American Idol Season 9 auditions are almost over (only Denver left and I saw Christian music artist Alex Nestor in the promos), thank goodness.  As we wrap up the auditions phase I want to highlight another Christian who seems to be a contender and I want to have a little fun by ranking the celebrity judges.  But first we need a little help.

One21music covers American Idol from a Christian perspective and we attempt to highlight and follow Christian music artists through their American Idol journey.  We need your help.  We are feverously researching Season 9 contestants in an attempt to identify your

Here are a few artists we are researching:
Aaron Kelly
Alexander “Alex” Lambert
Andrew Garcia
Ashley (Makailah) Rodriguez
Casey James
Christopher “Chris” Golightly
Crystal Bowersox
David Duke
Haeley Vaughn
Janell Wheeler
Jermaine Sellers
John Park
Jose Munoz
Katelyn Epperly
Katie Stevens
Lacey Brown
Michael Lynche
Michelle Delamor
Paige Miles
Todrick Hall
Tyler Grady
Vered Didi Benami

If you know anyhting about these artist faith backgrounds, please comment or send me an email at chuck@one21music.com.

American Idol Season 9, Rating the Guest Judges

With the departure of Paula Abdul, American Idol scrambled to find a replacement and did not have a workable solution by the time the crew hit the road. They have since hired Ellen Degeneres to fill Paula Abdul’s role, but she was not ready for the road show. I don’t know why American Idol felt they had to replace Paula, three judges are more than enough and four is kind of too many.

On the American Idol Season 9 roadshow, the producers decided to use celebrity guest judges and the results were mixed. Here are my rankings:

1. Neal Partick Harris- Is Neal Patrick Harris a viable replacement for Simon Cowel? He was a strong presence on the panel without drawing attention to himself.  He was truly excited about talent and brutally honest with untalented wannabes
2. Shania Twain- Kind and instructive, Shania Twain was a pleasure to watch judge.  She took her responsibility seriously and she demonstrated a keen insight into talent.
3. Katy Perry- She’s funny and strong-willed.  She had some instructive things to say, but not enough to make a positive contribution to the process.
4. Kristin Chenowith- I was really disappointed in Kristin Chenowith.  She is a major Broadway star with huge singing talent.  Unfortunately, she was more of a giggling little girl than a constructive judge.  Kristin Chenowith is a Christian by the way.  Here is a quote from her IMDB profile: “I am a Christian and I don’t want there to be any confusion about what I believe or who I am.”
5. Victoria Beckham- She was mostly non existent.  At least she was not rude.
6. Mary J. Blige- I am sure many contestants were awe struck with one of the American Idol icons.  She was very encouraging to some of the contestants but she was so openly rude to many of the singers that I did not enjoy her on the show.
7. Joe Jonas- Was he even on the show?  Joe Jonas said virtually nothing in his 20 minute segent from Dallas.  Joe Jonas is well known as a Christian music performer.
8. Avril Lavine- This 90′s alternative sensation was rude and offered nothing of substance to the process.  How many of those horned hoodies does she own?

One blog spot pined for Kelly Clarkson to be a guest judge.  It would have been cool to fill those seats with successful former Idol contestants like Kelly Clarkson, Blake Lewis , Jennifer Hudson….

American Idol Season 9 and Christian Artist Jermaine Sellers

We have highlighted American Idol Season 9 contestants Alex Nestor and Ben Honeycutt. Today we we bring you Jermaine Sellers. He joined Walt Whitman & The Soul Children of Chicago at age seven, signed his first professional contract at age 14 and by age 17, Jermaine Sellers had a seven year recording deal. None of it panned out. At age 19 Jermaine Sellers was working with John P. Kee.  Sellers recalls one pivotal conversation with Kee. “He asked me, ‘Do you know why you haven’t put out an R&B album yet?’ and I said no,” Kee’s reply was “Regardless of how much R&B you sing, you have an anointing on your voice and you’re not supposed to be singing that kind of music.” Since that pivotal ocnversation Jermaine Sellers has finsihed 3rd on BET’s Sunday Best and has appeared on Bobby Jones Gospel Hour.

Take a look at Jermaine Sellers. He may be a contender:

Cross Rhythms has posted their interview with DJ Steve Leach. In the interview they talk about how he got started in electronic music, his faith, and the concept of worship dance music. Great interview, go check it out!

Read DJ Steve Leach interview

Below is the album artwork and tracklisting for indie duo Ben + Vesper‘s upcoming, Febuary 9th release, LuvInIdleness. The EP will be released through Sounds Familyre.

1. Swinging Swords
2. The Big Conversation
3. I Ask Because I Can
4. LuvInIdleness
5. Oarless Oracle

for more new releases, please check out our ALBUM RELEASE DATES page to stay up to date on all the new music coming out

Once again, Indie Vision Music is hitting us with a great interview with a up and coming new band. Creations is a hardcore band from Australia that are devoted to sharing the Gospel through their music. The interview consist of the band talking about their vision, their US tour, and sharing their faith at shows.

Read Creations interview

Below is the latest music video from the underground hip-hop collective known as Shadow Of The Locust for their song “Inheritance”. The song features Prefekt and Wut Metaphysical (we posted an interview of his the other day) throwing down some truth about being Pro Life. Great video, ENJOY!!

The One21 Essential 100 is a collection of albums that represent the best in creativity, innovation, and originality in music. This is not a “best of” list, nor is it influenced by album sales, or even popularity. Our attempt with this series is to highlight the gems, those rare albums that push boundaries and encourage new ways of thinking; both musical and philosophically. In our opinion, the music highlighted in this series is the “good stuff”.

Simply what this is going to be is a list of 100 albums from Christian music artists that we think you should own. Like our website, most genres will be represented, and some of the albums will be from as far back as the 60s, to as current as 2009. Each week we will post five albums, in no real order, with descriptions, album artwork, and places to buy the music.

Check out Pt.1
Check out Pt.2
Check out Pt.3

Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink
Bodies Of Water
2008
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
Four way harmonies, horns, bizarre and often baffling lyrics, and hard, driving tempos. No, this is not Jackson 5 the early years, this is the indie “shaped note” band Bodies Of Water, and after a little grassroots viral marketing, their first real full length, Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink, introduced a new vocal style to the ever so hip indie rock scene. But that is just the first time you listen to the album, because past the initial reactions and a seeming gimmick of a vocal style, you discover an incredibly deep, intelligently crafted album that could contend with the likes of Arcade Fire and Bright Eyes. Steeped in heavy metaphor and written to celebrate a very old harmonic sound, Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink is sure to surprise you over and over and over and over….
Highlights: Our Friends Appear Like the Dawn, These Are the Eyes, We Will Be Apart

Rhythms of Remembrance
Apt.core
2001
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
According to Will Hunt, the creator and producer of Apt.Core, “The confluence of rhythm and memory” refers to the idea that beats and melodies help us remember words and ideas. The result is a pulsating mix of electronica, ambient tones, world beat, singing, and the spoken word. Nine out of the ten tracks are simply the juxtaposition of rhythms and ambient sounds with Scripture. Rhythms of Remembrance is a changeup from a lot of worship stuff out there. Maybe it’s not really worship, and that’s ok. Its lyrics come straight out of scripture and it makes for a very energetic mix.
We love the blending of primal and technological sounds, overlaid with important texts of our Christian Faith. “Creed” sets the Apostles’ Creed to an afro-celt backbeat and Apt.core reworks U2’s “40″ into a trippy chill workout. You will experience the same feeling of “wow, this is like nothing else out there” when you listen to Rhythms Of Remembrance, even ten years later.
Hightlights: 40, Creed, Life Inverted

Pages Of Life: Chapters 1 & 2
Fred Hammond
1998
Highlight: Amazon, iTunes
“It’s time to kick some Devil butt. I’m sorry I did not come here to make you feel good, I came to lift up the name of the Lord!” And so Chapter 2 begins with Fred Hammond’s signature growl kicking some Devil butt. Pages Of Life is a double CD release with the first (Chapter 1) a collection of original studio urban worship songs. But it is Chapter 2 when the Holy Spirit flies in a joyful stomp fest that defines the entire urban worship genre.

The live songs of Chapter Two are funk throw downs that rival James Brown, Sly Stone and Prince. Fred Hammond’s thunderous roar drives a huge choir and a hot band. We defy you to listen to these songs without dancing and singing and worshipping and praying. Every song on Chapter Two is an extended jam of praise, testimony and prayer.
Highlights: No Weapon, We’re Blessed/Shout Unto God , Dwell

Fire Theft
Fire Theft
2003
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
Not merely a re-packaged Sunny Day Real Estate album, The Fire Theft is takes the SDRE legacy far beyond the early band’s reach and cooks a stew of Sunny Day Real Estate, The Who, Led Zeppelin and the psychedelic Beatles into a soaring journey of sound and poetry. Jeremy Enigk takes control of the band of three-quarters of Sunny Day Real Estate and explores his struggles with his growing faith and life as a rock icon.

Haunting, beautiful sounds capes lay the foundation for Enigk’s distinctive wrenching vocals. The opening track, “Uncle Mountain” rivals the virtuosity of The Who at their best. “Summertime” stuns you with its beauty. “Heaven”, well is just a show stopper with quiet piano that explodes into screaming pleading pleas of “heaven are you really waiting outside the door?”
Highlights: Heaven, Summertime, Uncle Mountain

Feelin’ The Spirit
Grant Green
1962
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
The guitarist Grant Green, one of the most important soul-jazz bandleaders of the 1960s, never lost the zealousness or the sense of unshakable optimism that underpins spirituals and other religious music. During a prolific period of recording in 1962, Green convinced Blue Note to let him do this album of spirituals. The result is a collection of extended Jazz takes on six classic spiritual classics such as “Go Down Moses”, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee” and “Nobody Knows The Trouble I Have Seen”.

Grant Green’s extended guitar solos on these song are swirling, lyrical symphonic interpretations that add color and depth to these instrumentals. But what really makes the album swing is Grant Green‘s backup cast, which picks up energetically wherever Green leaves off. In particular, Green‘s pianist for the album, a young Herbie Hancock, stands out on nearly all the tracks, and at times nearly steals the show. Grant Green’s synergy with his band, and the obvious inspiration that all the players drew from the spirituals that make up the musical core of this record make Feelin’ The Spirit well worth owning and listening to repeatedly.
Highlights: Go Down Moses , Just A Closer Walk With Thee, Deep River

Pop/rock artist Stephanie Smith just put up her music video for her song ” Back to Innocence”. The video is basically a performance video, and the song deals with young girls going after their sexual purity.

Below is the album artwork and track listing for Son Lux‘s Febuary 16th, 2010 release, the Weapons EP.

“In the time since Mazes, Lott has stayed busy composing – among other things – hours of music for dance companies from New York to Paris. But for him, the chant-based concept of the Son Lux debut required further investigation. The Weapons EP is Lott’s self-issued challenge to do just that – to use Mazes standout “Weapons,” whose primary melody haunts various points of that record, as a launch pad for a complete EP of material derived from a single source.”

1.WEAPONS II
2.WEAPONS III (Polyphonic Remix)
3.WEAPONS IV (Nico Muhly Remix)
4.WEAPONS V
5.WEAPONS VI (Alias Remix)
6.WEAPONS VII

for more new releases, please check out our ALBUM RELEASE DATES page to stay up to date on all the new music coming out

Below is the album artwork and tracklisting for Demon Hunter‘s upcoming March, 9th release, The World Is A Thorn.  The effort will be released through Solid State Records.

01. Descending Upon Us
02. LifeWar
03. Collapsing
04. This Is the Line
05. Driving Nails
06. The World Is a Thorn
07. Tie This Around Your Neck
08. Just Breathe
09. Shallow Water
10. Feel As Though You Could
11. Blood in the Tears

for more new releases, please check out our ALBUM RELEASE DATES page to stay up to date on all the new music coming out

I have really been trying to go for quality and not quantity nwith these free downloads lately. Last week I introduced you to Bosh (you are welcome), and this week a free download of Mr J. Medeiros‘ The Art of Broken Glass EP. I have to say that that the jazz infused, tounge-twisting style of hip-hop on full display in The Art of Broken Glass EP is defiantly my favorite kind of hip-hop. I always seem to fall all over this stuff. The music on this EP is just so SMOOTH, slightly a throw back to early 90s hip-hop, but with a lot of modern senseablities.

Mr J. Medeiros was one of the founding members of The Procussions, and it would seem that he hasnt tried to break away to much for their original sound.  In a VERY good way!

Parisdjs.com had this to say:
Not since the emergence of Mos Def has there been an independent artist this deep, introspective, and provocative. This is the future of Hip Hop – soulful and intelligent lyrics rapidly delivered through complex yet smooth rhyme schemes.

For fans of: Mos Def, Q-Tip, The Procussions

Download Mr J. Medeiros-The Art Of Broken Glass EP