Well here we are, the American Idol Season 9 Top 5.  Are you excited?  Have you latched onto Crystal Bowersox, Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze, Casey James or Aaron Kelly.  Do you eagerly anticipate their cds?  Are you buying tickets for the American Idol Season 9 Tour?  My answers are no, maybe, no and definitely not.

Last week told us nothing.  if you read our American Idol Season 9 Top 6 performance live blog, you will see that only two performers, Lee Dewyze and Christian music artist Michael Lynche did anything remotely interesting with Shania Twain’s songs.  The rest of the performers bog downed into the blandness of country pop music.  Even Crystal Bowersox stumbled through some throw away song about cupid or something.  It cost Siobhan Magnus her place on American Idol Season 9, but it really shed no light on who might win this thing.  I am afraid next week’s Sinatra theme will generate the same results.

Before we get into the power rankings let’s take a shot at what will happen to the American Idol Season 9 Top5 when they attempt make a career out of their American Idol success:

• Aaron Kelly will issue thirty or forty country albums, perform for decades on the CMA awards and be a regular on Carrie Underwood’s variety show specials.
• Casey James will be linked to dozens of disposal models and starlets over the next three or four years, secure a three record deal and then become a reality show host.
• Crystal Bowersox will fulfill her three record deal (one will be great the others ruined by over production), hate every minute of the fame, retire to the farm she will buy with her wealth and surface every five to ten years with a killer album.
• Lee Dewyze will release three or four feverishly hyped acoustic rock albums that will disappear from the charts within a few weeks.
• Michael Lynche will frustrate and confound music fans by continually alternating between collections of R&B ballads and aggressive Dirty South rap.

Even with this little bit of fun at the expense of these performers, I really do appreciate their bravery and fortitude at running this gauntlet in pursuit of their dreams.  We do wish them all the best.

American Idol Season 9 Top5 Power Rankings

1. Crystal Bowersox followed-up maybe her best performance in the Top 7 show with what was easily her worst performance. At lease we know she is capable of bad music decisions
2. Michael Lynche’s once again delivered a technically perfect performance and an interesting interpretation of “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing”.  The problem is that he has painted himself into a box of monotonous ballads that will lead to a too early exit.  He desperately needs and big, loud, audacious arrangement and a wild performance to re-capture America’s attention.  That will be extremely difficult with this week’s Sinatra theme.
   
3. Lee Dewyze‘s molded “You’re Still The One” into his only style but delivered a shaky vocal performance.  Lee suffers the same problem as Michael in that, week after week, his performances seem to be the same.  He benefits from being the more talented that Casey James and more palatable to American Idol voters than Crystal Bowersox.  I think he has the chance to win American Idol Season 9.
4. Casey James was lauded by the judges for stretching himself with “Don’t”.  I can’t remember anything about his performance.  He was in the American Idol Season 9 Bottom 2 this week and he is at risk of leaving this week.  Sinatra will not be his friend this week.
5. Aaron Kelly’s, I think, just represents a style of over-sung,bombastic country pop ballads that leaves me cold.  He seems to have captured the attention of American Idol voters and will almost certainly be in the American Idol Season 9 Top 3.

Join us on Tuesday night as we live blog the American Idol Season 9 Top 5 performing the songs of Sinatra and see if Harry Connick Jr can guide these five to great performances.

Below is the latest music video from hip-hop/pastor Urban D with his interpretation of the lifeline of Hip-Hop with “Hip-Hop History”

Who will make it to the American Idol Season 9 Top 5?  Join us tonight as we live blog the Top 6 results show.

Shania Twain mentored last night with insight, compassion and grace.  That did not transfer into a night of great performances.  After a strong start by Lee Dewyze and Christian music artist Michael Lynche, the show went south in a hurry.  Michael and Lee both reinterpreted Shania Twain‘s songs, making them current and stretching them out of the country pop genre, without trashing the original beauty of the songs.  Casey James made a valiant but bland attempt to deliver a country ballad.  Crystal Bowersox, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus all three fell into the hokey cotton candy that is country pop.

Michael Lynche is the last of the Christian music artists remaining on American Idol Season 9.  Unfortunately, I think he is in trouble tonight.  For some reason America haa not connected with his R&B balladeering.  I have said for several weeks that he needs a big time, mind-blowing, change of pace performance that only he is capable of, imagine Kanye West but on key with appealing tone.  Michael Lynche has not chosen to take that risk and I think he pays for it tonight.

We believe the bottom three tonight will be Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze and Casey James.  We believe Aaron Kelly should go home tonight, but we think Michael Lynhce will leave American Idol Season 9 tonight.

Wow, Lie To Me is back.  I thought this little bug faded away last year.

Wow, only 33 million votes last night.  Has America lost interest?

We start the night with Rascal Flatts.  It is time for me to go refill my drink glass.  Talk to you in a bit.

Back to the results, but first we sell some Ford automobiles.  Then we go to the movies.  Wow, American Idol Season 9 has cornered the market on filling time.  Finally, the lights are down.  We are pairing the Idols up.  Siobhan Magnus is paired with Lee Dewyze, Aaron Kelly is paired with Crystal Bowersox and Michael Lynche is paired with Casey James.   If our predictions are true Michael Lynche and Casey James are the Bottom 2.  Well add Siobhan Magnus and you have the Bottom 3.

Just in, Harry Conick Jr will mentor the Idols next week in singing the songs of Sinatra.

Who is this band Sons of Sylvia?  They are someone Carrie Underwood likes, she introduced them tonight.  It is hard to describe them because you can’t actually hear anything but the vocals and the drums and occasionally the piano.  It is sort understated arena rock.  The poor mandolin players is just tearing up his little mandolin and we can’t hear it all.  That was better than Rascal Flatts.

Time for another performance.  Lady Antebelum is performing “Need You Now”.  Is this the country version of “Rhiannon?”  Stevie Nicks should sue them for sampling her song without giving her credit.

Rascal Flatts performing with Shakira?  Is this the final step in her fall from critical grace?  Shakira was a wildly successful world pop star with a rabid following in Europe and South America.  She then decided to remake herself in the style of Britany Spears and now with Rascal Flatts.  I am prepared to be disappointed.  She eprfrormed her hit “Gypsy” That was not bad.

Dream crushing time.  Michael Lynche is safe.  I was so wrong and I am so glad. Casey James or Siobhan Magnus, who is it.  Siobhan Magnus is done tonight. It is the end of the Siobhan Magnus run on American Idol Season 9.  Crystal Bowersox is the only remaining girl.

From their website:

Page CXVI is a project started with the idea of making hymns accessible and known again. We invite you to join us in this task, by submitting the hymns that have inspired, directed, revived and humbled you.

Essentially this is a project, featuring many different players, that is re-thinking traditional hymns and songs. Some sound very different from the stuff you grew up with in church, others will ring very familiar. Every track is an attempt to reach into the emotion of the hymn and breath life into it, so that a newer generation will be able to take in the beauty of these songs.

1. Come Thou Fount
2. In Christ Alone
3. My Jesus I Love Thee
4. When I Survey The Wonderful Cross
5. Nothing But The Blood
6. Solid Rock
7. Joy

Download Page CXVI Part 1

American Idol Season 9 heads into the final stretch tonight.  Idol Gives Back is over, next week we will be left with the Top 5  and, after this week, there are only five performance shows left.  We cover Christian music performers on American Idol.  We lost Tim Urban last week so only Michael Lynche remains to carry the flag on American Idol Season 9.

Our American Idol Season 9 Power Rankings has Michael Lynche at number 2 behind the runaway best performer of the season, Crystal Bowersox. However, we don’t believe Michael or Crystal will win American Idol Season 9.  Despite a season of near perfect singing, voters don’t seem to love Michael Lynche.  He is still on the show because the judges saved him after he was shockingly eliminated at number 9 and voting estimates have him consistently in the bottom 3 or 4.  Crystal Bowersox is the most developed and grounded performer of anyone on American Idol Season 9 and many of her performances have been better than those of the American Idol Season 9 celebrity performers.  However her bluesy rock style and hippie dippy look don’t translate to the American Idol demographic.  It will be interesting to see if her talent can overcome her look.

The bad news is that, after Michael Lynche and Crystal Bowersox, none of the American Idol Season 9 performers have captured our imagination.  The good news is that the season looks to be wide open, so the next five weeks will have everything to do with who wins American Idol Season 9.

One of our favorite celebrity judges, Shania Twain, mentors tonight and the Idols will be singing her songs.  Join us as we live blog this country pop fandango and see if anyone can make their move to claim American Idol Season 9.

Once again, tonight will be quick so we eschew the judges’ march across the stage. Thank you America, Idol Gives back raised $45 million.  Shania Twain is a country pioneer?  She created country pop?  Shania Twain has the biggest selling record of all time by a woman.  She is a much bigger artist than I realized.

We jump right into Lee Dewyze singing “You’re Still The One”.  Lee follows Shania’s advice to slow and quiet the intro.  The performance is developing nicely.  Lee Dewyze has found his groove.  This is a powerful, soulful interpretation of this song.  Why does Randy always go first?  Randy loves this song.  Randy only sort of likes the performance.  Ellen says it sounds like his version.  Kara says the sound of his voice makes this and every song sound relevant.  Simon calls it the perfect song selection but the performance had some rough spots.

Next up, Michael Lynche sings “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing”. Michael starts the song sitting on the stairs in the dark.  He is turning this song into an R&B ballad and it is pretty beautiful. Was Shania Twain crying when he was singing? Yes she was.  Randy loves that Michael has become the R&B balladeer.  Ellen says it felt like Luther Vandross and felt it was beautiful.  Kara loves how connected Michael is to his songs.  Simon thought the performance was a bit “wet”?  None of us know what Simon is talking about. Shania speaks up and tells Michael that he got her emotionally.

Casey James, the construction worker, is at the stools with Ryan where he promises a different kind of performance.  Tonight he is singing “Don’t”.  While the performance is back to the acoustic performance that the judges love, it seems pretty bland to me.  Of course Randy and Ellen love it.  They tell him these country ballads are where he belongs.  Kara says something about not hiding.  Simon says it was his best performance so far in the competition.

Crystal Bowersox sings “No One Needs To Know” as a message to her boyfriend.  Shania tells her to adopt a happier tone.  This song does not really fight Crystal’s strengths. The performance is not up to the standards she has set in the previous weeks.  It was bland.  Randy says it was not his favorite Crystal Bowersox performance.  Ellen agrees with Randy. Kara says it is impossible for Crystal to not be good.  Simon says it was limp and says he didn’t feel any connection with the performance.

Aaron Kelly continues the Shania Twain marathon with “You Got Away”.  Once again Aaron starts the song wobbly and off key.  He struggles with his quiet bottom end and he is flat all over the place.  After the rough start this is a good rendition of a country song.  Shania loved it, she is smiling from ear to ear.  Randy says, “really good job.” Ellen speaks of the maturity and depth of emotion in his performance and Kara agrees with him.  Simon loves it.  aaron starts to cry when he speaks of singing this song for his mother.  He changed the words to make the song appropriate for his mother.

Siobhan Magnus closes the show singing “Any Man of Mine”, Shania’s first number 1 country hit. Siobhan’s low end is too breathy for my taste.  She goes super country with this big romping rave.  Siobhan hits and misses the notes but she can blow those big notes and finishes big, real big. That felt like a sassy protest from Siobhan.  Randy loved it! Ellen says fantastic.  Kara says, ‘guess who’s back”.  Simon likes the song and says the scream was like she was giving birth.

Join us tomorrow night as we live blog the results.  It is going to be a difficult night and we will be unhappy with any one of these guys going home.

Weapon Aid
Braille
Talking Textures
Mid-west Hip-Hop
Buy NOW:
iTunes

Ragamuffin Soul
Carlos Whittaker
Integrity Music
Pop/Folk
Buy NOW:
Amazon
iTunes

Carry Ourselves
Continuance
Rise Records
Hardcore
Buy NOW:
Amazon
iTunes

The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be
Deepspace5
Mega Royal Records
Underground Hip-Hop
Buy NOW:
iTunes

Future Paths
Discover America
Lujo Records
Progressive Indie
Buy NOW:
Amazon
iTunes

O Ye Devastator
Doug Burr
Spune Records
Americana
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3
iTunes

Cotes d’Armor
Kevin Max
dpulse Recordings
Electronic

The Descent
Mantric
Prosthetic Records
Metal
Buy NOW:
Amazon
iTunes

Feast Or Fallow
Sandra McCracken
Independent
Folk/Worship
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3
iTunes

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Casting Crowns

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sidewalk Prophets

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jennie Lee Riddle

SONG OF THE YEAR (song title; writer; publisher – award goes to the writer and publisher)
“By Your Side”; Tenth Avenue North; Mike Donehey, Phillip Larue, Jason Ingram; Sony ATV/Timber Publishing, West Main Music, Formerly Music, (SESAC), (admin by Song/ATV Music Publishing), Peertunes, Ltd., GrangeHill Music, Windsor Way Music, (SESAC), (admin by Peertunes, Ltd.), Songs of Razor and Tie, Maxx Music Publishing, (ASCAP), (admin. By Songs of Razor and Tie)

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Heath

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Francesca Battistelli

GROUP OF THE YEAR
NEEDTOBREATHE

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Jason Ingram, Rusty Varenkamp

Dove Awards in Recorded Song Categories are given to the Artist and Songwriter, if other than the artist.
Song: album; artist; writer; label

RAP/HIP HOP RECORDED SONG
“”Movin”; Ordinary Dreamers; Group 1 Crew; Group 1 Crew, Jeremy James, Byron Chambers, Christopher Stevens; Fervent Records

ROCK RECORDED SONG
“Mess Of Me”; Hello Hurricane; Switchfoot; Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman; Credential Recordings

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
“Lay ‘Em Down”; The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Bear Rinehart, Bo Rinehart; Atlantic Records

POP/CONTEMPORARY RECORDED SONG
“City On Our Knees”; Tonight; tobyMac; Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore, Cary Barlowe; Forefront Records

INSPIRATIONAL RECORDED SONG
“The Only Hope”; Bebo Norman; Bebo Norman; Bebo Norman, Jason Ingram; BEC Recordings

SOUTHERN GOSPEL RECORDED SONG
“Born To Climb”; Expecting Good Things; Jeff & Sheri Easter; Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey; She Loves Music

BLUEGRASS RECORDED SONG
“When We Fly”; Breaking Like Dawn; Little Roy Lewis & Lizzy Long; Joel Lindsay, Wayne Haun,
Ty Herndon

COUNTRY RECORDED SONG
“Somebody Like Me”; Jason Crabb; Jason Crabb; Neil Thrasher, Michael Boggs; Spring Hill Music Group

URBAN RECORDED SONG (tie)
“Close To You”; Still; BeBe & CeCe Winans; BeBe Winans; B & C Records, Malaco
and
“Just Wanna Say”; The Power of One; Israel Houghton; Aaron Lindsey, Israel Houghton, Tommy Sims; Integrity

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL RECORDED SONG
“Justified”; Smokie Norful Live; Smokie Norful; Smokie Norful; EMI Gospel, TreMyles Music

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDED SONG
“The Power of One”; The Power of One; Israel Houghton; Israel Houghton, Ricardo Sanchez; Intergrity Music

WORSHIP SONG (award given to writer and publisher)
“Revelation Song”; Jennie Lee Riddle, Gateway Create Publishing, Integrity’s Praise Music

Dove Awards in Album Categories are given to the Artist and Producer, if other than the artist.
Album; artist; producer; label

RAP/HIP HOP ALBUM (album; artist; producer; label)
Five Two Television; KJ-52; KJ-52; BEC Recordings

ROCK ALBUM
Innocence and Instinct; Red; Rob Graves; Essential

ROCK/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Outsiders; NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jim Scott, John Alagia; Atlantic Records

POP/CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Long Fall Back To Earth; Jars of Clay, Ron Aniello, Essential Records, Gray Matters

INSPIRATIONAL ALBUM
Fearless; Phillips, Craig & Dean; Bernie Herms; INO Records

SOUTHERN GOSPEL ALBUM
Gaither Vocal Band Reunited; Gaither Vocal Band; Bill Gaither, David Phelps; Gaither Music Group

BLUEGRASS ALBUM
The Isaacs…Naturally; The Isaacs; Bill Gaither, Ben Isaacs; Gaither Music Group

COUNTRY ALBUM
The Reason; Diamond Rio; Michael D. Clute, Jimmy Olander; Word Records

TRADITIONAL GOSPEL ALBUM
Shout! Live; Mike Farris & The Roseland Rhythm Revue; Mike Farris, Joe McMahan; INO Records

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL ALBUM
Love Unstoppable; Fred Hammond; Fred Hammond; Verity

INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Joy Comes In The Morning; Stan Whitmire; Stan Whitmire; Spring Hill Music Group

PRAISE & WORSHIP ALBUM
Church Music; David Crowder Band; David Crowder*Band; Sparrow Records/sixsteps Records

American Idol Season 9‘s version of Idol Gives Back raised $45 million for charities around the world and proved how difficult it is to walk on that stage and deliver a quality performance.  Alicia Keys, Elton John and the Black Eyed Peas all stumbled through off key performances.  Jeff Beck and Joss Stone were interesting with their version of “I Put A Spell On You” and Carrie Underwood’s “Change” was as good as she always is.  Mary J. Blige was a revelation with her version of “Stairway to Heaven”.

We lost Christian music artist Tim Urban went home on Wednesday night.  What a great story.  Tim Urban did not survive Hollywood Week but was pulled back in at the last minute when Chris Golightly was disqualified.  Tim struggled mightily during the first few weeks and the judges destroyed Tim Urban week after week.  But Tim was grateful.  He took the criticism, enjoyed the tremendous opportunity of American Idol Season 9 and improved.  In doing so, Tim Urban has turned an audition into a music and acting career.

We are down to six on American Idol Season 9 and we are left with only one Christian music artist, Michael Lynche.  Last week, the Idols performed inspirational songs and Crystal Bowersox very much separated herself from all of the remaining six performers.

American Idol Season 9 Top 6 Power Rankings

1. Crystal Bowersox delivered her most emotional and one of her most amazing performances of the season. She blasted through “People Get Ready” like she meant it.  Crystal Bowersox has no peers on American Idol Season 9.
2. Michael Lynche‘s “Hero” was, once again, technically perfect but not was not his best performance of the American Idol Season 9.
3. Lee Dewyze sang “The Boxer” and the judges were fighting to deliver the highest praise.  We were not as thrilled with Lee mumbling his way through this Simon & Garfunkel song.
4. Casey James‘ version of “Don’t Stop” was bland and lazy.
5. Siobhan Magnus continued to slide by taking a big risk with “When You Believe” and failing to deliver.
6. Aaron Kelly‘s “I Believe I Can Fly” was a big overwrought pitchy mess.

Shania Twain will mentor this week and the American Idol Season 9 Top 6 will select songs from her songbook.  So get ready for six country pop performances and a fun mentor.

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
Check out Pt.4
Check out Pt.5
Check out Pt.6
Check out Pt.7
Check out Pt.8
Check out Pt. 9
Check out Pt.10
Check out Pt.11
Check out Pt.12

Pigeon John Is…Clueless
Pigeon John
2002
Buy this album: Amazon MP3, iTunes
Perhaps if you cant understand the appeal on Pigeon John Is…Clueless from the opening track, you may never get it. But that is okey, because that is whole point.

In 2002 Pigeon John broke off from his LA Symphony crew to release a collection of songs he had been recording for the past several years. The result is an album that finds a young man struggling with his own identity; not quite ready to become a full on adult, but aware of his responsibilities an emcee no longer in his teens. Pigeon John‘s world class wit is always present, but he doesn’t use it as a crutch in which his entire style is based. It is funny that his earliest work is perhaps his most complex, interesting, and deep.

On top of the content, the actual music in Pigeon John Is…Clueless is perhaps the gem here. Too many times we focus on lyrics when it comes to emcees, but Pigeon John also has a knack to find beats the suit his personality in a way that cant be explained until you hear it. Elements of Q-Tip, and his former crew are always present, but Pigeon John Is…Clueless is a bold declaration from a then up and coming emcee who refuses to follow any body else’s rules, even if it means working a 9-5 to make it happen.
Highlights: Los Angeles Rap Music, Clueless, Rap Contest

Heatseeker
World Wide Message Tribe
1998
Buy this album: Amazon
The U.K.’s World Wide Message Tribe were the holy herald in the 90’s Christian dance scene with both street-cred and Jesus testimony. World Wide Message Tribe cultivated a hybrid of house, techno, hip-hop, and rap with the idea that if the booty shakes, the soul will follow. Adding a touch of ambient along with a disco streak to its glorious mess of praise, World Wide Message Tribe took the 1999 Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop/Dance Album of the Year with Heatseeker.

With Heatseaker, World Wide Message Tribe delivered an album that reflected dance music trends of the late 90’s. With influences from bands like the Chemical Brothers and Prodigy, tracks like “Heatseeker,” and “Hypocrite,” were hard driving techno screams. “Messiah” and “Lift It Up” were straight up house dance tracks. In “Hypocrite” the singer talks about being himself a “Hypocrite” for not always being willing to share Christ with others, an idea taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans. Also appearing is a house version of Bob Dylan‘s “Precious Angel.” As usual, the lyrics are blatantly Christian but never formalistic.
Highlights: Hypocrite, Messiah, Lift It

Wovenhand
Wovenhand
2003
Buy this album: iTunes, Amazon
What we all thought was David Eugene Edward’s solo foray while on a break from the legendary 16 Horsepower, Wovenhand ultimately killed 16 Horsepower and has surpassed that band’s shattering vision and singular presence on the Christian music scene. Mostly recorded by Edwards in his Colorado studio, the debut, Wovenhand, retains the dark vision and gothic folk elements of the previous band but softens the music with keyboards and muted percussion. The lyrics are at times David’s most spiritual and even sentimental, but what a distressing sentimentality.

The bookends of “My Russia” and “Your Russia” recount personal conviction and promise ultimate sanctification, the slip and the grip of grace, with a devastating intensity and plain sincerity that rivals anything David Eugene Edwards has ever recorded with Wovenhand or 16 Horsepower. Add to that a brooding, stomping cover of Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No sunshine” and you have a debut of devastating power and beauty.
Highlights: My Russia/Your Russia, Arrow Head, Ain’t No Sunshine

Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair
La Dispute
2008
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
Pure and genuine emotion and passion is so hard to find in music these days. Most times passion is mistaken for busy or loud. Emotion is mistaken for tone. It is rare you can hear either true emotion or passion partnered with true talent and ability. The moment I saw La Dispute ate Cornerstone Festival in 2007, I knew I had found a band with all four. In 2008, they released a monster of an album called Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair. I am still trying to understand it.

The band’s sound lies somewhere in the bombastic punk/rock furiousity of At The Drive-In, and the steady intelligence of mewithoutYou. The band pours into every song three times the ability of their peers, and somehow are able to focus it in a way that makes every valley feel like a warm summer day, and every explosion feel like being pushed off of a cliff.

Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair is a always attacking collection of songs that deal with thoughts of regret, questioning, hope, and anger. Every thought meticulously planned out, every time change carefully executed. For any fan of post-hardcore, progressive punk, or just really good music, this is a must have.
Highlights: Amazon, Bury Your Flame, Andria

Welcome To The Welcome Wagon
The Welcome Wagon
2008
Buy this album: Amazon, iTunes
Don’t let the release date of Welcome To The Welcome Wagon fool you, the music contained within is not of this era. Yet, it is more of the Great Depression era of gospel/folk, easily played in a church or kitchen depending on the inspiration.

You see, a few years back, The Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique started teaching themselves how to play old traditional hymns because they felt that the songs needed to be played again. After a while, one of their congregation members took notice and offered to help arrange a produce a CD for them. They said yes.

That congregation member was Sufjan Stevens, and what was created between the three members of The Welcome Wagon is at all times spiritual, joyful, fun, and reverent. These aren’t “jazzed up” versions of hymns, so hidden beneath walls of slick production that they no longer resemble their original form. These are rough, stripped down takes on traditional songs that both celebrate and rejuvenate the songs for a new generation.

It look likes that this may be the only thing we ever hear from Vito and Monquie, as they are still tending to their flock, but the joy and release you get from listening to Welcome To The Welcome Wagon may just be enough.
Highlights: Up On a Mountain, He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word, But For You Who Fear My Name

Below is the album artwork and tracklisting for Solid State Records metal band MyChildren MyBride‘s upcoming June 8th, 2010 release entitled Lost Boy

1.Terra Firma
2.Hooligans
3.King of the Hopeless
4.Crimson Grim
5.Lost Boys
6.Dark Passenger
7.Gatekeeper
8.Digital Rebirth
9.Redeemer
10.Nuclear+
11.Lungs Full of Water

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