I think that what makes a beautiful song sometimes is not in its complexity or originality, but sometimes from its simplicity. Repetition can help drive ideas home sometimes, and steady rhythm can make you feel like you are floating down a quiet river in spring. The Innocence Mission have made a career out of honing those particular elements, and none quiet as elegantly as a track from their 2010 album ( My Room In The Trees ) called “God Is Love”.

Some Of the truths in the song are so easy to understand, while other lines can be interpreted in so many different ways. I feel like this song is perhaps about moving through life, eyes open, but not afraid because God is on our side.

Rain or shine, this street of mine is golden.
Rain or shine, this street of mine is golden
with the gold of hickory leaves.
I can walk under these clouds.
Rain or shine, this street of mine is golden.

God is love
and love will never fail me.
God is love
and love will never fail me.
If I’m driving there today
and I really am this afraid,
God is love
and love will never fail me.

Some birds I know are moving on this weekend.
Some birds I know are moving on this weekend.
And I’m under the sky, I am on the ground, with my coat.
Some birds I know are moving on this weekend.

God is love
and love will never fail me.
God is love
and love will never fail me.
And some days I will decide
to let everything else go by.
God is love
and love will never fail me.

Elementals
Brightwood
Independent
Acoustic

The Fingerpainting EP
The Ember Days
Come&Live!
Worship
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3

Breaker
For Today
Facedown Records
Metalcore
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Love God. Love People
Israel Houghton
Columbia Records
Gospel/R&B
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3 [+digital booklet/bonus track]

New Releases For September 1st, 2010

The Distance EP
The Wedding
Independent
Hard Rock

Last week Sufjan Stevens dropped a new EP on us (All The Delighted People), and not even 48 hours later announced that a full length was not far behind. Stereogum posted the first track called “I Walked” from the upcoming LP, entitled The Age Of Adz, for free download this week. It has a lot more of a electronic feel to it, but that’s Sufjan doin’ his thing.

Download new Sufjan Stevens song, “I Walked”, from Stereogum

Our buddy (morse) is back with another offering of minimalist electronic goodness. If you were with us way back in the beginning, you will know that (morse) provided us with one of our very first Free Album Downloads. Its been a little while, but the mystery, the man is back with 6 tracks of ambient sound, Nintendo beats, and cryptic samples.

This is a “take a chance and you will love it” kind of thing. We love it, so hopefully that says something!

download (morse)- And The War Came Forth

Acoustic EP
Britt Nicole
Sparrow Records
Contemporary Pop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

No Far Away
Chris August
Fervent Records
Pop Rock
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Zombie EP
The Devil Wears Prada
Ferret Records
Metalcore
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Something’s Happening
The Hoppers
Spring Hill Music
Contemporary
Buy NOW:
Amazon

We Cry Out-The Worship Project
Jeremy Camp
BEC Recordings
Worship
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Finer Day
Kelly Minter
Kingsway Music
Contemporary
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Kerrie Roberts
Kerrie Roberts
Reunion Records
Pop
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3 [+digital booklet]

Love Revolution
Natalie Grant
Curb Records
Pop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

I’ll Fly Away
Randy Travis
Green Hill Records
Country/Gospel
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Blood In The Gears
The Showdown
Solid State Records
Metal
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3(Deluxe Edition) [+digital booklet]

All Delighted People EP
Sufjan Stevens
Asthmatic Kitty
Indie
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3

Mosaic
Ricky Skaggs
Skaggs Family
Country
Buy Now:
Amazon

I want everybody to know that I have not been purposely posting samplers exclusively lately. I find this free music and I just put it out there as quickly as I can. This week we got some hard and heavy tracks form the Facedown Records family and Alt Press. 12 tracks of their finest and brightest, they even threw in a few unreleased songs to boot. Check the track listing below and then click through to download the album. You are welcome…..

1.For Today “Devastator”
2.My Epic “Lower Still”
3.War Of Ages “Collapse”
4.In The Midst Of Lions “The Machine”
5.A Hope For Home “The Overman”
6.Impending Doom “Orphans”
7.Call To Preserve “Empty”
8.A Plea For Purging “Shiver”
9.The Burial “Demons Never Sleep”
10.Onward To Olympas “Sink Of Swim”
11.As Hell Retreats “Poor God”
12.Wrench In The Works “Project AK-47″

Download the Facedown Records/Alt Press Summer Sampler

The Winepress
The Burial
Strike First Records
Metal
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3

Awhile back, we posted the first sampler from Hebrews Coffee. They are back with the sequel, and its better than ever!

“The vision behind HeBrews is simple. We are here to provide a coffee house and music venue that is heavily focused on ministry. Churches often start coffee houses, only for it to close down a few years later. Our vision has always been, and will always be, to provide a place for ministry, and to bless the bands that come through our doors. So many bands have told me how difficult it is on the road, and how much they get taken advantage of. Each show we provide a home cooked meal, free coffee drinks & milkshakes, and even provide lodging for bands that need it. We have been incredibly blessed at HeBrews to have a lot of really awesome bands and singers come through our doors. I fully believe that God has His hand on our ministry, and this is evident in the fruit and the hearts and lives that have been encouraged and blessed by coming here. It is not about this place, rather a vision of ministry and living it out relationally through a building. Our heart is to raise up more venues and coffee houses with that same vision and passion for Jesus. ”

I know I know, but what about the music. Well check out the tracklisting below:
1. Mike Mains & The Branches- “Stereo”
2. Abel- “Standing Still”
3. The Great Flood Catastrophe- “Ice”
4. Ascend The Hill- “The Reform”
5. Beautiful Calamity- “Beautiful Savior”
6. The Rendition- “Pop Song”
7. James and the Drifters- “When Or Where”
8. Grisham- “Meet Me In The Valley”
9. Cool Hand Luke- “The Balancing Act”
10. Sonorous- “Destitute, Enduring”
11. Joel Teeple- “Dry Land”
12. Josiah James- “Send Your Heart Down”
13. Quiet Science- “The Ghost And The Grave”
14. Ryan Pelton- “Attraction Gains Attention but Love Wins Hearts”
15. Escaping Yesterday- “The Moon”
16. The Clutter- “Creatures”
17. Ocean Is Theory- ” Twenty Nine Eleven”
18. See The Light- “Maranatha”
19. We Are Creation- “Come And Awake”

download HEBREWS DIGITAL DOWNLOAD COMPILATION VOLUME 2

The Land I Love
The Charlie Daniels Band
E1 Music
Country
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Greatly Blessed
Gaither Vocal Band
Spring Hill Music
Contemporary
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Quarantine
Grits
Revolution Arts
Hip-Hop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

We Fit: The Workout Plan
k-Drama
Cross Movement Records
Hip-Hop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Cotes d’Armor
Kevin Max
dPulse Recordings
Dance/Rock
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3

Tripping On This Journey
LMNO
Up Above Records
Hip-Hop
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3

NY2LA
Press Play
Dream Records
Pop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Changing Of The Guard
Starflyer 59
Tooth & Nail Records
Rock
Buy NOW:
Amazon MP3

Our friends at Indie Vision Music have made the brand new album from Standing Small available for free download. They play a kind of ambient, driving style of rock music made popular by Coldplay, Seabird, and Cool Hand Luke. The band has been on the road all summer hitting Cornerstone and Icthus Festival. The album is called Asleep at the Oars, Dreaming of Freedom, and Im sure you guys will enjoy it!

Download Standing Small-Asleep at the Oars, Dreaming of Freedom