). On that album is my favorite Johnny Cash song of all time. It’s a song called “Spiritual” written by Josh Haden of the band Spain. I remember listening to the song on repeat at least 20 times when I first heard it. I thought, “Now THAT’S spiritual, King David-like yearning.” Not only is it lyrically superb, it also showcases some of Cash’s strong vocal abilities. Take a listen to the song, it’s a good one…
If you’re reading this on facebook, you can click here to see the embedded youtube video.
Music That Moves Me | John Mark McMillan
Apr 5th
David Crowder made famous the song “How He Loves“. But before Crowder was singing it, John Mark McMillan crafted (and sung) the song. John Mark is a folksy, artsy, hipstery musician who happens to sing worship songs. I’ve really gotten into him in the last two months. In all honesty, I find much of the “worship” industry can be very unoriginal and uninspired. His song “Skeleton Bones”, however, is beautiful and well-written. I hope to convince Greg Clark to do it at State Street one day.
“Skeleton bones stand at the sound of eternity
On the lips of the found
So separate those doors
And let the son of resurrection in.”
Timshel
Feb 23rd
I have some friends who have recently went through something terrible. Their lives are filled with grief, confusion, and sadness. I hurt for them. I remember the times in my life that were marked with loss and sadness. Though these valleys always seem like lush farming ground for the handiwork of God, there is no getting around the emotions and realities that these situations bring with them. I pray for my friends daily and take comfort in the restoring power of Christ.
After my mother died in 1997, I remember the overwhelming sense of abandonment that accompanied my loss. At 15 years old, the role a mother plays in a son’s life can only truly be understood fully when the mother exits his life. It’s at that point that you get a sense of how unprepared and ill-equipped you can be without the tutelage and loving guidance of our moms.
I’ve been thinking a lot about grief and how the church can walk along people during difficult times. If there’s one thing that grieving people do not need, it’s the well-intentioned but often unhelpful axioms that we’ve come to expect; “It’s all a part of God’s plan” “God’s in control” “It will be alright in time.” There’s nothing inherently wrong with those statements in theory but, in practice, they do very little for the griever but minimize the grief with expressions.
My latest musical obsession is an English folk/bluegrass band called Mumford & Sons. On their latest album, they have a beautiful song called Timshel (which is a great Hebrew word study… but that’ll come later…). When I heard the song, it reminded me of something that gave me comfort during my time of grief (and I hope it gives comfort to those struggling reading this). Here’s a lyrical section of the song…
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand
I remember it like it was yesterday (though it was actually in 1997). A friend came up to me and with a sense of sincerity that couldn’t be faked and told me, “Nate, I just want you to know that I really have no words for what you’re going through but I want you to know that I’m here for you whenever you need me.” My friend wasn’t a trained counselor and I could tell that he truly didn’t know any words that would accomodate the situation. There was no trying to fix my grief or trying to give advice to help expedite the sadness that my soul felt. It was just an invitation for community. “I’m here. You’re not alone.”
There are literally hundreds of verses in scripture about loving each other and community but my favorite is a small and to-the-point one in Romans. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
In times of crises…
grief…
sadness…
loss…
illness…
joy…
celebration…
…what if we looked at it as an opportunity to live out the calling that God has put on His church; be devoted in your love for each other and honor each other. Suffer with each other. Sit with each other. Be sad with each other. Grieve with each other. Devote your life to each other. Let each other know that “you are not alone in this.“ That’s when the church becomes the Church. There’s a very real and beautiful power in community.
The Quotable Rich Mullins
Feb 18th
Rich Mullins is one of those guys that I really connect with (including his teaching and writing). My wife actually fostered my love for Rich Mullins. I highly recommend everyone listen/buy A Liturgy, A Legacy, and A Ragamuffin Band. I watched this today…
Mullins said,
“Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these my brothers you’ve done it to me. And this is what I’ve come to think. That if I want to identify fully with Jesus Christ, who I claim to be my savior and Lord, the best way that I can do that is to identify with the poor. This I know will go against the teachings of all the popular evangelical preachers. But they’re just wrong. They’re not bad, they’re just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken….(concert recording cuts off at this moment, losing any further context for this particular quote)”
Best of 2009 Music
Jan 8th
I know I’m a bit late but here’s my favorite songs from 2009 (in no particular order).
- Psalms 40:2 by the Mountain Goats (listen)
My good friend Andrew Deselm mentioned the Mountain Goats to me in passing back in 2007. I listened once to his voice and never came back. After a year and a half later, something changed within me and I couldn’t get enough music from them. This album is superb lyrically.
- Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s (listen)
Another friend, Frank, recommended Edward Sharpe (et al) to me. In some regards, they remind me of Arcade Fire (another favorite of mine) in their gypsy-like make up and stage persona but they certainly have their own stylistic dynamics that truly make them unique.
- Laughing With by Regina Spektor (listen)
This is such a somber and beautiful song.
- Love of an Orchestra by Noah & the Whale (listen)
An orchestra + choir ensemble + indie songwriting = a fun song.
- Never Had Nobody Like You by M. Ward (listen)
I didn’t get into M.Ward until he released his compilation with Zooey Deschanel called She & Him. He teams up again with Deschanel (though this on his solo album) and they make good music again.
- Watch Them Grow by Zach Gill (listen)
In my weaker moments, you’ll find me on my recliner looking at pictures of my daughter and getting overly emotional listening to this song.
- 1901 by Phoenix (listen)
When I was in college, someone gave me the first Phoenix album (called United, from the year 2000). On that album was a song called “Too Young” that I absolutely fell in love with. Since then, I get whatever they put out. Fortunately, their stuff gets better and better every album.
- I Can Feel a Hot One by Manchester Orchestra (listen)
This is the first Manchester Orchestra album that I’ve bought. But I’ve been a fan of the lead singer (Andy Hull) for the last few years from his side-project Right Away, Great Captain. Hull is the son of a pastor so it’s interesting to dissect his background from his songs.
- Jesus, Jesus by Noah Gundersen (listen)
I have more questions than I have answers. It’s not that I don’t pursue truth or don’t have convictions and certainties, it’s that there’s far too much to pursue. There’s always more questions. I have a feeling that Noah Gundersen would agree. You can sense his earnest pursuit of answers about important things in this song (warning: some bad words).
- Two Weeks by Grizzly Bear (listen)
I have a love/hate relationship with Grizzly Bear. But, I love this song.
- We Can Try by Between the Trees (listen)
Between the Trees will fill this year’s piano rock quota on my “best of…” list. Good song.
- I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas (listen)
Every year I put some pop-music on my list. It’s not that I feel obligated. It’s that I really like some pop-music (esp. in the hip-hop vein). I Gotta Feeling is an insanely addicting fun pop song.
- I Guess It’s Gonna Rain Today by Sondre Lerche (listen)
Another solid album from my favorite Norwegian singer/songwriter. This song has elements of Billy Joel in it. Can you hear it, too? I can’t be the only one that hears it.
- In These Arms by the Swell Season (listen)
This album was one of my most anticipated from this year. Though it didn’t live up to the undo hype that I gave it, it was still a very nice follow-up album. Probably the most romantic song included on my list.
- Late of Camera by Jeremy Enigk (listen)
I have a confession; most of the time, I’m not really sure what Jeremy Enigk is singing about. I kinda get it, some of the time. But, most of the time I can’t really put together the overall meaning of the song. Maybe he’s writing for someone specific that the larger audience isn’t familiar with or maybe I’m just not deep enough to stay on top of the meaning. But, who cares? I love it anyway.
- Empire State of Mind (featuring Alicia Keys) by Jay-Z (listen)
Yes, Jay-Z made my list. Yes, having Alicia Keys singing background helps his case. No, I’m not ashamed of it. Again, it feeds my craving for quality hip-hop.
- Slow & Steady by Sleeping at Last (listen)
They’re probably my favorite band of all time. They lost their drummer last year so they recorded an album with light percussion elements. The result was pure bliss.
You can go here and see the previous years “best of…” list. Embedded below is a lala.com player with the above song (sans Grizzly Bear and Noah Gundersen)…
Album Review: Kyle Andrews
Feb 9th
Artist: Kyle Andrews
Album: Real Blasty
I didn’t really find Kyle Andrews; Kyle Andrews found me. Rather, he was featured on the Paste Magazine sampler that was sent to my house last month. His featured track was the first one that caught my attention. Based on that song, I purchased his album (on emusic.com) and have been listening to it quite profusely over the last two weeks.
According to his facebook page, Andrews is influenced by bands like Death Cab for Cutie (and subsequently the Postal Service), Wilco, and the Beatles. It doesn’t take long to hear the convergence of these artists in his music. But, unlike some artists who directly copy their sound to reflect that of their influences, Andrews does a nice job of limiting their influence enough to still create an original enough album to deem it worthy of purchase. It’s good stuff.
STANDOUT TRACKS:
1. Sushi: a nice piano sample + a drum beat featuring a clap + solid vocals = success. (listen)
4. Call and Fade: if the snare sound from many Beatles’ songs, Pete Yorn’s vocal tendencies, a beautiful symphonic violin ensemble, and a catchy chorus had a child, it’d look like this song. (listen)
11. Cut and Paste: a nice 6/8 beat and the use of another clap. I’m a sucker for a well-placed clap in a song. (listen)
My recommendation: go to Noisetrade.com and pay what you want for his live album (or put 5 email addresses of friends in the widget to get it free). If you like the live EP, purchase this album. It’s one of my favorites from 2009 thus far.
Welcome to the new nateloucks.com!
Feb 5th
I’ve been blogging for a few years. My blog has always been a place to keep my thoughts, communicate ideas, and to create community amongst friends. It was becoming increasingly evident that my former blog wasn’t the most suitable place to further that agenda. So, here we are.
The new nateloucks.com has a few main pages of interest:
- About: just a little (quite literally) about yours truly
- Music: some of the music I’m passionate about. My “best of…” lists are on this page w/ links to some of the music.
- Media: any videos that I make for Nora/Ema is put on this page. Our Romanian family might be interested in that page.
- Books: books that I enjoy or have impacted my life significantly.
- more to come in the future, I’m sure.
Please take a look around, subscribe to the RSS, and join the conversation that is sure to take place. Welcome!
Great Music of 2008: My David Bazan Homage Choice
Dec 23rd
Father Brian Finn by Right Away, Great Captain
Why I like this song: It was close to the end of November and I hadn’t used all the credits on my emusic.com account. An album was recommended to me called The Eventually Home by Right Away, Great Captain (a side project by Andy Hull, the lead singer of Manchester Orchestra). The album quickly became one of my favorites of the month and then the year. Hull is admittedly a big fan of David Bazan of Pedro the Lion fame. You can hear some similarities in song structure (certainly not the vocals though) in the following song.
Other reasons why I like this song:
- I’ve said it before but I really like warm effects on electric guitars. You’ll notice there’s no bass guitar in the song but the lower end of the electric fills out really nicely.
- Both of the Right Away, Great Captain albums are concept albums about a sailor. I don’t write music but I imagine concept albums take much intentionality and talent.
- Father Brian Finn is Ed Norton’s character in Keeping the Faith. I didn’t really enjoy the movie but I think we can all agree that Ed Norton is one bad mamma jamma.
(RSS subscribers might have to click on the site to hear the music)
Great Music of 2008: My Grey’s Anatomy Pick
Dec 19th
Comes and Goes (in waves) by Greg Laswell
LYRICS
This one’s for the lonely
The ones that seek and find
Only to be let down
Time after time
This one’s for the torn down
The experts at the fall
Common friends get up now
You’re not alone at all
And this part was for her
This part was for her
This part was for her
Does she remember?
It comes and goes in waves, i….
This one’s for the faithless
The ones that are surprised
They are only where they are now
Regardless of their fight
This one’s for believing
If only for it’s sake
Common friends get up now
Love is to be made
And this part was for her
This part was for her
This part was for her
Does she remember?
It comes and goes in waves,
I am only let to wonder why
It comes and goes in waves
I am only let to wonder why
Why I try
This is for the ones who stand
For the ones who try again
For the ones who need a hand
For the ones who think they can
It comes and goes in waves,
I am only let to wonder why
It comes and goes in waves
I am only let to wonder why
Why I try
Why I like this song: I don’t care about George, Izzie, Meredith, McSteamy/McDreamy, or any of their ilk anymore. It’s too soap opera-esque for my taste (some would argue it always has been… rubbish!). I first heard a Greg Laswell song last year on Grey’s Anatomy and really dug it. I bought both of his albums immediately and dug them. For me, he’s the intersection of Gomez, Mat Kearney, and Chris Martin. Great stuff.
Other reasons why I like this song:
- The glockenspiel in the middle of the song to the end (it was the instrument I played for many years).
- The banjo picking.
- The first line of the song is a nice opening line.
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Greg Laswell – Comes And Goes (In Waves) |  |
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Found at skreemr.com |  |