New Music Recommendation of the Week

MODERN SKIRTS – Catalogue of Generous Men. Athens, GA has cranked out some trendsetting bands over the years (REM and the B-52′s are on the shortlist). Over the last few years, a refreshing singer-songwriter scene has again begun to swell and this piano-based 4-piece is riding the crest with solid songwriting and rich harmonies. This is not the “roll-down the windows and crank up the party” sound of Athens’ past. This is the subway-riding, earbud candy of Athens’ future. (Clicking on the artwork to the left opens the album in iTunes.)

New Music Recommendation of the Week

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO – Long Walk to Freedom. While my brain is still in Southern Africa I thought I would point your attention to some great music. Those of you not yet born twenty years ago probably missed these guys when they flew across the Atlantic in Paul Simon’s back pocket. The unique acapella style of their singing is called ISICATHAMIYA and was born in the diamond mines of Southern Africa. This record, released in January 2006 includes duets with some of their US and South African friends. If you can only buy a few songs get their duet with Sara McLachan of the song “Homeless,” then grab the “Amazing Grace” duet with Emmylou Harris and the acapella remake of their Paul Simon hit “Diamonds on the Souls of Their Shoes” with Melissa Etheridge. RICH! (Clicking on the artwork to the left opens the album in iTunes.)

Tealy Sermoncast I-IV

I promised I would post sermons from this summer and here they are. I wasn’t able to record the first night but here are the four other sermons from Fuge at North Greenville University. Clicking on the pic to the right opens the podcasts in iTunes.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the Tealy Songcast. Or you can click on the links below to link directly to the mp3′s.

WEEK ONE, NIGHT 2 (Matthew 10:5-10)
WEEK TWO, NIGHT 3 (Matthew 10:11-15)
WEEK TWO, NIGHT 4 (Matthew 10:16-31)
WEEK ONE, NIGHT 5 (Matthew 10:32-39)

The great thing about subscribing to podcasts on iTunes is that you will automatically get new episodes whenever they are published. You don’t need to check back to my site to see if there’s a new one (or pester me about getting new episodes published!). Do you have to have an iPod to listen? NO! But isn’t about time you join us cool kids and BUY ONE.Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!

New Music Recommendation of the Week

PHIL WICKHAM – PHIL WICKHAM. I was given the song “Grace” from Phil’s new record as a free download off of iTunes and was impressed. The rest of the record is just as strong. A great debut. This record is what would happen if Rufus Wainwright became a Christ-follower and learned how to play guitar. Scope “Divine Romance” or “Crumble to Pieces.” Phil Wickham’s self-titled debut is a rich and I think lasting contribution. (Clicking on the cover art to the left opens the CD in the iTunes music store.)

New Music Recommendation of the Week

MAE – EVERGLOW. I think I should start a new category called “Great albums I completely missed.” I’m featuring Mae’s 2005 release, Everglow, with the assumption that I’m not the only one that blasted through 2005 distracted by other great emerging artists like Sufjan Stevens and Butterfly Boucher. Catch them on tour now with Yellowcard and see another example of an opening band that outshines the headliner. Clicking on the cover art to the left opens the CD in iTunes. If you don’t have iTunes yet you can download it HERE.