Music Review: Michael McLean: Hold on the Light Will Come

Hold On, the Light will Come: And Other Lessons my Songs Have Taught Me.  (2003)

I have been enjoying a Michael McLean C.D. we gave ourselves for Christmas.  It is actually a book )read by Michael McLean) with songs.  McLean is someone with the talent I wish I had.  He talks about the ups and downs of his career.  However, from my perspective it has mostly been up.

Some of his songs really hit home, and a conversation of those I really like.

“From God’s Arms, to My Arms, to Yours:”  This is an adoption song from the perspective of the birth mother.  Tony, our adoptive son has really liked this song, as have Sheri and I.  It seems for my part, I cry more each time I listen to it.  I remember when I first help Baby Tony.  He was tiny.  They didn’t let him out of the hospital until he reached five pounds.  He started at four pounds seven ounces.  Sheri had visited him at the hospital, but I did not meet him until Sheri brought him home.  I was so proud (yes proud is the right word) of our little baby.  I felt he would be my boy forever, even though I knew that wasn’t true at the time.  However now it is true; and this song brings up those treasured memories for me.

“The Man of Many Names:”  This song I had heard before from “The garden” C.D.  I still enjoy it, and I am getting to where I can almost sing along.  This song is a testimony of Jesus’ love for us, and the price he pays for us.  This song comes with a story of Simon Peter and Jesus walking on water.  I really enjoy the insight.  Jesus will always save us if we cry out to him, and we should not doubt this.

“The Innkeeper Song” from Forgotten Carols:  This is a new song to me.  Now I am crazed with the idea of learning to sing it well enough to sing next Christmas, if I can find someone to let me sing.  What would the Innkeeper perspective be, and what would he sing now if he could.  This song gives a very good answer.  “Even a thousand years would not fully erase my shame.”  “Let Him in.”

“Which Part is Mine:” This song has quickly become one of my favorites.  It starts as a song about roles, and learning our own part; but it ends as a song about prayer, and that is why I enjoy it.  It helps me commit to being better at praying, which is something I really need.  This song has helped me improve my prayers.  “After I've done my best, I know you'll do the rest, Because You hear me.

McLean does very well with hardship, with love, with life in general.

Music Review: Folk Roots: The Sound of Americana

Folk Roots: The Sound of Americana, Perpetual Classics (2007)

Various artists including: Etta Baker, Glenn Yarbrough, Woody Guthrie, Glen Campbell. 

Most of this music missed for the family and I.  (We listened to it in the van while traveling.)  However, their were a coule of songs that I felt had historical note.  The first is about coal mining, and I think the chorus would help describe Isdaac and his working in the coal mine as a child.  

Dark as a Dungeon by: Merle Travis

It's dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew,
Where danger is double and pleasures are few,
Where the rain never falls and the sun never shines
It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine.

The other which I found interesting has to do with Mormon polygamy.  What is more interesting is the description of the song I found, saying it was not meant to be satirical, but to point out the love of a Mormon polygamist for his wives.  

ZACK, THE MORMON ENGINEER

Old Zack, he came to Utah, way back in seventy three,
A right good Mormon gentleman and a bishop too was he.
He drove a locomotive for the D. and R. G.,
With women he was popular, as popular as could be.

cho: And when he'd whistle ooh! ooh! Mamma'd understand
That Zack was headed homeward on the Denver and Rio Grande.

Old Zack, he claimed to love his wives and love them all the same,
But always little Mabel was the one that Zack would name.
And as he would pass her he'd blow his whistle loud,
And when she'd throw a kiss at him old Zack would look so proud.

Old Zack, he had a wifey in every railroad town.
No matter where he stopped he had a place to lay him down.
And when the his train was coming, well, he wanted her to know,
So as he passed each wifey's home his whistle he would blow.

Now listen everybody, because this story's true,
Old Zack, he had a wife in every town that he passed through.
They tried to make him transfer on to the old U. P.
But Zack said, "No" because his wives were on the D. and R. G.

Tune: Oh Susanna
"This song depicts in comic form life in one type of plural marriage.
It is not intended to be sarcastic. Zack Black was a Mormon bishop
who worked as an engineer for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, and
the tale is told that he had a wife in every town he passed through.
Mormon audiences have always enjoyed the humor of the lyrics, especially
when Zack won't accept a transfer to another railroad line because it
is routed through the wrong towns."(Music of the Mormons, p. 28)
Note: "Plural Marriage" is the LDS term for their form of polygamy,
which was practiced from the late 1840's up to 1896,
when the US Supreme Court upheld a law forbidding it. Mormon clergy
were (and are) laymen, who are not paid for their church service and
therefore work "civilian" jobs to sustain their families.

Music Review Neon Trees: Habits

Habits, 2010-2011  I wouldn't know anything about neon trees except for my son Caleb, who in his years singing covered a couple of their songs.  One is in this album, "Animal".  This is a song about passion, but it is very catchy.  Not only "Animal" but " 1983".  On this album is also a bonus track which Caleb also performed, "farther Down."  "I want to shake up your system, I want to rattle your bones."  I love it, even though I am an old fuddle duddle.  The think that sets this group apart is the singing of Tyler Glen.  He has a style which is uniquely his own.  And the beating of Elaine Bradley is very complementary, and the guitars make for some good music.
This music is considered alternative rock.  "Animal" is probably their most popular son, making it to number 13 on the billboard charts, and number 1 on the alternative rock chart.

Music Review: ****^Spirit: Alex Boye

Alex Boye's songs in this album are a please to God, to help find his place, his status with God.  He lends his distinctive tone to these songs, and in doing so inspires us to seek God.  He  teaches repentance; starting over.

My favorite is "A Prayer Away."
When will you listen?
When will you hear?
A still small voice can be loud and so clear.
Just when you thought, you had it all
You find you have nothing
Then you stumble and fall.

So reach for the sunlight
Stop chasing the storms all over town
You can't keep on running
You got to start living, yeah

Nobody deserves to be lonely
God's love will give hope to each wondering soul
Whenever you feel you're the only hope in this world
is only a prayer away

There's time to let go
And time to move on
To even be moved by the words to this song
Come back to the alter
Back to yourself
Trade silver for gold
Leave your past on the shelf

Fall into forgiveness
Your life can never be the same
I'll help you through this
Just lift up your hands
And say His name

What good is a crown!
If you don't wear it
You're standing for nothing
You keep falling down, oh no
Hope in this world
Is only a prayer away

That last statement is true, hope in this world is only a prayer away.  The other messages in this song are also true.  It is possible to stop falling down, we can pick ourselves up, and see repentance, and make a change in our lives.   God's hand is always extended towards us.  It is our need to humble ourselves, and call to him for his loving forgiveness.

Other of his songs also are a plea for God's guidance. 

"Word of God Speak"
[Chorus]
Word of God speak
Won't You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty
To be still and know that You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest in Your holiness
Word of God speak


"Great Light of the World"
Oh great light of the world
Fill up my soul
I'm half a man here
So come make me whole
Oh great light of the world
Come to impart
The light of your grace
Fill up my heart

Boye concludes this album with a song common to Christians, "How Great Thou Art."  He makes this song unique, as he adds an African Chant which he does so well.  This song is much more moving than anything from "Lion King" where the same strategy was employed.