Folky Christmas

Every year I am reminded of how endearing Christmas songs are. There are countless iterations of the classic songs, and I'm sure we all have our favourites. And then there are new songs that are added to the genre every year, some more successful than others. Here are some of my favourite Christmas songs, new and old. I hope they put a smile on your face.

Sheree Plett singing her wonderful original song "Oh Emmanuel."

Phil Wickham adding his touch to a classic.

Dustin Kensrue captures the spirit of the season in "This Good Night is Still Everywhere."

Don't let the talking farm animals fool you. This song by mewithoutYou is a lyrical feast. Very few modern Christmas songs capture the meaning of Christmas and the Gospel this well and with this much fun and depth. I highly recommend looking up the lyrics to "A Stick, a Carrot & String."

Why Christmas?

There are many things we can ask ourselves after unthinkable events like the shooting in Connecticut yesterday. Can we base our society on humanism and good will and expect it to hold its own? Can we keep anything or anyone from being taken away from us? Do our rights really free us? Is there anything we can control?

I am sure many people are asking this simple question: why?

I would like to counter by offering a simple statement in response: why.

Not why?

Why. The reason why.

Everything that causes us to die inside, whether near or far, reminds us why Christmas is so important. It is important because no amount of good will, equality or tolerance will clean us of our sin; because our rights will never completely free us; because no amount of control over our lives will keep the chaos at bay; because the only thing in this life that we can claim as our own is our guilt.

Sin answers the question: why Christmas?

What Jesus did for us can never be covered up, taken away, murdered or undone. It is the gift of freedom from guilt and life eternal. That is why we celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas,

Brandon

Freak Folk

This post is dedicated to Trevor von Kampen, who has a great taste in music.

I don't know where the term freak folk comes from but I really like it. It describes the kind of eclectic and experimental music that I find very fascinating.

Danielson (a.k.a. Danielson Famile)

Daniel Smith's quirky take on song writing and even quirkier voice is an acquired taste, but if it wasn't then it wouldn't be freak folk would it? While this large sibling band is not well known, its influence is strong. Among others, Danielson had a strong influence on a young, ambitious musician named Sufjan Stevens, who often played with the family before pursuing his own musical career. Ships is Danielson's weird masterpiece.

   "Before our time, upon a noun there stood still a ship standing proud."

Neutral Milk Hotel

Neutral Milk Hotel released In an Aeroplane Over the Sea in 1998. It has since become a cult classic among indie and folk fans. Fusing raw acoustic passion, punk rock energy and abstract storytelling, Jeff Mangum crafts songs that are at once honest, catchy and lurid. It's quite an experience.

"I can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all."

mewithoutYou

In 2009 mewithoutYou wrote a collection of bizarre campfire songs/parables, many from the perspective of surprisingly pious and philosophical animals and vegetables. The album, named It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright, is creative, humorous and profound, and would make Saint Francis of Assisi very proud. The influence of producer (and aforementioned) Daniel Smith is present, adding a playfulness not present in previous records. Three years later and it's still my favourite album of all time.

  "The strawberry said to the tangerine

my face is red but our hats our green."

 

On a side note, if you look hard on youtube there are a few videos of Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYou) covering some Neutral Milk Hotel Songs. Talk about worlds colliding.

The Worship Post Part 2: Just Add Vision

If you read Part 1 of my post on praise and worship music and thought “Brandon really dislikes Hillsong and thinks praise music is forever stuck in a cycle of mediocrity,” then you are only half right. To be clear, music should be enjoyed corporately in church. Musical simplicity is not inherently bad, but musical simplicity without vision and creativity can get stale. I believe that vision and a little bit of creativity can completely transform even the most basic song into a powerful experience. I know this because I have experienced it, both in my childhood and in my current church.

Instead of rambling on about what needs to change in the genre, I have decided to share some songs that have surprised me, moved me and challenged my pessimistic view of contemporary worship music.

Like I said, simplicity isn't a bad thing. Just add vision. Loads of it. Future of Forestry knows what I'm talking about.

Ghosts Upon the Earth by Gungor is a must listen. The album is a journey in worship and, like any work of art, is meant to be taken in as a whole.

Also, isn't it time we seriously brought hymns back?

The Worship Post Part 1: A Critique

Allow me to share an opinion for a moment. I don’t enjoy listening to corporate praise music; corporate praise music being the songs played on Christian radio stations and sung by congregations in church on Sunday mornings. I find it bland, excessively repetitive and lacking in imagination. But how could I honestly think that? It is, after all, our society’s top choice for praising the Creator of the whole universe. Why then, are the musical offerings from today’s top producers of praise music so mediocre? I have often thought about this and wish to unpack some of my thoughts.

First, I must ask a simple question: who is corporate worship music made for? The topic of a worship song will no doubt be about a characteristic or act of God that is cause for praise and glory. But that is what the song is about, which does not answer the question of who it is made for. I think there is a big difference between who a song is about and who a song is for.

I would argue that worship music is written for people. Worship leaders write songs for church-goers to sing to and about God. Generally speaking, is this not the case? Worship music is a tool that helps people connect with God. Whether played live or on a CD (but still recorded live, God forbid they use a studio!) these songs give people an opportunity to express their love and adoration towards God.  

Now that it has been established that worship music is made for people (a kind middleman between the musician and God) there are two important points that must be understood. Firstly, writers of corporate worship music have a tremendous responsibility to present to the Church songs that are Biblically based and theologically sound. Musicians are literally putting words into the mouths of millions of people all around the world. Thus it is a position that should not be taken lightly.

Secondly, music intended for corporate worship must be basic and highly accessible. If, as I argue, corporate praise music is written for church-goers, then it must appeal to and be accessible to the broadest spectrum of people. In other words lawyers, construction workers, engineers, nurses, athletes, mothers, fathers, children, grandparents and all kinds of people must be able to easily appreciate and take part in the music regardless of their own musical tastes or abilities.

That anyone should be able to participate in church music is not a new idea. During the Reformation Martin Luther wished to increase worshipers’ involvement in the church service, including music. Luther’s solution was the chorale, a chorus consisting of a “melody in simple rhythm sung in unison, without harmonization or accompaniment” (Burkholder 2010*). You know. Easy stuff. Luther’s minimalist approach ensured that the congregation could easily participate.

Musical complexity tends to cause confusion in a church setting. It distracts the musically inclined and alienates the musically challenged. Most of all it changes the congregation from being participants to observers. Ever notice how a congregation will applaud after a particularly impressive and/or well-performed praise song? It’s a pet peeve of mine. Is it a worship service or a concert? The line is blurred when a worship band displays its talent.

The thing is, those church musicians who challenge themselves and demonstrate their talent probably feel very close to God in that moment of worship. Of course they could be doing it for selfish reasons; but if their heart is in the right place, giving their all with their instrument or voice is a very personal act of worship. And that is the clincher. Musical sophistication brings the performer closer to God but it removes the middleman, the congregation. Thus in order for corporate worship music to be accessible to the congregation, and not just the skilled musician, it must be simple. Minimal. Verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus-rinse-and-repeat.

I know that I am a hypocrite. I serve on one of my church’s worship teams and play these songs that, in any other situation, would not keep my interest. I blunder along on the guitar during worship services and love every minute of it. It is my personal act of worship and because of that I want to challenge myself to play better for The King, together with my fellow believers. I don’t want to settle for accessible. Doesn’t God deserve better than that?

*Burkholder, J. Peter, Donald Jay Grout and Claude V. Palisca.
               2010. A History of Western Music. 8th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.