Music

Cover Story

2 comments

Debating hymns

May 01, 2013 by Mary Louise Bringle

In preparing the new PCUSA hymnal, our committee may have made some wrong decisions. But they weren't careless or cavalier ones.

Mercyland, by various artists

May 01, 2013 reviewed by Steve Thorngate

Growing up, my listening habits progressed from the evangelical subculture’s schlockiest pop to its Americana fringe to secular alt-country. One common thread: prolific sideman Phil Madeira.

Books

Human and holy

Texts for preaching

Apr 19, 2013 by Luke A. Powery

At this point in my preaching journey, I find myself drawing on or being informed by the writings of theologian Howard Thurman, novelist Toni Morrison and poet Langston Hughes, as well as the musical literature known as the spirituals.

1 comment

Apparently Chris Tomlin doesn't love the spotlight

Mar 12, 2013 by Steve Thorngate

In the evangelical subculture of my youth, there were three categories of pop music. There was secular music, the avoidance of which was, as with alcohol, a nonessential of the faith. (My parents’ approach was more tight regulation than outright ban.) There was Christian music, the Nashville-industry pop records that we heard on Christian radio during our school carpool and then saved our allowances up to buy. And then there was worship music, which we sang at church.

Books

Kicking at the Darkness, by Brian J. Walsh

Feb 25, 2013 reviewed by David Dark

Some of us owe a large part of whatever prophetic imagination we have to the creative powers of Bruce Cockburn. For pop-music-loving Bible readers of my generation, chances are he came to us via U2 of the late 1980s.

Poem

To pull the plug

Jun 05, 2013 by Paul Willis

As if you were an odd species
of television, a fleshed machine
with un-rechargeable batteries.

Or a greasy remnant
of bathwater,
ready to rattle down the drain.

As if you were a clot
of tobacco,
something to fill up the gums.

Anything but a battered body,
one of ours, your current
passing between two hands.