CHRIS TOMLIN

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CHRIS
TOMLIN
MADE TO
WORSHIP
Pillar
BREAKS NEW
GROUND
Amy grant’s
+
FIRST LIVE ALBUM
IN 25 YEARS
MARK SCHULTZ • SKILLET • JEREMY CAMP
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contents
October 2006
38 Going Up from Here
PILLAR has its sights set on releasing the best record of its career
October 3, and JOHN J. THOMPSON recently sat down with lead
singer Rob Beckley to find out what the band is coming to terms
with on its new disc.
cover story
in review
32
65
Can’t Keep from Singing
Christian music’s reigning “Artist of the Year” gets personal with
readers as he talks about his aspirations, his life in Texas and
making See the Morning. Chris Tomlin’s one-time college classmate
and CCM writer BEAU BLACK helps you get to know Chris’ stor y
a little better.
Music: Skillet’s Comatose, Casting Crowns’ new live set,
Pillar’s latest, the solo debut from Adie and more.
72
Books: David Crowder, The Beatles and Johnny Cash.
76
Tour: NEEDTOBREATHE’s “Love and Heat Tour.”
features
departments
42
06
From the Editor: Body Piercing Saved My Life.
11
The Insider: Jonny Lang’s Turn Around, Big Daddy Weave’s
Beautiful Stories
Amid recent personal changes for esteemed storyteller Mark Schultz,
an album of brand new songs has emerged. And, while there are plenty
of new stories to be told this time around, Mark is intent on pointing
people in the right direction. DAVID McCREARY has the details.
44
new album and the secrets to Shust’s success.
17
Independents Day: The art of creativity and much more.
25
The Writer’s Block: Parlez-vous français?
78
Things I Love: Jeremy Camp.
80
Loose Ends: Nichole’s catalogue fetish.
82
HistoryMakers with John Styll: Amy’s “scandalous” album cover.
Lead Us On
What Christian artist hasn’t been inspired by Amy Grant? (OK, other
than Underoath.) Her music has inspired countless listeners as well.
This month, KRISTI HENSON gives you the scoop on Amy’s new live
CD/DVD, and some of your favorite artists reveal how Amy has
touched their lives and influenced their music.
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fromtheeditor
by Jay Swartzendruber
Confessions of a
Christian Rock Lifer
If you’re an attentive music fan, there’s a good
chance you’ve already heard about the new
book Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the
Phenomenon of Christian Rock (Da Capo) by SPIN
Magazine writer Andrew Beaujon. In addition
to receiving favorable reviews from NPR,
Entertainment Weekly [see “Sightings” on Page
22], Publisher’s Weekly, the New York Post and
several other prominent newspapers, the
book is drawing media attention in Canada,
the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Body Piercing features exclusive interviews
with many noteworthy artists ranging from
pioneers Larry Norman and Resurrection Band’s
Glenn Kaiser to modern faves Switchfoot, David Crowder and Mute Math,
among others. Beaujon gives detailed accounts of his visits to the Cornerstone
Festival in Illinois, Gospel Music Week in Nashville (where he attended the
GMA Music Awards), Calvin College’s Festival of Faith and Music, Tooth &
Nail Records in Seattle and more.
He also includes five 10-page chapters which each profile a “Christian
Rock Lifer.” The five lifers of choice are artist/producer/film director Steve
Taylor, EMI Christian Music Group president/CEO Bill Hearn, former lead
singer for The Crucified and current Stavesacre front man Mark Salomon,
HM Magazine editor Doug Van Pelt and…yours truly.
Now, I like to think I’m as humble as the next guy because, well, it makes
me feel good. The problem is, I’m not humble. Far from it. And few things
will prove this as much as my internal reaction to seeing a whole chapter all
about me—which was a complete surprise, by the way—in an
internationally-distributed book. “I’ve got to buy this for all my friends and relatives
for Christmas!” I thought. And, then, there was the ol’, “Hey, this is a general market
book. I’ve crossed over, baby.” Nice.
Initially, my enthusiasm went unchecked as I wondered to myself about
the best ways our magazine could feature the book. (Questioning my
motives would come later.)
CCM MAGAZINE
Your Christian Music Magazine Since 1978
volume 29 issue 4
For those whose lives are strengthened through faith-informed
music, CCM Magazine goes behind the scenes to celebrate the
artistry of Christian music.
CCM Magazine is a publication of Salem Publishing,
a division of Salem Communications.
•••• •••••••
CCM Magazine
Publisher Jim Cumbee
Associate Publisher & Editor in Chief Roberta Croteau
Editor Jay Swartzendruber
Media & Web Editor Kristi Henson
Assistant Editor Lindsay Williams
Art Director Mary Sergent
Contributing Designer Allison May
6 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
The first chance I got, I sat down and dove into what was, for this Christian
music fan, a fascinating read. Fascinating, but not always comfortable. In fact,
I’m sure I downright squirmed as I read some parts of the book as Mr. Beaujon
detailed his encounters with the Christian music world and its fringe—warts
and all. And, as Publisher’s Weekly commented about Body Piercing, “Beaujon—an
agnostic—reports well but passes no judgment.”
The general consensus has been that Beaujon was fair and, even,
sympathetic in how he wrote the book. While I agree in many ways, I feel
compelled to point out some personal reservations I have—reservations that
gave me pause in how CCM should go about highlighting Body Piercing.
For starters, I was troubled by the fact that, on a few separate occasions,
a person would tell Beaujon a personal anecdote and then say, “Don’t put
that in your book.” The author not only put each story in the book, he also
included the instructions that he not do so. Perhaps I’ve simply gotten too
comfortable with what may be the “gentleman’s approach” that Christian
market journalists take in a situation like that. To us, “don’t put that in the
book” equals “this is off the record” (as long as the parameters are set when
the sensitive information is presented).
My sense of unease grew a bit when I spoke with two friends who also
were interviewed for Body Piercing. Each of them expressed that a couple of
their quotes had been taken out of context, and, in one case, had been
exaggerated in a particularly awkward way. (The humorous flip side to this
is that the other friend actually liked one of his altered quotes better than
what he actually said.)
I, on the other hand, found my interaction with Beaujon and his treatment
of me in his book to be both affirming and very complimentary. In fact, at
one point, he gave me too much credit. Body Piercing clearly implies that
Steve Taylor and I “discovered” Chevelle. Taylor? Yes. But I can’t take any
credit for that piece of rock history. Simply put, I was a colleague—a
bystander—who witnessed Taylor’s A&R brilliance and assertiveness.
Enough said.
While a few adventurous Christian bookstores are carrying Body Piercing
Saved My Life, the vast majority are not, due to the book’s inclusion of
profanity. For more information visit bodypiercingsavedmylife.com.
[email protected]
Contributing Editors Andy Argyrakis, Margaret Becker, Paul Colman,
Russ Long, Kate McDonald, Nichole Nordeman, Gregory Rumburg,
John Styll, Chris Well, Matthew West
Contributors Christa A. Banister, Beau Black, Lizza Connor Bowen,
John M. De Marco, Andree Farias, Andrew Greer, Phil Joel, David
McCreary, Brian Quincy Newcomb, Deborah Evans Price, John J.
Thompson, Doug Van Pelt
Production Director Ross E. Cluver
Circulation Director Joan Dyer
Circulation Manager Jamie Kunzmann
Fulfillment Manager Leesa Smith
Customer Service Representatives Amy Cassell, Rachel Harrold,
Emeka Nnadi
Executive Director of Advertising Jerry Charles 615/312-4244
Senior Director of Advertising DeDe Tarrant 805/987-5072
Account Executive Brian Lawing 615/312-4260
Account Executive Pat McAbee 770/237-5400
Account Executive Gary Miller 970/203-0417
Advertising Traffic Manager Carol Jones
Administrative Sales Assistant Melissa Smart
Main Office 104 Woodmont Blvd., Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37205
615/386-3011 (ph) • 615/386-3380 (business fax)
615/385-4112 (editorial fax) • 615/312-4266 (advertising fax)
Subscriptions/Customer Service CCM, 104 Woodmont Blvd., Ste 300,
Nashville, TN 37205, 800/527-5226 or [email protected].
Annual subscription rates: United States, $19.95/one year, $35.95/two
years, $53.95/three years; Canada, (U.S. funds) $27.95 per year; all other
countries, (U.S. funds) $33.95 (surface) or $67 (airmail). For address
changes or other inquiries, please include both old and new addresses and
mailing label. Allow four to six weeks for new subscriptions to begin.
Cover photo: Allen Clark
Cover design: Mary Sergent
NASDAQ SYMBOL: SALM
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feedback
back (here I reference the women in
Christian music article) is just bad
journalism. And I should know; I just
graduated cum laude from a top
journalism school.
Anonymous, via email
[Insert sound of crickets chirping here…]
MORE WALLPAPER, PLEASE!
DESIGNING WOMEN
Amazing! Awesome! Wow! Those are
just some of the expressions I would
use to describe your cover story on
the women of Christian music
[“Wonder Women,” August]. Each
and every one you named are great,
and their impact on the world has
been amazing. But I feel like you left
some girls out of the picture, or
ar ticle, which deser ved some
respect, at least. Jaci Velasquez—
she has done a fantastic job and
crossed over to secular Latin pop and
stayed strong in her faith. Stacie
Orrico—she even hit No. 1 on MTV’s
“Total Request Live” and has done
great things for Christian music.
Rachael Lampa, Nicole C. Mullen,
Crystal Lewis…etc. This is just my
opinion, but I think they should’ve
been mentioned, at least! Well, I can’t
wait for the next issue. God bless you!
Martin B., via email
Christian AC [adult contemporary] is
dying. When people become interested in it, cover it again. But using
an editorial agenda to try to bring it
LOOSE ENDS
CONFESSIONS OF AN UNFINISHED FAITH
T
Fear Factor
There is a slight misconception about the glamour
of being on tour. Someone, a long time ago, started
some vicious rumor about how exciting road life is.
Playing music, connecting with people, watching
God at work…those are the exciting things. But,
unless your name is Sting or Madonna or Bono, the
most adventure you will find on the road depends
largely on whatever is in walking distance from your
room at the Fairfield Inn. More often than not, this
is usually a Wal-Mart, which is where I found myself
looking for beach towels with my road manager,
Michelle, in the middle of Arkansas recently.
No beach in sight, of course. But heck if we
weren’t going to be ready. After we’d purchased our
towels, we began to walk across the parking lot and
back toward our hotel. We were chatting…girl
talk…discussing how appropriately prepared we
were should a body of water appear on the horizon.
Suddenly, without noise or warning, a man
joined our stride and started walking next to us. Not
near us. Not behind us. Directly next to us, with an
alarming amount of poise and confidence…like it
was the most natural thing in the world.
Now, please understand that I have rehearsed
this scenario in my mind a hundred times. As a
woman, I am always aware of my surroundings.
Always looking around the parking lot when I get
in and out of my car. Always suspect of the guy who
looks…well…suspect. I have, at times in my life,
carried Mace, learned basic self-defense and called
the cops on suspicious looking weirdos. Which is
why it becomes even more difficult to admit how I
reacted to this strange man who inexplicably
started walking shoulder to shoulder with me in
the middle of a parking lot.
I froze. My feet kept walking, but everything
else ceased to function.
For some totally bizarre and unfathomable reason,
I did absolutely…nothing. I was utterly terrified and
paralyzed. I never once looked at his face. I did not
quicken my pace. I did not motion to my friend to
64 ccm august 06
BY NICHOLE NORDEMAN
unleash ninja warfare on him (she seemed unfazed
the number of people who continue to enter into a
and still chatting). I only froze. I saw my life flash
relationship with Jesus because a well-intentioned
before my eyes. I pictured him shoving us into his
preacher spent half the sermon hollering about
trunk. I saw the headlines…”Christian artist and road
how hot the lake of fire is going to be. And,
manager abducted…Foul play suspected…Beach
naturally, people respond…out of fear. I think I got
towels a mystery.” Fear had completely taken over,
“saved” five different times between the ages of 9
and I was, without a doubt, its prisoner.
and 13 for the same reason.
We continued walking…the three of us…
1 John 4:18 makes one of the most unLaverne, Shirley and the serial killer for a few more
complicated and profound statements in the New
minutes; and I still could not even find the courage
Testament, and it would be life altering if we lived
to glance at him. Then he spoke. And I almost
it all day long.
collapsed at the sound of the very familiar voice of
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives
Scott, my bass player. He, himself, had been
out fear…”
aimlessly wandering around Wal-Mart, saw us
I love the choice of the word “drives”…not
walking back to the hotel and just quietly
tosses aside fear, not works around fear,
caught up with us. And, being a rather
but sends it packing. Buh bye.
introverted type, he never announced
Imagine living a life where
his presence or felt the need to
decisions, both personal and
There
is
no
engage us in conversation. He was
international, were made out of
fear in love. But
happy just to tag along.
perfect love and not paralyzing
After I scraped myself up off
perfect love drives fear. Imagine what that would
the pavement and we all had a
look like to the world to see
out fear...
good laugh, I sat in my hotel room
Christians responding from a
thinking about the power of fear.
place of certainty rather than
—1 John 4:18
So powerful that it erased all
reacting from a place of panic and
common sense, all resolve, all
damage control (a recent blockbuster
determination to “step up” in the moment. It
movie staring Tom Hanks comes to mind).
basically took me out at the knee caps. I was
I’m still a little freaked out by the way I just
simply too afraid to respond or react.
surrendered to my inevitable fate in the Wal-Mart
Fear is potent and central to our lives. The next
parking lot. I would love to think that I would react
time you watch the news, count how many times
very differently if it happened today. But I learned
you hear a form of the word “terror.” And, while
a lesson about what a formidable enemy fear can
fear is easy to identify on a global scale and in a
be; and it might take a while for me to re-program
time of war, consider the more subtle kinds of fear
my natural responses. Besides, if I had acted in self
we breathe in and out all day. Career paths are
defense, that might mean my bass player would
chosen by our fear of financial instability.
still be in a body cast, which would make things
Relationships wither and die from a fear of
tricky for him on stage every night. Still looking
intimacy. Fear of cancer motivates me to pick out
for that beach, by the way…
certain vegetables in the produce department. Fear
of rejection makes me laugh at jokes that are
Nichole Nordeman’s current album, Brave (Sparrow),
offensive and demeaning. Fear of judgment keeps
features the hits “Brave,” “What If” and “Real to Me.” For
me from raising important questions about my
more information on the CD and to find out if Nichole will
faith. And I know this might jeopardize my status
be performing in a city near you this month, visit
as an evangelical, but it astounds me to consider
nicholenordeman.com.
“
”
ccmmagazine.com
8 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
I received a subscription to CCM as a
Christmas gift this past year, and I
enjoy the mag very much. It’s great to
see a magazine that includes all my
favorite artists. (I enjoy the harder stuff
such as Underoath, P.O.D., Demon
Hunter, etc.) When I finish reading all
the articles, I cut the pictures out and
hang them on my wall. I would love to
see larger posters in CCM! I enjoy this
magazine so much, and I’ve even read
about some new bands, then listened
to them and loved them! And I plan on
renewing my subscription when it’s
time. Keep up the awesome work!
Rochelle Welbaum
Ansonia, OH
THANK YOU, MAGGIE B!
I just wanted to offer a huge “thank
you” for Margaret Becker’s “Independents Day” columns. As an aspiring
writer currently working on recording
my first album, I’ve found her
anecdotes and insights [to be] a
great encouragement, especially
coming from someone who has been
in the trenches of the music industry
for as long as she has. I’ve shared
her columns with another writer
friend of mine, and he’s been
likewise encouraged. If you’re
reading this, Ms. Becker, you have
my sincere gratitude—and ditto to
CCM for giving her the space to write.
Blessings to you all, and keep it up!
Zebulon Holland
Searcy, AR
WANTED:
NICHOLE NORDEMAN
My second favorite artist, after Twila
Paris, is now a CCM Magazine
“columnist.” Nichole Nordeman’s
articles are certainly a breath of
fresh air and a much-needed
addition. Nichole proves she can not
only write pertinent, thought-filled
songs but also pertinent, thoughtfilled editorials. Thank you, Nichole,
for adding another task to your
already busy life. And, yes, you
NORMA JEAN
should write a book. CCM, give her a
raise, a house or whatever she
wants to keep her writing; and I’ll
keep reading. If she keeps this up,
she might just have a future there.
Christi Wilkes
Jonesboro, AR
I’ve always been into Christian music,
and, where I come from, it hasn’t
always been available. I subscribed to
CCM because I knew that this would be
the outlet I needed to really know
what’s going on with all my favorite
artists like Kutless, Casting Crowns
and Nichole Nordeman. So I was
super-excited today when I got your
August issue in the mail. And, speaking
of Nichole Nordeman and your August
issue, this month’s column [“Fear
Factor”] was definitely her best by far. I
want to give my thanks to you and to
Nichole for being so “Real to Me.”
Sending my love and prayers your way...
Jessie Neff
Rio Grande, OH
Well, hey, thanks to Logan for
advertising with us!
WHEN PATIENCE PAYS OFF
I love Underoath! I was thinking about
canceling my subscription because I
haven’t seen much about my favorite
bands such as: As I Lay Dying, As
Cities Burn, Calls From Home, Norma
Jean, House of Heroes, Men Women
and Children and Underoath. But,
when I got my July issue, I screamed
at the top of my lungs when I saw
[Underoath lead vocalist] Spencer
Chamberlain’s face! Thank you,
thank you, thank you!
Katy Slayden
Miami, FL
Note to self: As I Lay Dying, As Cities
Burn, Calls From Home, Norma Jean,
House of Heroes, Men Women and
Children, and MORE Underoath—
got it!—Editor
LOGAN’S RUN
I star ted watching “The Logan
Show” on the Internet because of
the countless ads for it in your
magazine. I absolutely love it! Logan
is hilarious, and it’s fun to watch
inter views with Christian music
artists that I listen to and also ones
that I haven’t heard of yet. Thanks
for introducing me to it, CCM!
Crystal, via email
We welcome your comments.
Address your letter to: Feedback,
CCM Magazine, 104 Woodmont
Blvd., Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37205;
fax 615/385-4112, Attn: Feedback; or
email: [email protected].
Always include your full name, address
and phone number. Letters may be edited
for length and clarity.
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insider
Winning Blues, Heavy Pop,
Emerging Worship and More!
ONE GOOD TURN
At the ripe old age of 25,
JONNY LANG is a veteran.
Since bursting onto the music scene at age 15 and
Billboard New Artist chart with his first
Lie to Me (A&M), this GRAMMY®—nominated
topping the
album,
former child prodigy has traveled many roads and seen
the seedy underbelly of a life lived at the crossroads
with a hellhound on his trail. Fortunately for him—and
for us—he chose the road less traveled.
Like so many of the famed Delta bluesmen he reveres, Jonny Lang, whose growling
vocals and fierce guitar prowess belie his youth but give rise to descriptions of him
as an “old soul,” came face to face with his demons a few years ago. Having been,
admittedly, living a life of sin for several years, everything changed in an instant.
Just minutes after the death of his girlfriend (now his wife) Haylie’s father, Lang
shares that he was “suddenly hit in the stomach by the most incredible force. It
spread from there and filled my whole body. I had this soundness of mind and this
extraordinary peace that I just couldn’t explain. It was an incredible feeling.” A
feeling that was repeated again during the course of that day.
Does it sound like the stuff of a movie moment? Maybe. Is it hard for some
people to relate to his testimony? Sure. “I’ve told people that story who have
just said, ‘You know, you’re a nice guy, but you’re crazy.’ And it’s to be expected.
When God changes somebody’s life, it’s supernatural. It’s not through means
that you can see or touch. It’s something uncommon to us on the earth. And,
so, it’s to be expected that people are going to find it strange and weird. People
who aren’t looking for a relationship with God, who weren’t hungry for it, will
probably say that. I would have said that at a point in my life. People who are
hungry for it might say, ‘OK, this is just the thing that I’ve been looking for. And,
if what he’s saying is true about Jesus, then I want a relationship with Him, too.
I want to give it a shot.’ If they can get to that point, I know that God won’t let
them down. That’s my hope,” Lang confesses.
And he is doing his part to help people hear the message, quite literally. With
Turn Around (A&M), Lang offers up a rare sonic gem, rife with bluesy licks and
gospel hooks alike—a combination that’s completely off the hook. And the music
definitely has meaning. “How do I want to tell people about what happened to me?
It’s really ended up happening that [on the album] a lot of the songs are just
coming from a standpoint of trying to include people and saying, ‘Hey, this is
something that is really great that happened to me and changed my life. Jesus
changed my life.’” Lang enthuses. “Hopefully, somewhere in the lyrical content, the
Spirit of God moves them. Then, He works on them, and they will be moved to
make a decision for Him—that’s the ultimate goal. So, with that said, I hope that
people are blessed by it somehow, you know? That it’s a blessing to them. That
it’s more than just the listening experience. That they feel somehow touched by
the Spirit of the Lord through the music. I would really like to meet as many
different people on whatever level they’re at—not just have it be for a certain group
of people. Hopefully, all different kinds of people can be touched by it.”
And even though Turn Around’s been a long time coming, it’s been well worth
the wait, and Jonny Lang has managed to navigate the crossroads without any
red lights in sight.
KRISTI HENSON
>>>
Oh Boy!: Switchfoot’s new album, titled Oh! Gravity, set to drop December 26 • Full Nelson: At press
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 11
>>>
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insider
I WANT MYCCM
(.ORG)
Be sure to check out this
month’s exclusive podcasts
at myCCM.org:
October 2—Skillet’s John
Cooper talks about the
band’s new album, Comatose
(Lava/Atlantic/Ardent/S-R-E),
which releases October 3
October 9—Krystal Meyers
discusses her sophomore
release, Dying for a Heart
(Essential), which recently hit
stores (also check out
krystalmeyers.com/ccm)
October 16—Amy Grant talks
about her new CD and DVD,
Time Again…Amy Grant Live
(Word/Curb/WB)
October 23—Jonny Lang on
his new project, Turn Around
(A&M)
October 30—Listen in as
Pillar gives us the scoop on
The Reckoning
(Flicker)
On the Road Again
With the recording of its new release,
Every Time I Breathe (Fervent), BIG
DADDY WEAVE didn’t have time to slow
down or take the scenic route. Weaving
through traffic, this band put the pedal to
the metal and delivered a timely record in
record time!
recording process is something every artist must experience if he or
>> The
she plans to put a CD out in the market. Some will tell about how much
they enjoy it, and some will reveal how they merely endure it. As a rule,
studios strive to make the artist comfortable. After all, when you’re trying
to coax a killer sound from that bass guitar, the player should be relaxed.
Candles, comfy couches and tasty munchies are all studio staples.
However, for Big Daddy Weave, recording its fourth album, Every Time I
Breathe, broke the mold on how most records are manufactured.
The band, which debuted its breakout One and Only in 2002, utilized
every bathroom, hotel room, church choir rehearsal space and, even, bus
bunk to get its latest project to tape after its label home, Fervent Records,
put a deadline on the September 26 release.
“We have never done it like this,” says BDW front man Mike Weaver. “It
was pretty crazy and definitely a challenge,” he says of recording the
band’s pop/rock worship fare while in transit.
>>>
Co-headlining the “In the Name of Jesus
Tour” with Todd Agnew last spring didn’t allow
the guys time to get into an actual recording
studio as they’d done with past records.
Instead, they turned to Big Daddy Weave’s
guitarist, Jeremy Redmon, who also doubles as
the band’s producer.
“Jeremy is the secret weapon in the studio, and
he knows what all the guys in BDW are capable of
giving,” says Weaver. “He’d wait on what he knew
was the best of what we had,” he says.
“
I can really believe in
this [record]. I’ve been
ministered to listening to it.
”
Given the makeshift studio and the
unconventional method of making the record,
Weaver admits he was skeptical for a while about
whether the project would turn out as good as he
had hoped. But, with one listen to the final mix, he
says his fears evaporated. “I can really believe in
this [record],” Weaver says. “I’ve been ministered
to listening to it.” That’s quite a road trip, indeed.
A FUTURE FOR
THE PAST
Sarah Kelly’s critically
acclaimed sophomore
project, Where the Past
Meets Today (Gotee), may
be heard far and wide!
Kelly recently made an
appearance on mainstream
radio’s syndicated show
“Rick Dees’ Top 40
Countdown,” and selections
from the new album will
be airing on Continental
Airline’s in-flight radio
station programming
November 1-December 31.
Get more info at
sarahkelly.com.
LIZZA CONNOR BOWEN
time Hawk Nelson’s “Everything You Ever Wanted” single logged its ninth consecutive week at No. 1 on
12 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
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>> worship/pop
Shust &
Ladders
Since the release of his debut project, Anything Worth
Saying (Brash/Word), newcomer
AARON SHUST
has
been climbing to chart-topping, best-selling heights.
It’s a question all artists ask themselves…or should: Do I have anything to contribute that’s worth
saying or writing or singing—something that hasn’t been said before?
Aaron Shust prayed those elusive words at the outset of writing for his debut, Anything Worth
Saying. A frequent source of writer’s block, he says, is that looming thought: “If I’m going to be a
songwriter and communicator people listen to, I need to have something worth saying.” With two
huge hit songs in “My Savior My God” and “Matchless” along with the best-selling album from a new
artist this year, his question and prayer seem to have found an answer.
So how does he go about writing songs that gain a flying toehold on the radio waves? “I have no
clue, but I am so grateful,” he says. “When you write something that’s special to you, you wish and
hope it’ll be special to other people, too. So, when you hear that radio stations want to play your
song and people want to hear it, it’s gratifying.
“What I hear from a lot of people in common is that
I’ve always been more
the lyrics are down-to-earth—and I can’t comment on
that because I don’t really know what it means. If you
moved by songs that had
said ‘write another down-to-earth lyric,’ I wouldn’t
truth in them and remind me
know what to do.”
Shust says he’s “always been more moved by
of truth and, then, demand a
songs that had truth in them and remind me of truth
response—something in
and, then, demand a response—something in that
that song that brings me to
song that brings me to a place of responding.”
Instead of going the usual Nashville-label route,
a place of responding.
Shust signed on with Altanta-based Brash Records,
whose chief was given his demo by a friend. That
label’s known for rock and R&B acts—Shust is their
first foray into the church market.
“They classify their genre as ‘good music.’ They’d never done the ‘ccm’ thing but were willing to
learn. I like that it’s small, the personality [of the label], and the attention they’ve given since they
only have a couple of artists.” To offset their newness to the Christian market, Shust found
management (with the folks who’ve managed Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith’s entire careers) and
booking “that understood the Christian market. I’ve worked with great people across the board. And,
honestly, no labels in Nashville were interested.”
The ATL approach seems to have worked out just fine, thanks. 90,000 records and a single (“My
Savior”) glued to the Top 3 later, Shust is gearing up for a fall tour with Bebo Norman and new
singer/songwriter Brandon Heath on Norman’s “The Dreaming True Tour” as well as another lovenote to Christian radio, “Give It All Away.”
BEAU BLACK
]
“
”
Radio & Records’ Christian hit radio chart • Say Goodbye:
>>>>>>
>>>
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 13
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
9/8/06
6:57 PM
Page 14
FANFARE
insider
THIS MONTH @ CCMMAGAZINE.COM
5 Questions
with
JOHN COOPER
of SKILLET
SKILLET has sold more than one million albums, enjoyed mainstream
radio hits—as well as several Christian rock radio No. 1s—and has
played to capacity crowds on almost every stop on its busy touring
schedule. Now, with the release of its new offering, Comatose
(Lava/Atlantic/Ardent/S-R-E), the band will be waking Panheads
everywhere from any lethargy they may be experiencing! Needless to
say with an active schedule like Skillet’s, front man and bassist JOHN
COOPER isn’t getting much sleep these days…but he’s not too
comatose to answer the 5 Questions!
1.
What five words best
describe you?
Passionate. Goofy. Hyper.
Eccentric. Sensitive.
2.
What’s your most
embarrassing moment?
For the album Collide, we were
doing this show at RCKTWN in
Nashville. When you do play [in
Nashville], everybody who comes
to see you judges you and critiques
you. During the concert, things
were so bad monitor-wise, soundwise, I had to stop the show. It
was the one show in like 10 years
that I have ever been so humiliated
to be on stage. I told the monitor
guy that it sounded really bad. I
asked him to just unplug my
monitors. It was really humiliating.
There’s not a very good story here
except it’s pretty much the last
time we played in Nashville, and I
think everybody was just wondering
why we stunk so bad.
3.
What’s a song you wish
you had written?
Goo Goo Dolls – “Iris”
4.
What’s one question
you’ve never been asked (and
the answer)?
I’ve never been asked to be in a
movie, and, [yes], I would like to be.
5.
What’s the best spiritual
advice you’ve ever been given?
When my life really changed, there
was a pastor in Memphis, [Tenn.],
that I was getting to know. I played in
a Christian band, and he asked us to
play a lot. We used to come and play
[for his church]. But, in truth, my life
was a wreck. And he sat down with
me once and said, “I know that
you’re passionate for God, and I
know you really want to make a
difference in people’s lives.” And he
said, “The only problem is that you
don’t live like it.” And I had never had
anyone talk to me like that, and the
truth is that I didn’t even know that
was the case. I thought that I was
living for God. And he basically said,
“You know what? You’re a hypocrite.
But, if you want to live for Jesus, I’ll
show you how.” And that moment
became the defining moment of my
life. I made a commitment to meeting
with him twice a week for him to
teach me how to live for Jesus.
ZOEgirlHoliday
calls itTour
quits,
completing
• The
Second
>>> 20-City
>>>
14 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
Here at CCM, we believe in giving you more than you
bargained for! To that end, great things are afoot online
in the CCM world these days. Here’s a bit of what you
can find online in October…
>>Annual CCM Readers’ Choice Awards
Alert! Don’t miss your turn to be heard! Make your voice and your
CHOICE known in the 2007 Readers’ Choice Awards. Your favorites will
be announced in the January 2007 issue of CCM, but you must
complete your ballot NOW! Vote online at CCMmagazine.com by
October 13. Speak now or forever hold your peace!
>>Winners are coming out of the virtual
woodwork at CCMmagazine.com lately! Last month,
we announced the winner of the CCM/Kutless iPod, and, now, we’re
giving away a Peavey Raptor Plus EXP autographed by P.O.D.! So,
without further ado, this one-of-a-kind guitar which also features an
original illustration by the band goes to…MARLA KERBY OF
OTTUMWA, IOWA. Congratulations!
>>This month, not only is Krystal
Meyers Dying for a Heart
(Essential), she’s also dying to
give away some bling! Surf on over
to CCMmagazine.com by October 31 to
enter to win a selection of Krystal’s
“Anticonformity” jewelry (by Bob
Siemon Designs). We’ll even throw
in an autographed limited edition
pre-release of her new record!
How sweet is that?! The winners
(and we have enough for at least 10 of you!) will be
announced in our next issue and online at CCMmagazine.com!
>>October 1 is the official
launch date of the newest
addition to the CCM Magazine
family—myCCM.org, an
online community especially tailored
for you, the Christian music fan. Join
us at myCCM.org this month for
an exclusive feature story on
SKILLET
available ONLINE
ONLY! Log on to myCCM.org today
and set up your free account. You’ll get your own personal page
where you may post your blogs, choose your favorite websites and
have their daily headlines delivered to you in one location (cour tesy
of our myCCM-branded RSS reader), access exclusive podcasts and
web-only feature stories, explore our indie ar tist showcase, connect
with friends and much more. See you online!
its
six-year
this Michael
fall on w.“The
Revolve
Pop’s in
Bubble:
Chance
moviecareer
(starring
smith)
now Tour”
set to• Bursting
hit theaters
>>>
>
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
9/8/06
6:57 PM
Page 15
FANFARE
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
Josh Reedy, bassist and lead
vocalist for DecembeRadio, wed
his girlfriend of two years,
Rachel Throckmorton, on July
22. The wedding took place in
Waynesburg, Penn., where Josh
sang Keith Urban's popular tune "Your Everything"
to his new bride during the ceremony. Fellow
bandmates Brian Bunn, a recent newlywed himself,
and Eric Miker served as groomsmen.
MIXING IT UP
Falling Up recently released a
THE BABY CARRIAGE
Pillar bassist Kalel and his wife,
Stacie, celebrated the birth of
their second child on July 18.
Kyler Scott Wittig came into the
world weighing over 9 lbs. His
older sibling, Kaden, loves being
a big brother, and the family is doing well. Meanwhile,
along with diaper duty, Kalel is busy promoting Pillar’s
newest addition, The Reckoning (Flicker), which hits
shelves October 3.
remix album, Exit Lights
(BEC), which, in a twist on
the remix idea, takes
selections from the band’s
two highly acclaimed albums
Crashings and Dawn Escapes
and morphs the sound from
intense, urgent rock to
electronic, vibe-focused
renditions of the original
cuts. According to vocalist
Jessy Ribordy, “It is
Avalon’s Melissa Greene and
husband, Ben, are proud firsttime parents. Melissa gave birth
to Cole Hutchinson Greene
(Hutch) on Sunday, July 30.
Little Hutch weighed in at 6 lbs.,
2 oz. and 19 1/2 inches. Fellow Avalon members
Greg and Janna Long are expecting their second
bundle of joy soon, and, in between taking care of
their kids, the Avalon members are preparing for
the release of their hymns project, Faith: A Hymns
Collection (Sparrow), slated to release October 17.
Chrissy Conway (ZOEgirl) and
her husband James Katina (The
Katinas) welcomed a daughter,
Haylee Raine, on August 7. At 7
lbs., 15 oz. and 21 1/2 inches
long, Haylee was born with a full
head of black hair. The Katinas are currently on
tour, in addition to performing at select Promise
Keepers events across the country. Meanwhile,
Chrissy is back on her feet singing with ZOEgirl,
which makes its final live appearances on “The
Revolve Tour” through December.
7k Records artist and former
Mayfair Laundry vocalist Kim
Dexter and husband, Paul (also
from Mayfair Laundry), welcomed
Maggie Dexter into the world on
May 24 in Los Angeles. Maggie
weighed 6 lbs., 8 oz. and was 18 inches long. Kim’s
solo debut, So This Is It, is in stores now.
something totally different
from our releases and our
live show, which is more
rock-based. Our goal was to
expand on our style and
show a different side—
something more electronic
with a stronger slant to
programming and digital vibe,
a different picture on songs
we really love. We wanted to
give the fans a chance to
hear some of our favorite
songs from the past two
releases in a more party,
upbeat fashion.” Hear more
at fallinguponline.com.
IBB Records ar tist Jerimae
Yoder and his wife, Karen,
welcomed Maeci Leigh Yoder
into their family on July 12.
Maeci was born at Clarian North
Hospital in Indianapolis, weighing
8 lbs. and measuring 21 inches. Maeci joins
brothers Kaleb (4) and Zarek (3) in the Yoder
household. Jerimae’s debut, Vertical, arrived just
behind this little bundle in August.
LINDSAY WILLIAMS
>> >>>Rock
band Kutless had two songs—”Strong Tower” and “All Who are
>>>
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 15
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
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6:57 PM
Page 16
insider
OCTOBER
1
“Don’t Conform Tour”—Kokomo, Ind.
BarlowGirl is set to headline its first tour, hitting 30 cities across the country
with tour mates Matthew West and Downhere. The girls will be singing hits from
their smash self-titled debut and their most recent sophomore release, Another Journal
Entry (Fervent). “We are very excited about the ‘Don’t Conform Tour,’” says BarlowGirl,
“and are thrilled to be sharing the stage with our good friends Matthew West and
Downhere. This tour is about worshipping our Lord and working together to send His
message out into our own neighborhoods and the world.”
8
Audio Adrenaline—New York, N.Y.
Audio A is saying goodbye in style. On tour this fall with MercyMe, the guys
will take on Times Square, making their very last New York appearance at the
famed Nokia Theater. A “Total Axxess” (as heard Monday-Saturday nights on
WAY-FM) radio contest winner will join the band both in Manhattan for the
landmark performance as well as on-air atop the Empire State Building as
the guys announce an upcoming contest to win a trip to Haiti in
conjunction with the band’s Hands and Feet Project.
13-14
Girls of Grace—Knoxville, Tenn.
Hosted by Point of Grace, this two-day event, held exclusively for girls
ages 13-18, gives girls a chance to learn about issues facing them today including
relationships, fashion, self-esteem and spiritual growth. And, this fall, Girls of Grace will
host the first ever CCM “IT” Girl competition, where five lucky contestants will perform on
stage at the event with the winner to be selected by attendees. Prizes include concert tickets, a meet &
greet with POG and a subscription to CCM. Enter today at CCMmagazine.com or girlsofgrace.com.
25
22
Youthquake 2006—Cullman, Ala.
Leeland—Jackson, Miss.
Indie rock band Candlefuse (whose debut, Never Go
Unheard, releases October 17) is performing at
Youthquake 2006, an annual Christian music festival held
at the Cullman Fairgrounds with over 3,000 fans in
attendance. The event will also feature Kutless, Disciple
and speaker Scott Dawson.
New pop/rock band Leeland released its debut
album, Sound of Melodies (Essential), back in
August; and, even before the album hit shelves,
Leeland Mooring & Co. were keeping the roads
hot, touring their Brit-soaked sound nationwide.
This month finds them opening several shows
for Third Day on the “Wherever You Are Tour,”
including stops not only in Jackson, Miss., but
also in Springfield, Mo., on October 6.
Leeland’s second single, “Yes, You Have,” is
impacting radio now.
“Hearts of the Innocent Tour”—St. Charles, Mo.
30
Birthdays
2—Claude McKnight (Take 6)
3—James Rightmer (Foolish Things)
4—Guy Roberts (SPUR58),
6—Darrell Evans, Steven Tracy (The Myriad)
7—Michael W. Smith
>>>
>>>
In support of its most recent release, Hearts of the Innocent (BEC/Tooth &
Nail), Kutless is taking its message and hope-infused rock to the masses
on a headlining tour this fall. American Suzuki Motor Corporation was
recently named title sponsor for the “Hearts of the Innocent Tour,” making
Kutless the company’s first music partnership. Suzuki is sponsoring
numerous promotional activities in conjunction with the tour, including an
online sweepstakes at kutless.com/tour. Disciple, Run Kid Run and Red
will also join Kutless on the road.
8—CeCe Winans
9—DJ Maj, Tim Skipper (House of Heroes)
13—Diego Cuevas (Motivo), Bryant Davis (Candlefuse)
15—Lesley Moore (Jump5)
16—Jeff Goff (The Turning)
17—Joshua Cromer (Overflow), Josh Gonzales (Salvador)
19—Luis Borrayo (Motivo), Staci Frenes, J.J. Heller
20—Danielle Kimmey (Out of Eden)
21—David Phelps
22—Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Charlie Lowell (Jars of Clay),
Caleb Rowden
23—David Thomas (Take 6)
26—Edwin Santiago (Salvador)
31—Aaron Shust
Thirsty”—Simultaneously charting in the top 30 of R&R’s Christian AC airplay chart at press time • MTV recently
>>>
16 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
9/8/06
6:57 PM
Page 17
independentsday
Welcome to the world of independent artists.
CREATIVITY SQUARED
By: Margaret Becker
Jacob’s Well
I Will See You
With a still unnamed EP set to release this month,
Jacob’s Well has much to celebrate. With almost nine
years together as a band and four albums to its name,
this trio has recorded and traveled with Shane & Shane
and is now releasing its second project with producer
Masaki Liu (Justin McRoberts, Five Iron Frenzy). Hear
more about them at jacobswellmusic.com and purchase
their new and old projects at grassrootsmusic.com.
Jason Holdridge
Pursue Me
Church planter, dynamic teacher and “lover
of words” Jason Holdridge has released a
CD of 10 original worship songs. Although
Holdridge sees himself primarily as a
songwriter, the listening experience of
Pursue Me will usher any seeker into the
presence of God! Visit myspace.com/holdridge, listen to
his music and read his blogs!
Becki Ryan
Living in L.A. and working as a session singer, Becki
Ryan has worked on projects for ar tists from Hilar y
Duf f to Clay Aiken. But what is nearest to this
singer’s hear t is worship. Working with producer
Monroe Jones (Third Day, Chris Rice), Becki has a
five-song EP available that you do not want to miss!
Tune in to her music at purevolume.com/beckiryan;
then email Becki for purchasing details at
[email protected].
Garity
The Emerald City EP
This Nashville, Tenn., duo borrowed a couple of musicians and traveled
to Seattle, Wash., to create its first project, The Emerald City EP. Moody
and innovative production (courtesy of Seattle indie producer Scott
Mortimer) perfectly lends itself to this collection of fresh-sounding
songs written by the band’s two principal members. Check out their
music at myspace.com/garity.
Profiles by KATE McDONALD
To submit an independent album or indie news to CCM’s columnist for consideration, write to her at:
Kate McDonald, Box #8, The UPS Store #2356, 4742 42nd Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116;
or email: [email protected].
>
I stood outside the 10-story building, set my iPod to Cesaria
Evora, closed my eyes and prepared to be “affected.” My hand
reached for the smooth aluminum handle, and the imprint began.
I was going into the new Seattle Public Library for the first time.
I have two life credos when it comes to creativity and
growth. First: Creativity spurs creativity. And second: The best
way to expand your creativity toolbox is to let someone else’s
“affect” you. That’s why I love studying “other” disciplines
like architecture, graphic art, print, etc. And that’s why I was
giving my first walk-through of Rem Koolhaas’ building—his
“art”—the complete attention it deserves.
From the visual journey to the Fourth Avenue entrance to
the delightful ascent via the yellow escalators, I wanted to
“feel” what Koolhaas wanted me to “feel.” Slowly making my
way through all 10 floors, I lingered, letting every sight, every
“reveal,” wash over me.
The building wowed me, calmed me and communicated
with me. I was moved.
I felt the same way when I sat with Josh Chen of Chen
Design Associates last year in San Francisco. Laid out on the
conference table in front of me were award-winning designs,
formed with the entire “user experience” accounted for. As I
handled each piece, Josh explained the “philosophy” behind
the composition. It widened my mind.
To see through someone else’s art, to understand how they
make “connections,” grows my own art in fresh ways. I find
myself assimilating their language into my own, like taking the
emotion of color choice and applying its purpose to the way I
use EQ in a recording. Or considering the interplay of light and
glass at the Seattle Library and finding myself reevaluating how
sounds and silence balance one another in instrumentation.
All different creative languages, yet all making
connections…and, in my case, fresh connections, in new ways.
Creativity is about growth, about finding relationships
between things you hadn’t considered related before. Your
mind will grow—literally and creatively—if you challenge it
with new concepts, innovative ideas and fresh imagery.
That’s why it’s important to stretch. Have a “creativity”
budget, a small amount of money that funds your foray into all
things that have nothing to do with your work, or your music, or
your lyric writing. Get crazy—open yourself up to another
creative language. Read, see, touch, ask questions—become a
student of “expression.” If you’re feeling brave, find the beauty
in the traditionally misrepresented “arts.” Go to the library and
get a book on math philosophy. Figure out how captivating “pir-squared” can truly be. And, if you go to the Seattle library,
wear comfortable shoes—you’ll be there a while.
Check out Margaret’s podcasts online at maggieb.com every
month. Her new book, Coming Up for Air (Navpress) is available
at amazon.com and christianbook.com. And keep an eye out
for Margaret’s new record, AIR, releasing this fall!
featured Superchick songs in several network programs including “The Real World,” “Laguna Beach,” “Cheyenne,”
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 17
>>>
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
9/8/06
6:57 PM
Page 18
hitlists
[
THE TOP-SELLING
CHRISTIAN ALBUMS
ACCORDING TO
NIELSEN SOUNDSCAN
]
[Biggest Gainer]
Believe: Songs of Faith
THIS
WEEK
LAST
WEEK
WEEKS
ON CHT
[TOP CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUMS OVERALL]
ARTIST
1
1
26
ALAN JACKSON
TITLE (Label)
Precious Memories (ACR/Arista Nashville)
2
2
46
FLYLEAF
Flyleaf
3
3
3
SELAH
Bless the Broken Road: The Duets
4
5
10
UNDEROATH
Define the Great Line
5
6
52
CASTING CROWNS
Lifesong
6
138
20
VARIOUS
Believe: Songs of Faith
7
4
3
VICKIE WINANS
Woman to Woman: Songs of Life
8
8
47
KIRK FRANKLIN
Hero
9
12
18
MERCYME
Coming Up to Breathe
10
9
21
VARIOUS
WOW Worship: Aqua
11
11
14
TYE TRIBBETT
Victory Live!
12
14
58
MARY MARY
Mary Mary
13
13
43
THIRD DAY
Wherever You Are
14
23
33
JUANITA BYNUM
Piece of My Passion
15
7
31
GAITHER VOCAL BAND
Give It Away
16
16
62
CHRIS TOMLIN
Arriving
17
19
4
AUDIO ADRENALINE
Adios: The Greatest Hits
18
18
47
VARIOUS
WOW Hits 2006
19
74
44
VARIOUS
Open the Eyes of My Heart
20
20
62
CASTING CROWNS
Casting Crowns
21
17
2
LEELAND
Sound of Melodies
(Essential)
22
24
31
VARIOUS
WOW Gospel 2006
(Verity)
23
22
25
AARON SHUST
Anything Worth Saying
24
43
62
NATALIE GRANT
Awaken
25
28
62
MERCYME
Almost There
26
27
62
VARIOUS
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack (PHWY)
27
15
3
JONAS BROTHERS
It’s About Time
28
26
23
MARK HARRIS
The Line Between the Two (INO)
29
21
3
LECRAE
After the Music Stops
30
29
23
KUTLESS
Hearts of the Innocent
31
30
9
KIERRA “KIKI” SHEARD
This Is Me
32
31
21
HAWK NELSON
Smile, It’s the End of the World
33
38
17
BRIAN LITTRELL
Welcome Home
(Reunion)
34
36
62
ELVIS PRESLEY
Ultimate Gospel
(BSMG)
35
40
52
YOLANDA ADAMS
Day by Day
36
35
22
BISHOP G. E. PATTERSON
Old Time Ways, Volume 2
37
37
21
UNITED
United We Stand
38
32
62
KUTLESS
Strong Tower
39
44
62
JEREMY CAMP
Restored
40
41
21
PASSION WORSHIP BAND
Passion: Everything Glorious
(Octone/S-R-E)
(Curb)
(Tooth & Nail)
(Beach Street)
(Word)
(Verity)
(Gospocentric)
(INO)
(Provident)
(Sony Urban/Columbia/Integrity)
(Columbia/Integrity)
(Essential)
(Flow)
(Spring House)
(sixsteps)
(Forefront/EMI)
(Sparrow)
(INO)
(Beach Street)
(Word)
[Believe: Songs of Faith, which features popular
recordings by Casting Crowns, Third Day, Carrie
Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans and Brad
Paisley, among others, jumps from No. 138 all the
way to No. 6 on this month’s sales chart.]
(Brash/Word)
(Curb)
(INO)
(Columbia/Daylight/INO)
(Cross Movement)
(BEC)
(EMI Gospel)
(Tooth & Nail)
(ATLG)
(POD)
(Integrity)
(BEC)
(BEC)
(sixsteps)
*Each chart reflects Christian and general market combined album sales for the week ending August 27, 2006. All
charts © 2006 by Nielsen SoundScan (a division of VNU Marketing Information) and Christian Music Trade
Association. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.
>>HitLists cont. on Page 20
President’s
and “Making
Counciltheon Band”
Service
• Martha
and Civic
Munizzi
Participation
and Israel •Houghton
Gotee Records
tapped
>>> “Next”
18 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
unveils
as winners
two for
digital
OasisEPs
Awards
with >>>
>>>
CCM_10.06_Insider.v4
9/8/06
6:57 PM
Page 20
hitlists
>>cont. from Page 18
WEEKS
ON CHT
WEEKS
ON CHT
ARTIST
1
46
FLYLEAF
2
10
UNDEROATH
3
43
4
4
5
6
[TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS]
THIS
WEEK
THIS
WEEK
[TOP ROCK/ALTERNATIVE ALBUMS]
1
3
Define the Great Line (Tooth & Nail)
2
62
TOBYMAC
Welcome to Diverse City
THIRD DAY
Wherever You Are
3
51
CECE WINANS
Purified
AUDIO ADRENALINE
Adios: The Greatest Hits
4
6
21:03
Twenty One O Three
(Verity)
2
LEELAND
Sound of Melodies
5
2
VARIOUS
Hip Hope Hits 2007
(Gotee)
23
KUTLESS
Hearts of the Innocent
6
2
THE CROSS MOVEMENT
Chronicles Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
7
21
HAWK NELSON
Smile, It’s the End of the World
7
17
KJ-52
KJ-52 Remixed
8
78
KUTLESS
Strong Tower
8
22
GRITS
7
9
5
STELLAR KART
We Can’t Stand Sitting Down
10
48
BARLOWGIRL
Another Journal Entry
11
50
SWITCHFOOT
Nothing Is Sound
12
95
RELIENT K
MMHMM
13
12
RED
End of Silence
14
21
SANCTUS REAL
Face of Love
15
75
JARS OF CLAY
Redemption Songs
16
115 UNDEROATH
17
21
18
14
19
29
20
183 SWITCHFOOT
TITLE (Label)
Flyleaf
(Octone/S-R-E)
(Essential)
(Forefront)
(Essential)
(BEC)
(Tooth & Nail)
(BEC)
LECRAE
TITLE (Label)
After the Music Stops
(Cross Movement)
(Forefront)
(Pure Springs Gospel/INO)
(Cross Movement)
(BEC)
(Gotee)
9
62
KJ-52
Behind the Musik
(Fervent)
10
47
T-BONE
Bone-A-Fide
(Sparrow/Columbia)
11
54
LECRAE
Real Talk
12
21
PETTIDEE
Thug Love
13
49
DA T.R.U.T.H.
The Faith
14
62
RUBEN STUDDARD
I Need an Angel
TIE
46
GEORGE HUFF
Miracles
They’re Only Chasing Safety (Tooth & Nail)
TIE
62
KJ-52
It’s Pronounced Five Two
VARIOUS
X2006
(BEC)
17
4
DJ MORPHIZIZ
Best of Submissions, Vol. 3
CLASSIC CRIME
Albatross (Tooth & Nail)
18
31
LISA MCCLENDON
Live at the House of Blues (Integrity)
P.O.D.
Testify
19
62
DEITRICK HADDON
Lost and Found
20
54
CANTON JONES
Love Jones
(Word)
(Gotee/Capitol)
(Essential)
(Sparrow)
(Essential)
(Atlantic)
(Sparrow/Columbia)
SELAH
Bless the Broken Road: The Duets (Curb)
2
53
CASTING CROWNS
Lifesong
3
18
MERCYME
Coming Up to Breathe
(Cross Movement)
(PRLG)
(Word)
(BEC)
(Beatmart)
(Verity)
(EMI Gospel)
(Beach Street)
(INO)
1
21
2
101
CHRIS TOMLIN
Arriving
3
44
VARIOUS
Open the Eyes of My Heart
4
31
AARON SHUST
Anything Worth Saying
5
21
UNITED
United We Stand
6
21
PASSION WORSHIP BAND Passion: Everything Glorious
7
10
VARIOUS
Worship: The Ultimate Collection (Sparrow)
8
48
DAVID CROWDER BAND
A Collision
(sixsteps)
(sixsteps)
ARTIST
VARIOUS
TITLE (Label)
WOW Worship: Aqua
(Provident)
(sixsteps)
(INO)
4
47
5
152 CASTING CROWNS
Casting Crowns
6
75
NATALIE GRANT
Awaken
7
79
MERCYME
Almost There
8
3
JONAS BROTHERS
It’s About Time
9
24
MARK HARRIS
The Line Between the Two (INO)
9
9
DAVID CROWDER BAND
B Collision
10
17
BRIAN LITTRELL
Welcome Home
10
25
VARIOUS
Best Worship Songs Ever!
11
25
JEREMY CAMP
Restored
11
259 MICHAEL W. SMITH
Worship
12
19
MAT KEARNEY
Nothing Left to Lose
12
35
HILLSONG
Ultimate Worship: Best of Hillsong
13
2
LEIGH NASH
Blue on Blue
13
12
VARIOUS
Top 25 Praise Songs 2007 Edition (MARA)
14
16
NICOLE C. MULLEN
Redeemer: The Best of Nicole C. Mullen (Word) 15
14
32
CHRIS TOMLIN
Live from Austin Music Hall
15
73
VARIOUS
WOW #1s
15
44
RANDY TRAVIS
Glory Train: Songs of Worship (Word)
16
54
TODD AGNEW
Reflection of Something
TIE
204 VARIOUS
17
16
JACI VELASQUEZ
On My Knees: The Best of Jaci Velasquez (Word)
TIE
11
18
6
SANDI PATTY
Hymns of Faith...Songs of Inspiration
18
146 RANDY TRAVIS
Worship & Faith (Word)
19
37
MICHAEL W. SMITH
Worship
19
15
STARFIELD
Beauty in the Broken
20
12
HILLSONG
Jesus Is
20
31
VARIOUS
(Beatmart)
WEEKS
ON CHT
WEEKS
ON CHT
TITLE (Label)
3
(Cross Movement)
[TOP PRAISE & WORSHIP ALBUMS]
ARTIST
1
(BEC)
(Flicker)
THIS
WEEK
The Beautiful Letdown
[TOP ADULT CONTEMPORARY/POP ALBUMS]
THIS
WEEK
ARTIST
AVALON
WOW Hits 2006
Stand
(Sparrow)
(Beach Street)
(Curb)
(INO)
(Columbia/Daylight/INO)
(Reunion)
(BEC)
(Inpop/Columbia)
(OneSon)
(Provident)
(Reunion)
(Sparrow)
(S-R-E/Ardent)
(INO)
VARIOUS
(Brash/Word)
(Integrity)
(sixsteps)
(WorshipTogether)
(Reunion)
(Integrity)
(sixsteps)
iWorship: A Total Worship Experience (Integrity)
Very Best of Praise & Worship (Verity)
(Sparrow)
(Integrity)
*Each chart reflects Christian and general market combined album sales for the week ending August 27, 2006. All charts © 2006 by Nielsen SoundScan (a division of VNU Marketing Information)
and Christian Music Trade Association. All rights reserved. No reproduction without permission.
>>>
President’s
in the categories
Council ofon “International
Service and Civic
FemaleParticipation
Artist of the
• Gotee
Year” Records
and “International
unveils two Male
digital
Artist
EPs ofwith
the >>>
>>>
20 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
CCM_10.06_Sightings.v4
9/8/06
6:15 PM
Page 22
sightings
by Chris Well
30 DAYS
OF THIRD DAY
In August, Third Day was
featured on an episode of the
FX documentary series “30
Days.” Created by Super Size
Me director Morgan Spurlock,
the program places people in
an environment “antithetical
to their regular way of life”
for 30 days. In this particular
episode, an atheist lived for a
month with a Christian
family—who took her to a
Third Day concert. The band’s
music and live performance
was featured in the broadcast.
BREAK FREE
>>Decyfer Down has been
getting some pretty impressive exposure in the wide
world of sports with its song
“Break Free,” from the highlyacclaimed S/R/E debut, End of Grey. From the National Basketball
Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) to the National Hockey
League (NHL) and more, “Break Free” has been heard by more than
9,671,200 audience members through on-site and television views.
WHY CHRISTIANS
ROCK
SPIN Magazine writer Andrew Beaujon is racking up the
rave reviews for his new book, Body Piercing Saved My
Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock (Da
Capo). Most notably, Entertainment Weekly gave the book
a grade of “A-” calling it an “in-depth study of this oftenmisunderstood scene” and “a fascinating look at the
genre’s surprising complexity.” Body Piercing features
exclusive interviews with Switchfoot, David Crowder,
Mute Math, mewithoutYou, Steve Taylor, Pedro the Lion’s Dave Bazan,
and Tooth & Nail founder Brandon Ebel, among others.
[ANGEL WARS]
The music of Sanctus Real, Kutless and Hawk
Nelson is just part of the excitement for the third
installment of Angel Wars: Guardian Force, the
imaginative animated DVD series depicting techsavvy angels fighting to protect humanity from evil.
Guardian Force 3: Grace and Glory brings the first
trilogy to a close, setting the stage for future
adventures. DVD features include music videos, an
exclusive sneak peek at the next all-new Angel Wars
adventure, a drawing tutorial hosted by the series
lead concept artist, four interactive discussion
guides, trailers and a link to angelwars.com where
fans can play games, send e-cards and learn more
about the series.
>>>
jeopardy
Answer: The greatest game in magazine
history! Question: What is CCM Jeopardy?
This month, we’ve given the answers to
AARON BLANTON of BY THE TREE. By the
Tree invaded the music scene with its 2001
Dove Award-winning album, Invade My Soul.
Now, five years, three albums and thousands
of road miles later, the group has released its
fifth record, World on Fire (Fervent), which
was produced by Dwayne Larring (formerly of
Sonicflood). So, even though Aaron’s racked
up the numbers in his favor, is he on fire
when it comes to asking the right questions?
CCM’s A: The only reality TV show that I would have a chance to win
Aaron’s Q: What is “Dancing with the Stars”?
SPORTS FANS
WAR IN HEAVEN
ccm
CCM’s A: 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42 (Yes, we know they’re the numbers
from TV’s hit show “Lost,” but what do they mean?)
Aaron’s Q: What is we only watched season one of “Lost”?
CCM’s A: A classic album everyone should own
Aaron’s Q: What is Goldie’s Last Day by PFR?
CCM’s A: Tree house; TV’s hit show “House”; “Rock-a-Bye Baby”
Aaron’s Q: What is we couldn’t even begin to tell you?
CCM’s A: The first event to which I would take a time machine
Aaron’s Q: What is opening day of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure?
CCM’s A: “It’s everywhere you want to be.”
Aaron’s Q: What is the VISA?
CCM’s A: Tom Hanks
Aaron’s Q: Who talks to a volleyball?
CCM’s A: The only other band I’d like to be in
Aaron’s Q: Who is Earth, Wind and Fire?
CCM’s A: If I weren’t an artist, this would be my occupation
Aaron’s Q: What is an artist manager?
CCM’s A: Who or what I wanted to be when I grew up
Aaron’s Q: What is a professional hang glider?
CCM’s A: Why I love CCM Magazine
Aaron’s Q: What is the album review for Hold You High that set up our
No. 1 single?
CCM’s A: The most puzzling verse/story in the Bible
Aaron’s Q: What is Revelation 1:1 through 22:21?
CCM’s A: The Three Musketeers
Aaron’s Q: What is one of the funniest movies of all time?
Keep up with the latest “SIGHTINGS” weekdays at
CCMmagazine.com.
Year” • new live music from Shawn McDonald available at sonyconnect.com; exclusive eight-song acoustic
22 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
CCM_10.06_List.v4
9/8/06
6:18 PM
Page 23
4
12 9 8
17
7 101814 13
19 11 16
15
1 235
OOH, SCARY:
5
SONGS THAT
CAST OUT FEAR
From Cliff Richard’s ’70s classic “Devil Woman” (which, if you bothered to listen
to the words, actually says “beware the devil woman”) to Carman’s “Satan, Bite the
Dust” (which, if you bothered to listen to the words, actually says—oh, wait, I
guess the title says it all), there have been many Christian pop songs describing
the spiritual life in scary terms. After all, Christians do not wrestle with flesh and
blood but with principalities and powers and—well, read it for yourself in Ephesians
6:12. Meanwhile, here is this list…
1
20
*
arched” musings
A compendium of arguably useless and “rese
6
-Rama
-O
st
Li
M
C
C
ED
SK
A
M
N
U
l’s
el
W
Chris
WE’D BUY IT
Seventh Day Slumber
Sleeping Bags®
[2] Mylon LeFevre
Thermometers®
[1]
[3]
Stellar Go-Karts®
Jars of Clay, “Good Monsters” As you have probably heard by now, the
latest album from Jars of Clay has been proclaimed as the band’s most
human, most faithful and most complex statement yet. The title track, “Good
Monsters,” struggles with the trappings of the flesh in a fractured world—
and our hopelessness when we fail to discover who we are in Christ.
2
VeggieTales, “God Is
Bigger Than the
Boogeyman” Admit it:
You just can’t let go of
your childhood fixation on Bob and
Larr y (the tomato and the
cucumber, respectively). So, every
time you’re trying to go to sleep and you hear the
telltale creaks of the house settling (or was it?), you
sing yourself to sleep with “God Is Bigger Than the
Boogeyman,” from the 1994 classic video Where Is
God When I’m S-scared? (Sadly, one of the few Veggie
classics never re-recorded by a Christian rock artist.
Where is the justice?)
4
5
Servant, “Water Grave” This classic
Christian rock song—a creepy metaphor for
the act of baptism—was originally recorded
by seminal Christian folk-rock group Dogwood (no, not
the group that recorded on Tooth & Nail) and later
recorded by The Imperials (Russ
Taff’s debut with the group, in fact).
Christian rock band Servant also
recorded it for the 1979 debut album
Shallow Water—which has just been
reissued by Retroactive Records.
Relient K, “My Girlfriend” This track can be found on the
band’s 2000 self-titled debut released on Gotee Records. The
controversial lyrics to “My Girlfriend” evoke horror movie images
to describe what the world’s culture can do to an
impressionable mind.
3
Sup the Chemist (w/
special guest Project
86), “Is This a Dream?”
For this track, pioneering
Christian rapper Sup the
Chemist (formerly Super C,
former member of SFC)
teamed up with special guest
hard rockers Project 86.
Found on the rapper’s 2000
album, Dust (BEC), the
resulting combination was a
blistering apocalyptic vision
of the book of Revelation.
RAINY DAY
ACTIVITIES
[1] Clip the faces out of
CCM and glue them onto
Popsicle® sticks.
(Instant action figures!)
[2] Put on your favorite
Christian music CD; use
flashlight to make shadow puppets
on wall. (Instant music video!)
[3] Indoor skeet shooting.
(When the police show up, you
didn’t get the idea from us.)
Chris Well is author of the laughout-loud crime thriller Deliver Us
from Evelyn (Harvest House). In
August, Deliver Us from Evelyn
became the No. 2 Christian thriller
on Amazon and was ranked by
Technorati as the most-talked
about book on the entire Web.
set features new song “Hush” • Emery is giving fans a chance to create their own music video for its song “So
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 23
>>>
CCM_10.06_IndBeat.v4
9/8/06
6:51 PM
Page 24
K
industrybeat
A conversation with
Todd Collins
by Jay Swartzendruber
[will] win the world championship. If you don’t think that way, you’re not
thinking big enough. Fortunately for us at Beatmart, it’s not as easy to define
what makes an artist or a label better than another. Varying degrees of criteria
filter in when evaluating the arts. When we talk of being the premier hip-hop
label, it’s because we believe that much in our artists and in ourselves. We
want the very best, and we want to be the very best. I believe that is what
Christ is calling us all to be. We must live our lives to the fullest. With regards
to Cross Movement Records, Syntax and the other hip-hop labels out there,
we have nothing but pure admiration and respect.
Are there any big winter releases that our readers should know about?
Yes! Look out for Soul P.’s album called The Premiere, in stores December 26.
It’s going to be a big one, and I think that a lot of people are really going to
dig it. Also, Willie Will—our new artist signing—is going to be released in the
winter, but we don’t have a set release date as of yet. We’ve got another
Pettidee record called Resurrections that will be released in March. We’re also
coming with a new Bobby Bishop record called Black & White. We’ll soon
announce all of this on beatmart.com.
Is it true that you recently told your label’s artists and staff that Soul
P.’s new album will be the best thing Beatmart has released so far?
Todd Collins’ Beatmart Rap
When he was in the 10th grade, Todd Collins’ band teacher gave him an
ultimatum and forced him to choose between his two passions—music and
basketball. Todd believed he had more of a future in athletics, so he chose
basketball. His skills on the court later paid for his college education through
a full athletic scholarship to Barry University in Miami, Fla., from which he
graduated with a B.A. in Telecommunication. Collins then moved to Nashville
in 1989 where he first did studio work on the early dcTalk records. Initially
sought out as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Collins developed into a
top-flight producer, helming recordings by tobyMac, GRITS, Superchick,
Audio Adrenaline, KJ-52 and Out of Eden, among others. As his ascent
through the production ranks began, he, tobyMac and Toby’s cousin, Joey
Elwood, launched Gotee Records in 1994. Collins remained a co-owner of the
label until 2001, when he sold his shares to EMI Christian Music Group. Two
years later, he and his brother, Troy, formed the hip-hop label Beatmart
Recordings, which is home to Pettidee, D.J. Morphiziz, Bobby Bishop, Fresh
Digress, Japhia Life, Rob Hodge, Pee Wee Callins and the newly signed Soul P.
How did you get into the music business?
After I graduated from college, I visited a friend who was already a
musician/producer in the Christian music industry. During my vacation visit, I
ended up singing, programming and playing on the record that my good friend
was producing. He convinced me that I could make a living in this industry, so
I went back to Miami, gathered my things and moved to Nashville. I never
really had aspirations of being in professional music. In fact, I never
considered it. I always wanted to be a college basketball coach and was
headed in that direction until I caught the “music bug.”
Your press releases position Beatmart as the Christian
community’s “premier hip-hop label.” What makes Beatmart the
new hip-hop leader?
I think that there is enough of an open door in this industry for someone to
come in and take charge of the leadership role in Christian urban music. With
our relationship with Provident/Sony/BMG being so supportive and strong, we
feel that we can firmly solidify urban music in our market and feel that it is far
too under-served and is still very much on the up swing. And who doesn’t want
to be No. 1? In my mind, hope springs eternal, and we need to set our
mindset to being the best we can be. I’m a sports guy, so I think about all the
teams before a big season and how they all think this is the year that they
>>> Cold
Yes. That’s true. Being a former athlete, I’m very competitive, and I believe it’s
good for the other artists to know I feel that way about Soul P.’s album. As a
producer and label head, each subsequent project should be better than the
last one. Does that happen every time? No, but I saw all of the ingredients in
place to be able to make that happen in our artist Soul P. I would hope that the
record that we do after the Soul P. record would be better than Soul’s record
and so on. And we’ve even discussed that very principle with Soul, and we’ll
continue to do so with every subsequent artist as well. I want to create a feeling
of healthy competition between projects in order to foster creativity and
excellence. I don’t see anything wrong with some healthy competition done in
the right way, mixed with humility.
Why do you think hip-hop isn’t
as pervasive in the Christian
music scene as it is in the
general market?
I believe too many decisions are
being made by gatekeepers in the
Christian retail marketplace that
affect the personal taste of
customers. If a [manager/buyer]
likes rock, the music section is
usually an obvious reflection in that
store or chain. If they like AC music,
it applies the same way. I think the
general market retailers are looking
at what’s selling with no regard for
their tastes personally. They are
looking at the market trends and
trying to stay on top or ahead of the
curve in that regard. Also, the hiphop consumers may be increasingly
losing hope that the urban piece
they’re looking for may be at their
local Christian retailer, so they are
starting to look online or at WalMart first. I think that’s sad, though,
because we want to support our
Christian market partners as much
as possible, and I can say this—the
trend is slowly changing. It seems
that Christian retailers are more
open to the changes now than ever
before. It’s like what hard rock was
in Christian retail about 10 or 12
years ago. Eventually, they realize
that this market is viable and needs
to be served as well.
A Day Behind the
Scenes with Todd
7:30 Wake up and help get the
kids off to school
8:30 Check the morning net news
and email, then off to the gym
10:00 Back home to clean up
and get ready for the
business day
11:00 Answer emails and make
miscellaneous calls
12:30 Usually have some sort of
meeting around lunch…
which I’m not very fond of
1:30 To the studio to write, be
creative or record with
an artist
6:00 Pick up my twin girls from
swim practice (They’re on
an all-year swim team that
practices six days a
week...crazy!)
6:30 Eat dinner with the family
or sometimes a business
meeting
8:00 Wrap up anything that I may
need to do in the studio or
through email
9:00 Watch a bit of TV to wind
down (i.e., sports or some
drama like “CSI” or “24”)
10:30 Go to bed!
I Could See My Breath”; two lucky winners will receive plasma TVs; visit toothandnail.com by Nov. 15 to enter •
24 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
CCM_10.06_WritersBlock.v4
9/8/06
6:21 PM
Page 25
thewriter’sblock
by Matthew West
SPEAK THE LANGUAGE
don’t speak French. I’m not a master of linguistics. I’m not even bilingual. (Unless you count Pig Latin
as a legitimate language. Ooh-Day Aye-They?) Nope. English is the one and only language in which I am
well-versed. And, most days, that doesn’t pose much of a problem for me. But, last year, it became one.
My wife and I vacationed in Paris for five days, and, for five days, I felt like an American fish out of
water. I couldn’t tell the cab driver where I needed to go without pointing and drawing pictures. I couldn’t
ask the security guard at the museum for directions to the Mona Lisa without being on the verge of tears.
And, worst of all, are you ready for this? I couldn’t order food at any of the restaurants. The menus were
printed in French. Nooooo! It was my worst nightmare, my greatest fear, not being able to order food…
As it turned out, the only thing I could order with 100 percent certainty of knowing what would arrive on
my plate was a croissant. And, if I ever eat another croissant again, it’ll be too soon.
The point is, we didn’t speak the language. So we had difficulty communicating with the Frenchspeaking people we came in contact with. We were just a couple of frustrated foreigners in a country full
of croissants.
A few days into our European vacation, we decided to try and pick up a few words in French. You know,
when in Paris… We made an effort to speak the language. I learned how to order a Croque Monsieur from
the menu at the restaurant, which I think means “Glorified Ham and Cheese.” Nevertheless, it was a
much-needed break from the pastries, as I was starting to take the same shape as a croissant. But I
began to notice that, as we made an effort to speak the language, it became easier to communicate with
the locals. The cab driver dropped us off at the right destinations. The concierge at the hotel was more
accommodating. The waitress at the restaurant was more willing to recommend her favorite dish. Instead
of going through our entire vacation speaking only our language and hoping someone understood, we
were attempting to speak the language of the people around us. And that made the difference.
I
A songwriter faces much the same challenge.
When writing a song, it is important for a writer to
speak the language of the listener. Knowing whom
you are speaking to is essential to effectively
communicating a message that a listener can
understand and respond to. The best songwriters
can find inspiration in something deeply personal
and turn it into a song that connects universally.
The song should never exclude the listener but,
rather, engage and encourage the listener to relate
in his or her own personal way. Otherwise, you’ll be
like me in Paris, frustrated and full of croissants.
Jesus always knew who He was speaking to and
often used parables to speak the language. In
Matthew 13, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Why do
you speak to the people in parables?” He
responded by saying, “This is why I speak to them
in parables: Though seeing they do not see;
though hearing they do not hear or
understand…Otherwise they might see with their
eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their
hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” Jesus
had a mission to reach a world in need, and He
knew the only way to connect with those who
didn’t understand was to meet them where they
were. He spoke the language.
As Christians, we are called to write the song of
our lives every day in a way that will clearly speak
the message of God’s love and the change He has
SONGWRITING TIP #846:
THE BEST SONGWRITERS
FIND INSPIRATION IN
SOMETHING DEEPLY
PERSONAL AND TURN IT
INTO A SONG THAT
CONNECTS UNIVERSALLY.
made in our lives. But have you ever tried to sing
your song of hope to the world only to wind up
feeling like an American in Paris? If you ask, God
will give you the words to write your song every
day. And, when you sing the song that He speaks
through you, you’ll be amazed to see the greatest
message of all transcend the language barrier of
sin and touch a heart that needs to hear.
Universal South singer/songwriter Matthew West has written songs recorded by Natalie Grant, Joy Williams, Point of Grace, Salvador and Rascal Flatts,
among others. His latest album, History, released in 2005 and features the hit singles, “Next Thing You Know,” “Only Grace” and the title track. For more
information, visit matthewwest.com.
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 25
CCM_10.06_O2W.v4
9/8/06
6:22 PM
Page 26
paulcolman’s onestowatch
BRANDON HEATH is a pop artist who was born and raised in Music City—
Nashville, Tenn. He is an exceptional songwriter whose compositions have been
recorded by Bebo Norman and Joy Williams, among others. And, now, Brandon is
the artist singing his own songs on his new album, Don’t Get Comfortable
(Reunion). Produced by Dan Muckala (Backstreet Boys, The Afters), the CD released
last month. Check out brandonheath.net and myspace.com/brandonheath.
PAUL: Name three songwriters that you’d love to co-write with.
BRANDON: Martin Sexton, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley.
PAUL: Tell us a bit about how “Our God Reigns” was written. It’s an amazing song.
BRANDON: Thanks! I was singing the chorus of “Our God Reigns” in my head
on a plane ride home. I was struggling with a little anxiety considering all the
things going on in the world. I decided that I would put my hope and faith in
God, who is sovereign over all the earth, rather than anyone on earth. When
I landed in Nashville, I finished the song and led it at church a few weeks
later. We’ve been singing it ever since.
Nevertheless
WORDS TO THE WISE
NEVERTHELESS is a band from Chattanooga, Tenn., comprised of lead vocalist/
guitarist Josh Pearson, lead guitarist/vocalist A.J. Cheek, guitarist/vocalist
Brad Jones, bassist Adam Wann and drummer Adam Rowe. Among its growing
fan base is genius songwriter and front man for Relient K, Matt Thiessen, who
says that Nevertheless is simply “amazing.” Nevertheless’ debut album, Live
Like We’re Alive (Flicker/Sony), delivers passionate, well-written songs
armed with the band’s No. 1 thematic weapon: hope! An indie pop/rock band
in the musical vein of Jimmy Eat World and Cartel, Nevertheless has something profound to say. Check out neverthelessmusic.com and myspace.com/
neverthelessband for more info.
PAUL: Did your parents give you grief about checking out of college to pursue
your music?
JOSH: Our parents were, and are, very supportive of what we do. Personally,
I know that my parents noticed that, even when I was in college, I was more
interested in music and writing songs than studying. I know that all of our
parents could see how serious we were about doing this.
PAUL: Do you guys get stylistically compared to anyone?
JOSH: We have been compared to bands such as Jimmy Eat World or Mae in
the past. I guess we are influenced by the music that we love.
PAUL: What do you think are the most common things that break up bands?
How do you plan to avoid these?
JOSH: I think that a lot of bands break up because of selfishness. Being with
four other people at all times can become pretty taxing on a person. The key,
and what we, at least, attempt to do, is communicate with each other and
compromise to do what is best for the group.
PAUL: What’s your current favorite Nevertheless song to play live?
JOSH: All of us are currently really enjoying playing “Lover.” It is a slow song,
but we always get comments after the show about it. It is just very meaningful to all of us.
PAUL: How did the band’s name come about?
JOSH: We got the name from Luke, chapter 5 in the Bible. The disciples were
fishing and having no luck. Jesus told them to cast the nets on the other side
of the boat. Peter said that they had been fishing all night and hadn’t caught
anything, but, “Nevertheless, at Your word we will let down our nets.”
26 ccm october 06 ccmmagazine.com
PAUL: For those out there who are yet to be introduced to your music, how
would you describe it?
BRANDON: David Gray walks down to a white sandy beach. He’s meeting his
friends Moby, Joni Mitchell, Seal, Chris Tomlin, Garth Brooks and Imogen
Heap for a little campfire get-together. David brings his guitar, and they all
start singing. That’s me!
PAUL: What’s your favorite place to perform?
BRANDON: That’s a tough one! The club room at the Malibu Club in Canada.
PAUL: I know you love to write with a close circle of friends. Who are
these people?
BRANDON: Chad Cates, Matt Wertz, Steve Hindalong, Jason Ingram, Ben
Glover, Dan Muckala…the list goes on.
PAUL: What’s the song that people most connect with that you’ve written
and why?
BRANDON: There’s a song called “I’m Not Who I Was.” It’s the one people
want to talk about after a show. It’s about forgiveness. I think people relate
so well to it because everybody needs forgiveness. Some people just need
permission to forgive themselves.
Brandon Heath
THOUGHTFUL POP
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Band Wagon
BY KRISTI HENSON
Go ahead! Jump on the “Band Wagon”—a column in which we follow the evolving careers of three promising new artists. This month,
we check in once more with AYIESHA WOODS.
Red Umbrella
THUNDER STORM
WARNING
RED UMBRELLA—featuring lead singer/guitarist Jeremy Michaelis, keyboardist/guitarist Dennis Michaelis, drummer Jason Rosewell and bassist
Kevin Swartwood—is from the small town of Parry Sound in Ontario, Canada.
Simply put, they are one of the best young bands I have ever seen. They are
creative, funny and very talented and have the undercurrent of God’s love permeating through their music. Red Umbrella’s new record, Wishing For
Boardwalk (7Spin), is a wonderful collection of songs and sounds. If my
gushing is not enough to make you check out this band, just imagine The
Beatles, Coldplay and The Killers infused with added originality and class, and
you have Red Umbrella. Actually, scrub that. They are their own thing completely.
Be sure to check out out redumbrella.net and myspace.com/redumbrella.
PAUL: Did you know that I am a Red Umbrella fan?
JEREMY: Yes! The autographed T[-shirt] is in the mail.
PAUL: How do you guys write your songs? Explain the process.
JEREMY: Musically, the album was mostly written live in our underground lair.
We love playing together and working parts out on the fly. Sometimes it’s more
fun to do it that way than to sit around and debate the benefits of one chord
over another. Once we have some pieces that we all like, we pull the structure
together and record it live. We often listen back to pieces and see how they
come across through the studio monitors; sometimes they change in tones
and colors from the live sound to recorded medium, which can be good.
PAUL: Is there any dominant theme that has emerged on your new album
Wishing for Boardwalk?
JEREMY: The idea of wishing. I think that’s why we went with the title.
Boardwalk symbolizes the best things that people long for; but to find these
things and possess them is not to find objective fulfillment. It is a sham.
Without God, things become meaningless and vain. C.S. Lewis said that, if
we do indeed have longings that cannot be filled with the natural, then the
most logical thought is to look for fulfillment in supernatural things.
PAUL: I think you guys would go over really well in Europe. Have you got any
plans? Want me to make some calls? (laughs)
JEREMY: You certainly are welcome to make calls. Kevin, our bass player, is
quite a fan of playing in Europe. I think we all would love to go at some point.
Let’s work something out!
They (whoever they are) say there’s a first
time for everything, and this year has been
a veritable plethora of firsts for Ayiesha
Woods. There’s her first major label album,
Introducing Ayiesha Woods (Gotee), her first
American radio hit, “Happy,” and her first
niece. Wait…niece? Yes. Ayiesha’s sister
and brother-in-law recently welcomed Zoe
Hannah into the world. “Of course, ‘Zoe’
means ‘the light’…same meaning as
‘Ayiesha,’” the songstress proudly reports.
So, for all practical purposes, this bundle of
joy—the first grandchild for Ayiesha’s
immediate family—is named after her aunt
Ayiesha. “And her birthday is in the same
month as mine, so I already know she’s going to be sweet!” the singer laughs.
If Zoe has inherited any of her aunt’s musical gifts, she’ll be one lucky girl!
Ayiesha’s warm, rich timbre and deliberate-yet-uncontrived delivery of the
vocals on her pop-infused, hook-laden debut single, “Happy,” have culminated in a wow-inspiring song. Make that WOW-inspiring. In another first for
Ayiesha, “Happy” was selected for inclusion on WOW Hits 2007 (EMI). “When
they told me that, I was like, ‘No way!’” she enthuses. “I’m very excited
about that. They picked a great song to go on that.” And, if her debut is any
indication, there are sure to be more WOW hits for Ayiesha in the future.
Then, there’s the first time she’s returned home to Bermuda for a show
since the release of Introducing Ayiesha Woods. How did it go? “It was very
nice…It was a little interesting because we were thinking of doing one of the
years ago], but we were going to do the new version of it [from the new major
label album]. We were doing a sound check, and they were saying, ‘Please,
please…the old one!’” she confesses, smilingly. “But, with the new songs, they
are so very supportive and so open! So we had a really great time. We ended
up mixing up the show a bit—we did some old songs and some new songs.”
And she doesn’t mind catering to her hometown audience. After all,
they’ve been behind this thing from the start! “When I first recorded a little
EP—it might have been in ’99—I had a youth conference to minister at, and
I took [the EPs] when I ministered…I sang throughout the conference, and I
sold all of those CDs! It was kind of funny because, financially speaking, that
was a huge part of the way for me to go ahead and record my [full] independent record. [The people in Bermuda] have so much to do with where God has
brought me from. They made initial investments, whether or not they even
realized it, for me to be where I am now—from spiritually speaking to financially speaking,” she humbly recalls. “I shared that with them just briefly at
the concert, and they were so excited. I was just like, ‘If it weren’t for you all
just sowing the seeds, and the prayers and the gifts, and all that you’ve
done, I wouldn’t be able to be here right now.’”
From her first supporters cheering her on to the crowds of people now
enjoying her music for the first time, the firsts continue for Ayiesha Woods!
Find out more about Ayiesha at ayieshawoods.com.
Singer/songwriter/author Paul Colman, the former front man of GRAMMY® nominated and Dove Award-winning act Paul Colman Trio, is also the
newsboys’ guitarist. The newsboys’ new album, Go (Inpop), releases October 31. The latest single from his current solo album, Let It Go
(Inpop), is “Holding Onto You.” Colman currently tours, speaks and performs internationally. For more information, visit paulcolman.com.
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livingthemessage
by Phil Joel
“
Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in
heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your
will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day
our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have
forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen.’
—Matthew 6:9-13 (New American Standard)
”
The Deliberate Heart
CCM is pleased to introduce the new format for our “Living the
Message” devotionals. Beginning this month, Christian artists take
turns revealing their encounters with God’s Word as they invite you
to contemplate scripture with them. NEWSBOYS band member PHIL
JOEL gets us started with this fitting introduction to the way Bible
study should be prayerfully approached.
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray
to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in
secret will reward you. 7 And when you are praying, do not use meaningless
repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their
many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need
before you ask Him. 9 Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come,
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily
bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
14 For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not
forgive your transgressions.” —Matthew 6:6-15 (NAS)
Many Christians have found the Bible challenging to read at one point in their
lives or another. And I have been no exception. I saw the Bible as a necessary
tool and reading it a “duty”—something I was supposed to do. Although
reading it brought frustration and even boredom, not reading it brought guilt.
Every once in a while, I’d get that “New Year’s Resolution” feeling, and I’d vow
(for the 80th time) to read the Bible more diligently. I would open it completely
at random and hope that the Spirit would miraculously guide me to the perfect
verse that would speak to my specific situation. Usually, I’d find myself falling
asleep, looking at the same paragraph over and over having no idea what I
was reading, or I’d simply get frustrated because I had no context for the
particular chunk of scripture I had stumbled upon.
28 ccm october 06 ccmmagazine.com
Can anyone identify with me? OK, well then, you’ll know that it’s actually a
very uncomfortable way of living. Caught between confusion and guilt, all
because of the “Good Book”?
This was a description of me until five years ago when the Lord radically
changed my thinking. Late one night in November, a massive spiritual challenge
came knocking at our door, and my wife, Heather, and I found ourselves
completely unequipped to handle it. The situation required us to know the truth,
speak the truth and pray in power and authority, but we didn’t know how. And
we were left shocked and disappointed in ourselves. It forced us to take stock
of our spiritual status, and we realized that, if we were to be completely honest
with ourselves, we would conclude that we didn’t know God or His Word, at least
not the way we needed to and not the way He wanted us to.
Heather and I had been Christians from a very young age, but it hit us that night
that our faith wasn’t based on the presence and reality of Jesus in our everyday
lives. Instead, it was centered on the things that should feed, but not replace, a
personal relationship with the Lord—Sunday sermons, teaching tapes and
Christian music and books. And, as for prayer, we knew how to ask for things, but
the communication was very one-sided. There was a lot that needed to change.
The next morning, we made our way to our pastor’s office desperate for
some answers. We asked him some pretty basic questions that day—a
“
God isn’t interested in you simply
reading the Bible to gain knowledge;
doing that will just puff you up with
pride. He wants you to read it with
Him alongside.
”
bit embarrassing really for a guy whose profession it is to proclaim the
gospel from stage—but, at that point, I really didn’t care. I knew I had to
humble myself.
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Amy Grant and
the call to service
getreal
by Gregory Rumburg
He handed us a one-year Bible reading schedule
and a prayer guide based on the Lord’s Prayer
[contemplate Matthew 6:6-15].
He said, “God isn’t interested in you simply
reading the Bible to gain knowledge; doing that will
just puff you up with pride. He wants you to read it
with Him alongside. He wants to meet with you and
speak to you through the Bible and love on you and
show you things that you’d never know on your
own. When we approach this time with an
expectancy that Jesus is in the room and wants to
communicate, it changes the dynamic entirely. It’s
now a divine meeting as opposed to a dry,
religious activity.”
So the plan was this: we would deliberately begin
each day meeting with the Lord, spending time in the
Word and time in prayer. Heather and I called that
first year our “Boot Camp” year. We cleared away
everything and set about to focus on our daily times
with the Lord. This was particularly challenging
because we had a 1-year-old who awakened around
7 a.m. But we knew God’s heart was for us to meet
with Him and get to know Him better, so we were
confident that, even though it would be challenging
at times, He would give us the strength to get out of
bed and start our days with Him.
Before we knew it, a month had gone by and
things were beginning to happen. We were hearing
God with a clarity and certainty we’d not known
before. And we also found ourselves change in
ways we never thought we would. The days and
steps of early 2001 were amazing. The more we
fed on God’s presence and His Word, the more we
wanted. It was addicting. We realized we were
beginning to experience the renewal of the mind
and were walking in a depth of peace that we’d
never known before.
That was five years ago, and so much has
happened since then. Little did we know that the
simple decision we made to commit to seeking
God on a daily basis would bring about such
profound change in our lives.
Recently, we’ve felt the Lord encourage us to
share what happened to us and, moreover, share
the Lord’s heart and desire for intimacy that can
only be experienced as we become focused and
deliberate in our pursuit of Him. We have begun a
ministry called deliberatePeople. Our desire is to
be able to serve others with resources such as
reading plans, prayer guides, podcasts and music
that will help keep the focus on the “main
focus”—and that, my friends, is Jesus, the lover
of our souls!
Phil Joel is both the bassist for the newsboys and a solo
recording artist. For more information on deliberatePeople,
the ministry he founded with his wife, Heather, visit
deliberatePeople.com.
[Enjoy the High Life]
It’s early morning, and AMY GRANT has already
tackled a handful of interviews pitching her latest
CD/DVD project, Time Again…Amy Grant Live
(Word/Curb/WB). She catches an energizing
second wind when her final interview today lends
her the chance to promote not her work but,
instead, the good will of others.
“A program that’s dear to my family right now
is called Challenge Aspen,” the singer/songwriter
says. Based in Snowmass Village in Aspen, Colo.,
the nonprofit organization “provides recreational
and cultural experiences for individuals who have
mental or physical ‘disabilities,’” according to its
website. “Vince [Gill, Grant’s husband] and I just
got back from doing a golf tournament and
fundraiser,” she says on this August day. Two of
Grant’s children, Matt and Millie, have also
invested rewarding time with the program.
“I feel like I’m going on and on about this,”
Grant says, catching her breath after some
enthusiastic stor ytelling, “but, when you find
something that helps people enjoy some
entertainment, some family time, it’s just amazing.
“You want a great quality of life?” continues
Christian music’s most successful career ar tist.
“You want to feel the high highs and the low
lows? Give yourself away. Invest in other people.”
During her career, Grant’s endorsed
Compassion International’s outreach and
development programs, made numerous charity
appearances, helped to revive Nashville’s
Symphony with her popular Christmas tours and
worked as a driving force behind her recent dogooder TV show, “Three Wishes.”
That’s where she met a kindred spirit in former
NASA space shuttle astronaut Dr. Kathr yn
Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in
space. “We were talking about helping people,
and Kathy said, ‘Amy, the capacity of a
community to dream and reach for new heights is
directly propor tional to their ability to care for
those with [the] greatest need,’” Grant says. In
other words, on one side of the pendulum’s swing
is dreaming and reaching for new heights. The
other side of the swing is the ability to care for
people with needs. In the middle is thinking only
of ourselves—and the place where a pendulum
lacks motion.
Ironically, Grant obser ves that what sometimes
sparks our acts of kindness is selfishness.
“Who doesn’t want a great quality of life?
Whether we are Christian or spiritual or
whatever, we’re all still human, and ever ybody
wants ‘it,’ all of it,” Grant says. “But you know
what? It’s not going to come because you’ve got
a bigger flat-screen TV or you keep moving on up
to the better neighborhood or because you
finally lose that 30 pounds.
“I dare you to take that energy we all put for th
in pursuing enter tainment and use it to pursue
something that benefits another person,” Amy
suggests. “You will feel exponentially better.
Exponentially richer emotionally.”
Star t by identifying personal interests. “If you
are interested in something, you are heightened
to pursuing that,” she says. “If you just
determine, ‘I’m not going to let the month pass
without doing something,’ then, suddenly, you’re
looking for it. And you star t to wonder, ‘What is
going to come my way?’” Living within this kind of
charitable myster y provides an energizing spirit
that makes chasing the high life matter.
For more information on Challenge Aspen, visit
challengeaspen.com.
ccmmagazine.com
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M O
B Y: B E A U B L A C K — P H O T O S B Y: A L L E N C L A R K
N I N G
GLORY
Chris
Tomlin—
this is his story,
this is his song.
ccmmagazine.com
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For Chris Tomlin, 2006 has
been the kind of year most artists dream about:
he watched his Arriving (sixsteps) CD go gold, selling
more than 500,000 copies (a rarity for a worship
record) and won an armful of Dove Awards, topped by
“Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year.” Not bad
for a guy who, weaned on country music, learned to
play guitar by listening to Willie Nelson records.
“I know that it’s nothing I’ve done,” says the
native of Grand Saline, Texas (located about 60
miles east of Dallas). “This wasn’t in the plan; I
didn’t strive to make it happen. I don’t call
churches and ask if they play my songs.”
A career as a worship leader wasn’t part of the plan,
either, Chris explains. “I thought I was going to be a
physical therapist, or maybe go into sports medicine.”
His path toward the Christian music industry may
actually have begun at Amy Grant’s front gate. “I
was just out of high school and trying to figure out
where I wanted to go to college, and I and my
buddies took a road trip to Nashville. Amy Grant
was my favorite artist, and I found out where her
house was. And we drove out there.
“They had an intercom system, and we rang the
intercom. She answered, and we were like, ‘Oh,
dang!’ [laughs] We didn’t know what to say. She
actually talked to us for a minute.” Chris decided to
write a song for her, bought a tape recorder and a
tape at a nearby drug store and left the tape for her.
“I asked her about it later; she doesn’t have the
tape anymore—probably never got it. You look back
and think, ‘Gosh, I was such a dork!’”
Close. I remember Chris as a slightly overenergetic college student several years behind me
at Texas A&M in the early ’90s. There, we were
both involved in a growing Bible study called
“Breakaway.” It was modeled on a similar study at
nearby Baylor University, led by a young, but very
passionate, college pastor named Louie Giglio.
“I had started leading worship some around
Texas,” says Chris. “I didn’t even know then it was
called ‘leading worship.’ I’d just written some song
that people were singing. Right when I got [to A&M
as a transfer student], I heard about Breakaway.”
The study, begun as a small group of 10 to 12
students meeting in an apartment near campus,
grew into a group of hundreds (and, later,
thousands), crowding into any space that would
hold its swelling numbers.
“It was meeting in a library then, and it was
growing. It was a really exciting time. A guy named
Gregg Matte was speaking; he’s now pastor at First
Baptist Church, Houston. I went up to him one
week after Breakaway and said, ‘Hey, I’d love to
help out with music.’ I know people did that all the
time, and he totally blew me off.” But only until
Chris and Matte led a retreat together in Dallas.
“He spoke, and I did music,” recalls Chris. “I
think it was like a hay ride [laughs]. [Afterwards],
he came up and asked why I wasn’t doing music at
Breakaway. I said, ‘Hey, I asked.’”
Chris ended up leading worship there from
1993-1995.
“My first impression of Chris as a college student
was a joyful and sincere guy,” says Matte. “His heart
was big for people and always ready to help. None of
34 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
us, including Chris, could imagine all that God had
planned. But Chris was a willing and useable vessel.”
After graduating, Chris went to work for Dawson
McAllister’s ministry, then landed at a church in The
Woodlands, Texas, north of Houston. “I started
leading [worship] at the Harvest service at [The]
Woodlands Methodist church, which was more of
an outreach ser vice to the community. The
Woodlands became a good place to travel out of,
belong to a community. My main life was traveling
on my own and doing my own ministry.”
Chris stayed there for five years, playing 150
dates a year and also doing another one-year stint
at Breakaway, which, by then, was meeting in
A&M’s new basketball arena, the only venue that
would hold it.
The first song that hinted at what was to come
was one he penned at a camp with Louie Giglio:
“We Fall Down.” “That would’ve been around 1995,”
says Chris. “I wrote it just for the folks at the camp
to sing around what [Louie] was talking about.” In
reality, Chris wrote a song that would find a home in
churches all over the world. And Giglio would go on to
become his mentor and record label chief.
Chris signed with Giglio’s start-up, sixsteps
Records, in 2000 and, over the next five years,
released three studio albums and a live CD to
increasing acclaim, establishing him as a foremost
writer of modern worship.
Remember that medical career Chris Tomlin was
interested in? Well, his new album, See the Morning,
which released on September 26, should forestall
that a bit longer. Packed with more of the modern
worship anthems that are his signature and one of
the year’s quickest-rising radio singles in “Made to
Worship,” it seems ready to repeat the trajectory of
his previous record. [See the “Morning Is Breaking”
sidebar on Page 36.]
Chris has also been asked to contribute a song for
Amazing Grace, a motion picture releasing early next
year about the life of William Wilberforce, who led the
movement against slave trade in Britain.
“[Wilberforce] was influenced by his friend John
Newton, who wrote the song ‘Amazing Grace’ and
was a slave trader,” says Chris, who was given the
daunting task of writing an extra part to the hymn for
the soundtrack. “At first, I said, ‘No, you don’t mess
with that.’ And, then, God got me thinking about
slavery, and these words just came out—‘my chains
are gone...’ It’s very close to my heart. I went and did
Cont. on Page 36
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Cont. from Page 34
some research—that last verse, “when we’ve been
there 10,000 years,” was added later once people
started singing it...it’s not in his original poem. I
found the original last verse [and reinserted it].”
Today, touring and recording consume much of
Chris’ time. But he’s also made time for his life in
Austin. Part of that is Austin Stone Community
Church, which he helped found. “One of the values of
our family record company, sixsteps, is being in a
local church. That’s been a strong value for us, so
we’re not just out there traveling around doing our
concerts, but not really being connected and
accountable. It’s been important to me to be leading
[worship] at a church as well.”
By 2002, Chris was already traveling hard with
his band, but he says the timing was right. “In
Austin, the opportunity for the kingdom of God is
so open—it’s so ripe. And we wanted to plant a
church that was downtown and pull from the
University [of Texas],” which enrolls nearly 50,000
students. “We barely knew what we were doing at
all, but it continues to grow like crazy. It’s on a top
100 list of fastest growing churches in America.
We want to be accountable and not just going, but
leading when we can,” he says.
His schedule’s a bit more complicated now than in
2002, so the church added another worship pastor
with whom Chris trades off leading. But he says the
church body of 1,500 or more packed into Austin
High School keeps him “grounded in the right way.”
However, it’s also been a challenge.
“Austin, in general, has such an aversion to
anything like Christian values and the scripture.
The really vocal people in Austin are really
speaking out against that; it’s a very free-spirit,
hippie, liberal city. ‘Knowledge is king. We’ve been
enlightened.’ But, you know, on the University of
Texas’ tower, it says, ‘You shall know the truth, and
the truth shall set you free [John 8:32],” which he
takes as a sign that all is not lost.
“It’s definitely not a God-forsaken place, but it is a
party town,” he says. “Jesus would love to hang out
in Austin. There are so many down and out and a
huge homeless population and lots of people who’ve
been burned by religion. That’s why we want to be
there. [It’s] wonderful to come to church on Sunday
and see the different faces and different races... We
feel like we’re doing something special here.”
Chris may be able to live a normal life in Austin
more easily than he might in Christian music-centric
Nashville. “On a typical day, I love to work out.
Usually at 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning, I like to go
to the gym or go play tennis—find some buddies to
play. Go get lunch or dinner with friends and talk
about life over chips and salsa and Tex-Mex and iced
tea. I love to be outside, love to be active. I’m not
good at being inside,” he says.
“I have a chocolate Lab named Lucky that hangs
out with me when I’m at home. You’ll find me
driving around town in my Ford F-150 truck. I love
to go hear music.” And Austin—dubbed “The Live
Music Capital of the World”—is conveniently home
to a lot of it. He cites blues and rock artists Seth
Walker and John D. Graham, whom Chris describes
as an older rocker who “plays like he just got his
guitar, like he’s 16. It’s the loudest guitar in the
world. Those guys play with so much passion… I
36 ccm october 06
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love to see that. There are always good
singer/songwriters coming through here.”
And dating? “I want to have time for it, but it’s hard
with my schedule. That has been the part of my life I
haven’t figured out yet. It’s frustrating.”
Both Chris’ work with Giglio’s Passion conferences
and his student-heavy church in Austin focus on the
college crowd. But, over the last year, that’s begun
to change. “We want to reach everybody. Our
mission statement says ‘anybody who breathes.’
When I write songs, I try to write in a way to reach
as many people as I can, to be a lighthouse versus
a flashlight—a sweeping light that sweeps over a lot
of people, versus a flashlight that’s very focused. I
pray that. Only God can do that.”
And, with the response to Arriving, his audience is
broader now, “which I’ve enjoyed,” he says. For the
last tour, “it was moms and dads and their kids and
the college students—versus just college students or
high school youth groups. We seem to be reaching,
through the success at radio, even more than people
in their churches recognizing my songs, where, in
years past, I’ve been kind of chasing my songs
around. People would have no idea I’d written these
songs. [But now] people seem to be connecting the
dots. I’d prefer that—that we’re chasing the songs
rather than it being about my personality or our sound.
“I’m realizing how God uses people to advance His
plan—all through scripture—and I want to be one of
those people. As a 13-year-old kid, I prayed that and
said, ‘Whatever You want, for the rest of my life.’ If
people look at me as someone with name
recognition? As Paul says, ‘Follow me as I follow
Jesus.’ I want to be like that—to be someone God
can trust. I want to do that every night we play. I want
people to leave thinking ‘God, I want to know You
more,’ not ‘Chris is cool,’” he says.
“I’m so proud of how Chris has handled the
‘success,’” says Gregg Matte. “The reason that he
has remained so humble is that he knows what true
success is. Leading thousands is not the best
measure of success. His life is more powerful than
his music, and that is what Christ wants. I’ve been
with Chris when he has led 50 and 50,000, and he
is the same guy—a guy who just wants to know Jesus
and make Him known. I’m glad to call him friend.”
So looking back over the last year, what’s Chris
proudest of? “What I’m humbled about—the
opposite of that—are these little simple songs that
are being sung around the world,” he says. “That’s
bigger than any hit song on the radio. Maybe some of
these songs, long after I’m gone, people will be
singing them. In Africa, or South America, or
Europe—you go and hear people singing these
songs. It’s incredible. That seems to be the most
amazing thing to me—that God could use these
songs in a way that’s so much bigger than me, than
a marketing plan and a publishing deal.” ccm
Morni ng is Breakin g
With the immediate response to his new album
See the Morning, Chris Tomlin’s artistic reach
looks to be broader than ever. Even before the
disc hit stores, its lead single, “Made to
Worship,” had already climbed to No. 6 on
Radio & Records’ Christian pop airplay charts at
press time. And See the Morning’s release also
marks the first time Chris has landed his own
CCM Magazine cover.
The new album’s title comes from a line in the
song “Rejoice”: “See the morning, see it rising/Over the
mountains high...See the mercy and the mighty hand of
God.” Says Chris, “The morning is such an
amazing symbol in scripture—it’s a universal
symbol of a new day, the light breaking out of the
darkness, a new start. I wanted people, when they
put this in, to sense that in their own heart; God
is as faithful as the rising sun. There’s hope.” He
cites the number of miracles that came in the
morning, from the parting of the Red Sea to the
Resurrection, and pages and pages of verses that
convey this theme.
“My heart, when we were writing these songs,
was that, when people heard them, a light would
dawn in them—of hope, of peace, of life. I think
it’s interesting that, in Revelation, Jesus calls
Himself the Bright and Morning Star, the Light of
the World,” he explains.
The first track on the album is the powerful
“How Can I Keep from Singing.” “My friend [and
fellow sixsteps artist] Matt Redman and I were on
the ‘Indescribable Tour’ with Louie [Giglio], and,
the day before Matt went back to England, he
came with this lyric from an old hymn. He left it
with me, and I started playing around with it.”
Chris says he loves writing with Redman, and
“there’s a little bridge section that’s probably my
favorite little section of music on the record.”
For the new hit “Made to Worship,” producer
Ed Cash “sent me this chorus that he and his
assistant at the studio, Stephan Sharp, had
written. They sent it to me right after we finished
‘Indescribable.’ Ed never sends me songs, so I
knew it was something special. We did it at
Passion, and the response has been massive.”
And, then, there’s “Everlasting God.” “I asked
Matt if he’d heard any new worship songs out
there, just to use in my own personal time. He
gave me this one by Brenton Brown. And I put it
on my iPod, and it just got into me and fired me
up. It’s Isaiah 40 put to music. After that, I called
up Brenton and asked if I could record it.” B.B.
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BY JOHN J. THOMPSON
PILLAR’S DAY OF
G
N
I
N
O
K
C
E
R
According to lead singer Rob Beckley, Pillar’s
new album is, in some ways, “a settling of
accounts.” Considering his band’s fanbase
grows with each release, one has to wonder…
“W ha t ac co un ts ?”
CCM_10.06_Pillar.v4
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or eight years, Pillar has been honing its
no-frills modern rock with relentless
touring, aggressive recording and
frequent re-invention. The band has, quite
literally, seen it all. After an auspicious debut
on the late-’90s rap/core scene, Pillar scored
big with its anthemic crossover benchmark
album, Fireproof (Flicker), with a title track that
dominated Christian rock radio, festival
stages and youth rooms and earned the band
a major-label makeover when MCA
re-released the project into the general
market. Big league mainstream tours and
festivals followed, surrounded by high hopes
that Pillar might just be the “next P.O.D.”
Though the mainstream hype quieted, the
band plowed on. Pillar released an acoustic
and partly live EP that completely changed
musical gears and, then, followed with 2004’s
blistering and brilliantly realized Where Do We
Go from Here. More hit singles in the Christian
market (and a moderate hit at mainstream
radio), the band’s best album sales ever
(250,000-plus for that album alone), a rabid
fanbase and an absolutely frenetic live show
all backed up a further distancing of Pillar
from its rap-ish roots. Front man Rob Beckley
became a convincing singer, and the band
logged hundreds of shows in churches,
Christian clubs, bars, schools and festivals.
The band released a second EP earlier this
year that granted a sneak peek at the album
Pillar’s been working on for nearly two years—
The Reckoning, releasing October 3.
While certainly disappointed by its failure to
really launch in the mainstream, the band never
missed a beat. “We’re still working our butts
off,” Beckley insists. “It’s just the way the cards
fell for us. We’re not upset about the past, but
that’s kind of what this record is about—The
Reckoning, the settling of accounts. We needed
to settle that particular score in our life.”
When such accounts have been settled,
the next step, of course, is moving on. And
that’s exactly what Pillar is doing. “I’m excited
for where Pillar is headed,” says one of the
band’s heroes, P.O.D. front man Sonny
Sandoval. “I love the guys and respect how
they’ve built [their career] with real fans.”
From the sound of The Reckoning, by far
Pillar’s most intense, diverse, mature and
confident at-bat, the bandmembers’ faith is
strong. “We never wanted to be outside of the
F
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october 06 ccm 39
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Page 40
e, Rob Beckley, Kalel.
From left: Noah Henson, Lester Estell
THIS TIME AROUND, WE KNOW WHAT
WE’RE FIGHTING FOR.
Christian market,” Beckley explains, “And we never
wanted to be in it! When we first started, we didn’t
know it even existed. We used to play all our shows
in bars around towns in western Kansas, and, then,
we started playing churches, too. And people said
we should be a ‘Christian band.’ I had just become
a Christian, so I thought, ‘Sure, why not?’ From that
point on, we never set out to go into the
mainstream. Those are just the doors that were
opened, and then they shut very quickly.”
While the new record certainly sports everything
sonically, lyrically and compositionally that the
mainstream modern rock world seems to demand,
its fate seems both unknown and of little concern to
the band. “Collectively, as a band, we just don’t
care anymore,” Beckley states without a hint of
someone trying to convince himself of something.
“If the mainstream grabs hold of this record and it
can touch people’s lives, that’s awesome. If not,
I’m not going to lose any sleep over it. We’re a
mature band. We’ve been around long enough to
know the game. I’m going to wake up tomorrow and
be just as content as I am today, regardless.”
THE RECKONING
The Reckoning represents a new era and approach for
the band in several ways. While Pillar’s insane touring
schedule (2,500 concerts in the last eight years!)
required the guys to rush through previous records,
they were determined to take their time for their fourth
full-length project. “We started writing on this record a
long time ago,” Beckley says, “pretty much as soon
as we released Where Do We Go from Here. The one
thing that we did not want to do was just re-write the
last record.” The band took time to write both on the
road and in the studio, with one primary objective at
hand: to break new ground. “We wanted to make sure
that there were 10 to 12 tracks that wouldn’t have
made the last record; they wouldn’t have fit.”
Another primary objective was to avoid the radio trap
at all costs. “We decided not to get stuck in ‘radio
world’ where you just structure a song to fit
radio…verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/coda,”
Beckley explains. “We’ve always done that, and we just
decided to write a record because we like the way it
sounds.” The result is a collection that offers up the
band’s heaviest songs to date (“Tragedy,” “Crossfire”),
right alongside its most poignant ballads (“Angel in
Disguise,” “Wherever the Wind Blows”) and a strangely
catchy power-pop song called “Sometimes” that
40 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
channels Foo Fighters and Cheap Trick convincingly, as
well as plenty of solid rock & roll tracks.
Producer Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Disciple,
Superchick), who has worked with the band since
day one, ups the sonic ante considerably with rich
vocal tones, thundering drums and cone-shattering
low-end to present perfectly the band’s evolution of
sound. Recorded in three main sessions over the
course of a year, the band logged more hours
writing, arranging, tracking and mixing than on any
other Pillar project. “These days,” Beckley
considers, “people write singles and then write a
bunch of crap to fill the record out. You’re buying a
record for two songs. And everyone wonders why
people aren’t buying records anymore! In the past,
we would treat the singles more importantly than
the rest of the record. We didn’t on this one.” The
diversity of sound and vibe was entirely intentional.
“There are songs on there that I never, in a million
years, would have thought we would have recorded.
You can’t put this record in and tell me that every
song sounds the same.”
While at least five of the disc’s 13 tracks have
serious single potential, Flicker Records has settled
on “Everything” as the first salvo. “That song wasn’t
even a song!” Beckley adds with a laugh. While
working on other parts in the studio, guitarist Noah
Henson started experimenting with a new lick.
Beckley jumped all over it with his own ideas, and,
before long, the song was born. Spontaneity, born
of hard work and available time, bore impressive
fruit. “I didn’t even have vocals for it,” Beckley
remembers. “I wrote that one in the studio, and,
now, it’s probably the lead single. That’s the type of
stuff that was happening on this record.”
Another of the disc’s standout tracks is the
melancholy and haunting “Angel in Disguise,” a
departure from form for the band in that it is a story
song, a ballad, and tackles not only the subject of
sexual abuse but also of forgiveness and restoration.
The first verse recalls the story of a prominent family
in the band’s old church that was devastated by
sexual abuse. “I remember just getting chills thinking
that that’s so wrong,” says Beckley. “It’s so weird.
How can somebody be so peaceful and loving and
fun to be around and then you find out what they’ve
been doing? It almost crushed me.”
The song packs an emotional and spiritual punch
and is another example of a track that came into
being almost by accident. “Kalel was just playing
through this little chord change on his bass,”
Beckley recalls, “and I told Wyrick to record it. Then,
Lester started playing this groove to it. I took the
little piece that they recorded, and I went in and
started messing around with vocals. And they loved
it. I wrote all the verses in the studio. Those are
things that just happened in the studio, and they
became some of the best songs on the record.”
In addition to Beckley’s greatly improved singing
voice and the band’s obvious growth musically,
another secret weapon has been added to the
arsenal. After years as a quartet, the band has
grown to include second guitarist Joey “Cinco”
Avalos (who earned his nickname from always
bidding five on the band’s tour bus games of
Spades—not from being the fifth member of the
band). While Avalos first came on to fill in for Noah
after a debilitating knee injury in the fall of 2005, the
band kept him on once it heard what a Pillar show
sounds like with two guitarists. “It sounds stupid,”
Beckley says as a compliment. “Now I know why the
bands with two guitar players have two guitar
players. It sounds huge! It’s a whole other wall of
sound. The harmonies and second guitar parts were
there. It’s awesome.” Though Avalos did not track
on The Reckoning, his presence has already shaped
the band’s live show immeasurably.
THE BIG PRIZE
“I feel like, this time around,” Beckley adds in total
seriousness, “more so than any other record we’ve
done, we know what we’re fighting for. It’s not about
us; it’s not about our families; it’s not about writing the
best record or doing music that could be crossed over.
We’ve faced our trials, and we’ve overcome them. I’m
happy to be closer to God than I’ve ever been! This
time around, we know what we’re fighting for.”
When quoted the question a reporter asked boxer
James Braddock in one of Beckley’s favorite movies,
Cinderella Man, “What are you fighting for?” the
singer and former U.S. Army soldier responds
unequivocally: “We’re fighting for everyone out there
who doesn’t believe. We’re out to change hearts—
not to force things on anyone, but to make believers
know why they believe and to make those who do
not believe in Jesus to stop and think.”
They take that vision to the streets this fall as
they launch the “Days of Reckoning Tour” with Dead
Poetic, The Showdown and Kids in the Way. For
more information, visit pillarmusic.com. ccm
7:14 PM
Page 42
StorytellingS
ON
9/8/06
When it comes to
having a natural
ability to pull
at heartstrings,
singer/songwriter
Mark Schultz is as
gifted as they come.
And, when you
consider his new
CD, Broken & Beautiful
(Word), is his most
personal recording
yet, you have all the
makings of a
career album.
BY DAVID MCCREARY
THE
CCM_10.06_MarkSchultz.v4
fter relocating from Nashville to the Chapel
Hill, N.C., area recently, singer/songwriter
Mark Schultz thought his new surroundings
would provide him virtual anonymity. Not that he
minded being recognized for penning well-known
songs such as “Remember Me” or “Back in His
Arms Again.” He wasn’t even bothered when people
thanked him countless times for recording tearinducing hits “He’s My Son” and “Letters from War.”
But Schultz, newly married (see the “First
Comes Love, Then Comes…” sidebar) and moving
to a quaint college town, had every reason to
envision a much more private lifestyle than he
experienced in Music City.
That’s until the cable guy showed up.
Schultz recounts the humorous story during an
exclusive interview with CCM: “Soon after we
moved in, we had a guy come in to hook up our
cable television, and he said, ‘Hey, you look just like
that singer who has the same last name as you!’”
Since that encounter, it seems word has spread
about Schultz’s arrival to Tar Heel country. “We live
in a cul-de-sac where there’s really no traffic, and
you’d have to be lost to find your way back here,”
he says. “Believe it or not, about six or eight times
a day, people come back here, park in front of our
house and just stare at it.”
So, why the fascination? It’s likely due to
Schultz’s extraordinary success in the Christian
pop market, where, in just six years, he’s scored
seven No. 1 hits. More recently, he earned a top
spot on Billboard magazine’s “Hot Christian Adult
Contemporary Songwriters” list.
Schultz’s popularity is fueled by his catalog of
enduringly memorable songs and his inimitable
A
storytelling style. Even today, parents of specialneeds children consider “He’s My Son,” released
in 2000, a cathartic magnum opus. Armed service
members and mothers of soldiers feel “Letters
from War” is their personal anthem. And countless
high school seniors embrace sentimental ballad
“Remember Me” as a graduation hymn.
Now, Schultz unveils a new studio project,
Broken & Beautiful, that’s certain to keep him at
the forefront of Christian music for the foreseeable
future. The disc released on September 26. “I think
it’s probably my strongest record from top to
bottom,” says the Kansas-bred tunesmith. “A lot of
beautiful songs are born out of the struggles of life,
both during ordinary and broken times.”
Schultz says the songs on Broken & Beautiful
are intended to resonate with a strong sense of
emotional and spiritual authenticity. Once again, he
relies on vivid storytelling to fashion expressive,
heart-stirring tracks.
One such song is “Everything to Me,” a tune he
co-wrote with good friend (and Reunion recording
artist) Cindy Morgan. Addressing the subject of
adoption, it’s one of the most deeply personal tracks
Schultz has ever recorded. “I was adopted when I
was two weeks old,” he reveals. “The truth in that
song is that I’m grateful to even be alive because my
birth mom cared enough to say, ‘I love you, but
you’re going to have a better life with another family.’
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FIRST
ComesLOVE,
CCM_10.06_MarkSchultz.v4
Then Comes…
“It’s better than I could have ever imagined
it would be.”
That’s Mark Schultz’s answer when
asked how he is enjoying married life. He
and his wife, Kate, tied the knot on
September 17, 2005, at a private
ceremony in Nashville.
The two met while Mark was a youth
director at the city’s First Presbyterian
Church. “She was helping out with her
youth group when our paths crossed,
and we discovered we had a lot in
To think that I will meet her in heaven one day and
tell her ‘thank you’ will be an awesome experience.”
Co-writing the song with Schultz proved to be
quite moving for Morgan. “Writing with Mark is
such a blast; we laugh so much,” she explains.
“This song was so emotional and personal, which
is very different because we’re normally writing
really upbeat and fun songs. And Mark is so
talented—I truly believe he follows in the footsteps
of musicians like Elton John and Billy Joel. He is a
tremendous stor yteller, and I thought it was
wonderful how he was so vulnerable with this song.
We wrote it in about three sessions. We worked
until we got it right, and, through the process, we
had so many tears. It was so special and personal,
with him becoming a new husband and me being a
parent myself.”
Already, Schultz has evidenced the life-changing
power of “Everything to Me.” After performing the
song at a fundraiser for Bethany Christian Services
(an adoption and family services agency), someone
approached him and said a young woman who
attended the event was pregnant and had
considered having an abortion. Once she heard the
song’s moving message, however, she decided to
give her baby up for adoption.
Another poignant song is “She Was Watching,”
a ballad about a young girl who watches her
parents live out their Christian faith and desires to
be just like them. Schultz drew inspiration from a
sermon titled “Faith Isn’t Caught, It’s Taught.”
“Kids will often listen to what you say, but, more
often, they emulate what you do,” he says.
To help him with the creative process, Schultz
tapped A-list producer Mark Bright, known for his
collaborations with Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts
and other top country artists. He also brought in a
co-producer, friend and former neighbor Shaun
Shankel (Natalie Grant, Destiny’s Child, Hilary
Duff). “Mark does great story songs, and Shaun
produces awesome praise & worship music. So it
was a great marriage of the two,” Schultz explains.
Schultz is quick to point out that Broken &
Beautiful represents “more of a praise & worship
vibe than anything I’ve done before.” Indeed,
upbeat tracks such as “40 Days” and “God of Life”
are catchy, vertically-focused numbers that will
likely emerge on radio.
In the end, though, the songs with moving
storylines make Schultz shine brightest. “I’ve loved
stories since I was little, and the thing that I love
about telling them is letting people in on each story
bit by bit,” he says. “It’s a way for people not to just
listen to a song but to be a part of the overall
experience. Ultimately, it’s about making a
connection and pointing people toward heaven.” ccm
common,” Schultz shares. “We traded a
lot of crazy stories about the adventures
of working with young people.” After
losing touch for a while, Mark and Kate
reconnected sometime later and married
soon thereafter.
Nowadays, Kate, who graduated from
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine,
is a resident in obstetrics and gynecology
at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. “She’s
delivering babies every day, so we’ll
be here for four years,” says Schultz.
“We’re considering it a four-year
vacation.” At least, Mark is! D.M.
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 43
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oh how
the years
go by
by:
kristi
henson
photos
by:
houston
cowan
On a warm evening in early summer, not unlike that September
night in 1978 when she played her first paid performance,
amy grant returned to Ft. Worth, Texas, to record her
first live CD/DVD project in 25 years, Time Again…Amy Grant
Live (Word/Curb/WB). Little did she know 28 years prior, as a
green 17-year-old singer/songwriter, just what an impact her
music would have on the world…
CCM_10.06_AmyGrant_v4
rs
by:
isti
son
9/8/06
6:30 PM
Page 45
amy grant’s got that
certain something.
You know—that rare, seemingly magical ability to
make you feel like you’re the only one in the room
when she’s singing or speaking. Sure, there are thousands of
other people around…but she’s talking to you! While this gift of hers does
translate to audio recordings, it really works live—and that’s no secret. Longtime
friend and fan Steven Curtis Chapman recollects, “From the first time I saw Amy
perform, I was struck with how a ‘superstar’ could be so incredibly inviting and
disarming. I was inspired by her ‘heart’ as much as her art. She has the amazing
gift of somehow making everyone in the audience feel like she’s a lifelong friend.”
And it’s this singular ability to appeal to the masses on a personal level
that’s driven Amy Grant’s career to groundbreaking heights through the years.
Now, 25 million albums, numerous GRAMMY®awards and countless more
accolades later, she’s released Time Again…Amy Grant Live. This CD/DVD
collection highlights some of Grant’s most treasured songs from her 30-year
career, including perennial favorites “Baby Baby,” “Every Heartbeat,” “Lead
Me On” and, on the slower side, “El Shaddai.”
How were the songs chosen? “I’ve been touring with this particular band for a
year and a half, and we just did the songs that we have been doing,” Grant
confesses. “And I took two different set lists from the songs we had been doing
the past year. That’s it. I didn’t try to over think anything. I just thought, ‘I don’t want
this to be anything other than what a [typical] night feels like.’”
To add to the comfortable feel of the recording, Grant decked out the stage of
Ft. Worth’s exquisite Bass Hall with items from home, including her couch and
artwork. “I love the outdoors, rustic, but, really, just nature is beautiful to me,”
she shares. “Ed James, who was the set designer, came to my house and said,
‘What do you want to do?’ I said that I wanted it to feel like a living room, but I
also wanted it to feel like the outdoors. Vince [Gill, Amy’s husband] and I had
bought a painting in Colorado years ago. So we were standing in the living room,
and I said, ‘For instance, if we could make the whole stage this painting, that
would be fine with me.’ And Ed said, ‘Why don’t we call the artist and see if we
can blow it up?’ And so it was kind of fun.”
And the fun continued when Grant revisited an old classic for the CD—a song
she admittedly “hadn’t even thought about in a decade.” According to Grant, she
and her band had quickly formulated a “kind of scrappy, thrown together version”
of “In a Little While” for the live show that several Word Records staffers
attended. “I don’t know how young [the Word guys] were when that song came
out 20 years ago,” she muses, but, after hearing the rough live version, “they
came back and said, ‘Would you consider doing a studio version of this—a new
kind of updated version?’ That’s how that came about.”
Aside from launching the live project this fall, Grant is also starstruck,
having been honored with her own star on the famed “Hollywood Walk of
Fame” in September. Looking forward to the event at press time, she reflects,
“This is the first time in a long time that I’ve asked my family, ‘Will you please
all show up?’ And so, my mom and dad, all my sisters, some of my closest
childhood friends, my kids, we’re all going out there. We’re going to have a big
dinner the night before and go play on the Santa Monica Pier. And Vince is so
funny—he said, ‘That walk is so long, I’m just positive it’s [Amy’s star] going
to be in a seedy part of Hollywood.’ We just laughed about it. You know, at this
point in life where my energy is focused and much more geared to my children,
it’s fun to look back and be honored for, I assume, the bulk of my work, which
was done in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Lord willing, I still have a lot of songs to write
in the future.”
More songs to write, more live performances to give…more memories
to make. ccm
i will
remember you
Music, whether live or recorded, makes an impression. As Amy Grant
herself suggests, “If you are a fan of concerts, it’s fun to have a
memory of that. I remember the first live concert recording I ever
went to was at the Opry House [Nashville, Tenn.] years ago. I must
have been in the fifth grade, and John Denver did a recording there.
I’ll never forget.” Such is the stuff that vivid memories are made of,
and, through her music, concerts and personal appearances, Grant
has made lasting impressions on more than a few listeners…
It makes perfect sense to me why
Amy would release a live DVD, and
anyone who has seen her perform live
understands that, too. You can spend
years admiring her contribution to the
history of Christian music, the roads
she’s paved, the impact she’s made,
the lives she’s inspired...but, until you
see her perform live, you can’t really
have a full appreciation of her heart
and how much of it she pours into
—Nichole Nordeman
her music.
The interesting thing about Amy
is she has never been afraid to
be herself. I find her so genuine
and refreshing. Every time I’ve
ever been around her, she is so
real. I remember a time when we
were backstage at the Ryman. I
remember Amy was set to sing
“Lover of my Soul,” but she was
really sick. Despite not feeling
well, Amy still came. There was a
girl backstage, standing in the
corner. You could tell she felt a
Amy Grant wrote some of the first
music I was influenced by and that I
actually ever heard beyond classical
music or hymns at church. In fact, I
even sang “I Love You” to [wife] Korey
during a show once for our anniversary.
Amy’s songs truly stand the test of
time. As an artist, that’s something all
of us hope for.
—John Cooper, Skillet
little uncomfortable and out of
place, and, as soon as Amy
noticed her, she walked right
over
and
struck
up
a
conversation. Even not feeling
well, she was still so kind and
genuine. She is so sweet and
true to her nature.
—Cindy Morgan
Amy Grant is one of the greatest artists in the history of ccm. She is “IT”! I grew
up listening to her music, and I never thought I would have the opportunity to
meet her in person. But, when I did meet her last year, I was so impressed by her
nice spirit; and she is a very humble woman. I’m almost jealous of Vince Gill.
Baby Baby! Talk about your heart in motion!
—Jason Dunn, Hawk Nelson
I remember the first time I met Amy. I saw her walking up the sidewalk to Brown Bannister’s
studio, and I was freaking out. I had grown up listening to all her albums, and I really
respected all the things she was doing to reach the world with her music. And here she was
coming into the studio while we were working on our record! Matt [Fuqua, guitarist] was
feeling really sick that day, and, once all the introductions were made, Amy wanted to know
what she could do for Matt. She offered to go to the drug store, take him to the doctor, get
him some food, basically do whatever she could to help him. That was amazing! Just
minutes in the door and she wanted to serve us. That spoke volumes to us about being
humble and being a servant no matter how successful in the world’s eyes you are.
—Joshua Havens, The Afters
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Mention “worship music,” and the phrase normally takes you in a
thousand different directions—stadium-sized worship gatherings, big
worship leaders like Darlene Zschech and her Hillsong ensemble,
beloved worship songs such as “Heart of Worship” and “God of
Wonders” and, even, your own church’s worship services.
M
Written By Andree Farias
Design By Jeff Jones
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Yet there’s so much more to worship music than meets the eye—stuff
that we normally take for granted week in and week out. It’s all crucial in making
worship an all-encompassing, holistic experience. Hey, even those earnest church
soloists are part of worship, too!
From instruments and software aids to visual enhancements and, even, a college education
in the worship arts, all are components that are just as much a part of that supernatural
worship experience as the songs we sing. Since “worship” is a verb, let this fall’s WorshipNow
help you get a sneak peek at everything that goes into “worshiping.”
If there’s a downside to the modern worship explosion
of the past decade, it’s the seeming difficulty for upstart, lesser known
worship leaders to get their foot in the door. Nothing against Chris
Tomlin, Delirious and many of the genre’s top players—we love you
guys, we really do—but the church at large does boast a healthy
number of fledgling music ministers on the verge of a breakthrough.
One such artist is Matt Papa, a newcomer recently signed to another
newcomer, the Spin 360 label, a company that, in simple terms, just
wants to make the church sing.
“My Christian music career has included everything from Amy Grant
to Al Green, the Happy Goodman Family to Petra and everything in
between,” says Stan Moser, gospel music veteran and head of the new
venture. “Although I always enjoy a great song, my interest is focused
on songs that inspire us to worship. That is our destiny as believers,
throughout eternity, and our focus as a record label.”
It was with this
precedent in mind
that Moser discovered
Papa, a 22-year-old
barely out of college,
whose sole purpose is
getting the church to
sing. This talent, to
lead the saints in
song, was so palpable
to Moser that he
simply had to sign
Papa.
“I was introduced
to Matt’s music by my
friend [and worship
leader] Joel Engle,”
says Moser. As I listened, I knew that Matt was writing songs that,
indeed, the whole church would sing. After meeting Matt, I just knew
the Lord was leading me to do whatever it took to get those songs
heard.”
But the admiration was mutual. Papa grew up in a ministry
environment, so ministry—more so than business—was instrumental
in choosing a label home.
“It was the deciding factor. So many people within the label are
centered around prayer. That was the first thing that attracted me to
Matt Papa
them. You can market all day long; you can have the biggest roster
and the biggest name, but, if the Biggest Name is not in it, then I don’t
want to be a part of it.”
This passion and gift for corporate songcraft is something Papa
cultivated for most of his adolescent life and continues to foster now
in his early 20s as he readies himself for the release of You Are Good,
due this month. But the road to becoming a recording artist wasn’t a
smooth one. As any young guy fresh out of high school, he was
caught between his social obligation to get a post-secondary degree
and the one thing he loved the most—ministry.
And, as any self-sufficient young man, he chose to do
both, simultaneously.
“My college experience was especially abnormal,” says Papa. “I
would get out of class—and sometimes skip class, probably not a good
thing—and immediately drive somewhere to minister, usually getting
back about 2 a.m., and, then, wake up and go to class the next day. I
was determined to graduate in four years because I wanted to start
doing ministry full-time as soon as possible. I remember one semester
I took 23 credit hours [of schoolwork] and traveled at the same time.
That was stupid.”
Being someone who likes to give his all, Papa regrets having taken
on both tasks because he knew one of the two would have to suffer.
Still, he managed to graduate with a degree in guitar and piano
performance, an aptitude he put to good use in the creation of his
debut album, You Are Good. But, even with a college degree on his
wall, the worship leader affirms his identity is not defined by his
education or artistry.
“My identity is in Christ. I’m God’s kid, and he’s my dad. And that
will never change,” says Papa. “I used to get so depressed if I had a
‘bad night’—if my voice cracked or I broke a string, or missed a note,
or if people didn’t really respond. Those things are fitting to care about
because God’s music should be done with excellence and people
should respond to excellent, Godly music. But, at the end of the day, I
have found that the only thing that really matters is seeing my Father’s
smile and knowing I fully obeyed and pleased Him. Guitar strings and
the praises of men are rubbish compared to that.”
Despite Papa’s unerring take on ministry and his staunch spirituality,
those two factors don’t belie the fact that his music is actually quite
good. While some artists play the ministry card as an excuse for poor
artistry, You Are Good is a paragon of how both realms can cohabitate
side-by-side.
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continued from Page 49
From the shimmering pop/rock of the title track to Papa’s alternative take on the modern hymn “In
Christ Alone,” there’s not a shortage of sensibilities on the album. All pristinely produced and with
congregational value to spare, there’s a little bit for everybody on the album—originals, covers and,
even, psalms set to music. What’s truly remarkable, though, is how at-home You Are Good feels when
placed next to recent modern worship offerings by Chris Tomlin, Tim Hughes and Jason Morant,
among others. Vocally, too, Papa’s at-times vibrato-rich tenor seems a dead-ringer for David Crowder.
However great Papa’s new album sounds (and despite its place in the modern worship canon, for that
matter), it’s still not something he wants to be remembered for. Even as he talks about his music, he
sounds a bit anachronistic for someone his age, coming across like the 21st century version of Jesus
Movement great Keith Green.
“What I do is about people, not music. I love music, but I am a minister before I am a musician. Music
is a great medium to get people to listen, but I want people to hear truth more than melody or harmony.
Jesus spoke in parables, but it wasn’t about the story. It was about truth. And it was about people. Jesus
was about people. Real ministry happens off the stage—in conversations, in encouragement,
in prayers. If my music ever becomes about me or my artistic pride and not the salvation of men and
the glory of God, I pray to God He would take it away.”
Word Visual Tracks
Long before congregations started to
incorporate live music into their services, the
church soloist was an integral part of each
week’s worship gathering. You know who
I’m talking about—those eager, big-voiced
individuals who’d normally present a
musical offering consisting of the latest
“ccm” hit of the day.
In the past decade or so, the soloist has
had to compete with the increasing
modernization of the corporate experience,
as more and more churches give
precedence to live music and fancy
multimedia equipment in order to “beef up” their services.
Not missing a beat and well aware of the audiovisual capabilities of
today’s church, Word Tracks—the forerunner in terms of solo
performance tracks—has developed Visual Tracks, a brand new
product line for the perennial church soloist. Developed in partnership
with The Worship Network, Visual Tracks is truly the next generation in
performance media.
“We are seeing more churches and worship artists incorporate
media technology into their worship services and other events, and the
Visual Tracks provide something they have never had before,” says
Bruce Koblish, president of The Worship Network. “It’s a user-friendly
resource that offers a powerful visual context for music presentations.”
Tim Marshal, senior vice president of music publishing for Word
Tracks, says that “the demand for solo accompaniment tracks is as
strong as ever. Because this type of product has never been offered at
the performance track level and because of the quality of the new
tracks, the response at retail has been overwhelming.”
The series combines Word Tracks’ expansive library of digitally
52 ccm october 06
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mastered songs from today’s top worship
and Christian music artists with The Worship
Network’s expertise at creating stunning
video and photographic footage and puts it
all onto a single DVD. Together, the marriage
of audio and video provides an emotional,
multi-sensory effect that’s absent from
typical music performances, going a step
beyond your average karaoke session.
Like regular non-video tracks, all the titles in
the Visual Tracks series can be sung in multiple
keys, with or without background vocals.
And, for added corporate value, soloists can
choose to display lyrics to the song on the
screen so as to engage audiences in congregational singing.
But a mere product description certainly doesn’t do justice to the
impact of Visual Tracks; they have to be experienced in order to be
savored fully.
A viewing of Carrie Underwood’s radio hit “Jesus Take the
Wheel,” for example, reveals that the poignant song about
meandering spirituality is all the more touching with matching visuals
depicting a discouraged woman driving through a rainy night. And
Casting Crowns’ “Praise You in This Storm” takes on a life of its own
when coupled with images of people raising their hands in the middle
of the tempests of life.
Visual Tracks is a welcome extension of the large Word Tracks family
of products, which include the Studio Series, Ultimate Tracks, Worship
Tracks and Wedding Tracks series. A searchable database of the entire
library can be found at wordtracks.com, and tracks can be purchased
exclusively at Christian retailers nationwide. In addition, Word Tracks
has made its entire catalog available digitally at all major music service
providers, including iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody and SongTouch.com.
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Yamaha–Clavinova
CVP-300 Keyboard
Though a great majority of worship leaders prefer the guitar over
the piano, the latter still remains the worship instrument par
excellence.
In fact, many of the precursors of what we now know as
contemporary worship— Keith Green, Dennis Jernigan and
Rich Mullins, among others—favored keys over the
six-stringed instrument. And, even today, popular guitarwielding worship leaders such as Israel Houghton and Chris
Tomlin are incorporating piano-led sections into their live
repertoires.
At the congregational level, too, church musicians require the
utmost versatility, especially when it comes to keyboards. With a
growing number of churches adopting a blended worship
style—that is, a sound that combines hymns, choral, gospel,
contemporary and modern worship methods into a unified
whole—standard-issue keyboards don’t cut it anymore.
Fashioned with today’s multi-faceted church in mind,
Yamaha’s Clavinova CVP-300 series keyboard is the
quintessential tool for the modern keyboardist. Whether
traditional, contemporary or both, the CVP-300 family of digital
pianos represents the full spectrum of musical traditions within
the body of Christ.
“Music serves a vital role in worship, and the right musical
instrument can make a tremendous difference in church
services,” says Jim Levesque, a representative from Yamaha’s
electronic keyboard division. “The Clavinova is the ideal
instrument for the 21st century church musician.”
On the traditional end, the CVP-300 features a true-to-life
piano voice and a realistic touch, as well as a flexible pipe organ
voicing that runs the gamut from delicate chapel organ to
54 ccm october 06
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majestic cathedral organ. For contemporary worship leaders,
there’s a wide range of voices available, from classy grand piano
textures to the boisterous gospel organ. And, for smaller
congregations, the CVP-300 can be programmed to reproduce
faithful guitar, bass, drum and other instruments that mask the
absence of actual players for a full, multi-layered sound.
“I think the Clavinova is a wonderful instrument for any
church,” says recording artist Scott Krippayne, a longtime
Yamaha user. “For a small to midsized church that might not
have the space or budget for a grand piano or organ, the
Clavinova has extraordinary piano sounds, and the organ sounds
are wonderful as well. And it doesn't need to be tuned!”
But Krippayne is quick to add that larger churches, too, can
benefit from the resourcefulness of this keyboard. “For a larger
church that may already have a grand piano or organ, the
Clavinova can be a wonderful rehearsal instrument,” he says.
“I'm sure its versatility would be welcomed by any worship
director or choir leader."
Other advancements of the CVP-300 are a built-in disk drive
and sequencer, along with various registration menus that allow
users to plan and save settings for an entire worship service in
advance. This is ideal for choral and music directors wanting to
pre-record accompaniments so that members may rehearse at
their own leisure.
But one of its coolest features is the Church Music Finder
capability, an option that allows users to search for the exact
sound settings for over 600 hymns and popular worship songs,
all of which are compatible with the arrangements found in the
Maranatha! Praise Hymns & Choruses (Green Book) and The
Praise & Worship Fake Book from Hal Leonard Publishing.
For more information on the vast array of Clavinova CVP-300
digital pianos available, visit music.yamaha.com.
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Kris Huston
Kris Huston Ministries—Enter In
The legendary Darlene Zschech once said that her Hillsong worship
team only does songs that move the church. If the church isn’t moved—
even if radio or retailers think otherwise—then the song is no good.
Independent worship artist Kris Huston is of a similar viewpoint. Her
debut album, Enter In, isn’t dictated by a particular style or trend.
Instead, she just wants to move the church.
Structured in a way that resembles a Sunday morning service, Enter
In is designed to move the worshiper through the different stages of
adoration—from the call to worship (“Rain Down Your Mercies”) and
reflection (“Mercy Seat”) through confession (“Like I Should”),
exultation (“Never Be Enough”) and assurance (“Trust”).
Using a variety of sonic inclinations, Huston intends for all 11 songs on
Enter In to be a worship journey from the sanctuary’s outer courts into
the very throne room of God—a diverse listening experience that’s
praise-filled, devotional, liturgical and worshipful all at once.
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EasyWorship Software
Frustrated with the choppiness of your visuals during worship?
EasyWorship is a software package designed to seamlessly display
songs, scriptures and videos to your congregation in a way that
won’t interrupt the flow of your worship service.
EasyWorship
.
allows your church’s audiovisual coordinator to control
all facets of the service and only show the congregation what they
need to see on-screen. That eliminates having to needlessly cover the
projector or “freeze” the screen in order to perform behind-thescenes work, whether that involves jumping from one particular song lyric to another,
switching from computer to video feed or overlaying anti-aliased text on moving images.
Thanks to its dual-monitor display capabilities, EasyWorship effortlessly lets you do all
the dirty work—changing backgrounds, choosing a scripture, modifying a song lyric—
while the congregation worships undisturbed. The software’s interface is directly linked to
the SongSelect lyric service, which allows you to take advantage of your church’s worship
music license and have access to a catalog of over 60,000 songs.
As for scriptural integration, EasyWorship comes bundled with multiple Bible versions
that can be incorporated into the different areas of your worship service. As a matter of
fact, with EasyWorship, you can jump out of a current presentation, project a quick
scripture and, then, with one click, be right back in presentation mode.
All of the above and much more make EasyWorship a hard program to beat when it
comes to visual management of your Sunday service. And you thought PowerPoint was all
the rage when it came to visuals and imaging for your worship services!
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Integrity’s Word of God Speak Series
The Word of God faces some serious competition nowadays. More
than ever before, the worlds of media and entertainment are viciously
vying for our undivided attention—iPods, TiVo, MySpace, satellite radio
and blogs are but a few of the contenders.
Sensing the need for the daily incorporation of biblical truth into our
jam-packed daily routines, Integrity Music—the undisputed industry
leader when it comes to worship resources for the church—set out to
create Word of God Speak, a new product series that does exactly as
its title says: it lets the Bible speak for itself.
Named after the popular MercyMe song of the same name,
Word of God Speak is a new line of thematic albums developed to
encourage and inspire listeners by combining scripture songs with
modern worship.
Produced by Nathan Nockels (Phillips, Craig & Dean, Passion)
and featuring vocalists such as worship leaders Jared Anderson and
Christy Nockels (formerly of Watermark), each of the three CDs is
centered around a particular theme. The Illuminate disc focuses on
God’s guidance; the Shelter CD highlights verses about the Lord’s
protection; and the Hope album sets to music passages dealing with
the hope found in Christ.
“People are so busy and so bombarded with negative media today.
I cannot think of a better and more beneficial thing that a believer
could listen to than God’s Word,” says Steve Merkel, A&R director for
Integrity and one of the project’s creative visionaries. “The musical
addition makes it a pleasure to listen to, and the combined effect
becomes much more memorable.”
58 ccm october 06
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And memorable it is. Each Word of God Speak CD contains 12
songs that are literal, word-for-word quotations from different
translations of God’s holy book, including the New International
Version, the New King James Version and the New American
Standard Bible. This results in punchy, ultra-modern takes on some of
the Bible’s most beloved passages, including Galatians 2:20 (“I have
been crucified with Christ…”), Proverbs 3:5-6 (“Trust in the Lord with
all your heart…”) and Philippians 4:8 (“Whatever is true, whatever is
noble…think about such things.”)
“It is always a task to put scripture to
music,” Merkel adds. “We haven’t added or
taken away from the text. At times, we have
repeated a word or phrase to add to the
musicality of the song. But, in the end, it is
pure scripture. I’m very excited with what
has been accomplished. I think we have
some wonderful songs that are very
memorable and many of them will find their
way to congregational worship. After all,
using the Word in a corporate setting is very
in-line with liturgical and contemporary church settings alike.”
While other efforts focusing on God’s Word have been more
inspirational in sound—think Songs from the Book or Traveling Light,
for example—the bulk of Word of God Speak follows a chiefly modern
worship mold, an intentional move on Integrity’s part.
“We deliberately targeted a more modern sound for several
reasons,” says Merkel. “There is a great movement among college-age
believers who are serious about their faith. We felt that they would
particularly benefit from the usefulness of the discs. But, at the same
time, this series is perfectly suited for older audiences. [Although] the
style is definitely ‘modern worship’-sounding, it has become a
mainstream sound in today’s contemporary church.”
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Wake Up and Worship
My Utmost for His Highest. Exodus. City on a Hill. Some of the most
striking projects to come out of the modern worship movement have
blossomed in community.
On a smaller yet similar scale, Wake Up and Worship is an effort born
out of artistic fellowship and camaraderie.
Worship leader Julie Piemonte would be the first to tell you that her
first few forays into worship music weren’t all they could be. Though full
of passion and heart, they were simplistic and lacked the production
values to make them stand out.
It wasn’t until Julie met her husband, Jeff Vincent, that she realized
what was missing from her craft. Jeff’s experiences in the music
industry brought a whole new level of polish and professionalism to Julie’s
worship songs.
But, even then, the circle wasn’t complete. It took a partnership with
close friends and fellow worship leaders Frank Montgomery, Kurt von
Eschen and Karen Steere—all seasoned music ministers in their
respective churches—for Wake Up and Worship to finally come to fruition.
Together, they create a corporate soundscape that reflects the synergy
between five like-minded worshipers, a communal symbiosis that’s
elevated all the more by their collective fervor for God.
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Sam Ash Music Stores
If you’re a worship leader or musician
always on the lookout for the latest in
gear and equipment for your team,
stepping foot in a Sam Ash Music Store
may actually not be a good idea.
Anybody who’s been to the
legendary, family-operated chain can
attest that the place is addictive—
without trying, it makes you want to
buy everything in the store.
Established in 1924 and spanning 45
stores in 15 states, Sam Ash has
rightfully positioned itself as “The
World’s Favorite Music Store,” a title
the conglomerate wears proudly well
into its 80-plus years in business.
Regardless of the needs of your
music ministry, the chain is a one-stop
resource center for nearly anything
gear- and instrument-related. From
guitar picks to heavy-duty live and
recording equipment, Sam Ash has it
all; and the company’s price-matching
policy guarantees you the best deal,
even after you’ve made your purchase.
For an online sampling of what
Sam Ash has to offer, visit
samashmusic.com.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Fuller Theological Seminary—Brehm Center
An aspect of worship that usually
goes unexplored is the theology
behind it. Interestingly, the
forefather of church worship as we
know it—no, it’s not Matt
Redman, silly—was the late Isaac
Watts, a renaissance man who
was a theologian as much as he
was a renowned hymn composer.
Fittingly, the Brehm Center at
Fuller Theological Seminary brings
both of Watts’ worlds under one
roof in its comprehensive Master’s
in Worship, Theology and the Arts
program, a practical degree where
artistic expression, liturgy and a
solid biblical foundation go hand-in-hand. The Brehm Center boasts five distinct institutes
focusing on everything from music and film to visual arts, drama and the emerging church, all
of which fulfill its mission to revitalize the church through worship and the arts.
While there are a number of institutions offering a master’s program in the theological aspects
of worship, Fuller is one of the few seminaries that offers plenty of creative flexibility through a
number of hands-on events on campus and in the community such as art festivals, worship
conferences and concerts.
If you’re a pastor, a music minister or an aspiring hymnologist—or maybe you’re someone who
simply loves to worship—then Fuller is the place for you.
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Full Sail Real World Education —
Sound Engineering Degree
Behind every great live worship album you
listen to—Passion, Hillsong United, Israel & New Breed, and the list goes on—there’s a great sound engineer. But don’t think these audio
specialists are simply born that way. They most likely got an education in sound engineering and audio production like the one Full Sail Real
World Education offers.
Established in 1979, this private, co-educational institution takes the “real world” part of its title seriously. While traditional learning methods
have their place, at Full Sail, everything is hands-on and real—real recording experts, real studios, real equipment. That means more practical
knowledge and quicker application of techniques in real-life situations. In addition, the instructors and guest lecturers are all seasoned professionals
in their fields—and, collectively, they have countless GRAMMY® awards to show for it.
Whether you want to follow in their footsteps as an engineer, producer or live technician, Full Sail’s Recording Arts program covers every area of
music and audio production—from tracking and overdubs to mixing and mastering. The college’s state-of-the-art facilities are no joke, either; their
studios employ the same microphones, mixing consoles, sound booths and digital audio workstations your favorite artists do.
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ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 63
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inreview
music
SKILLET’S NEW DISH
IF STREET CRED IS THE GOAL, SKILLET’S LATEST ALBUM IS RIGHT ON TARGET.
SKILLET
Comatose
Lava/Atlantic/Ardent/S-R-E
A QUANTUM LEAP
Skillet has been plying its trade in youth-friendly
Christian rock for a decade, becoming a go-to
band in the industry with Christian radio hits,
super-tight and very evangelistic concerts and
enough vinyl, hair color and sequenced industroFile Under:
Grade: B+
Rock
groove to give more conservative youth pastors
Nine Inch nightmares. While they have amassed an impressive following and developed one of the crazier live shows in the business, one thing Skillet has lacked is
artistic credibility. Though band leader John Cooper has long been one of the most
approachable, passionate and intense personalities in the industry, prior to 2003’s
Collide, Skillet seemed destined to fill Petra’s shoes some day. As admirable as fulltime youth ministry is, Skillet had a ways to go before its songs would find purchase
in the rocky environs of pop culture. If Collide was a step in the right direction,
however, the October 3 release of Comatose is a quantum leap.
Collide was a breakthrough for the band in several ways. Three years later, the
band takes the progress further with 11 songs that unabashedly blend arena rock,
progressive rock, modern alternative elements and a lingering post-industrial sen-
sibility into an impressive package. Being the first project the band actually
recorded since signing with Lava/Atlantic, the disc sounds larger than life from
the first notes. Enlisting the help of veteran producer Brian Howes (Hinder,
Hedley) and mixers Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Hoobastank) and David Bottrill
(Tool, Staind), Lava/Atlantic has given Skillet everything it needs to make a
credible run at the mainstream.
The disc opens with “Rebirthing,” a churning chunk-fest with swirling symphonic stabs adding color and Cooper’s best vocal performance to date. The
song is simply enormous. Keyboardist and programmer Korey Cooper is back on
support vocals after, unfortunately, keeping her trap shut on Collide. Her voice
adds a wonderfully gothic touch. Playing the foil to husband John’s rasp, Korey’s
pipes make all the difference in the ever important opening cut. Fortunately, the
epic strings and graceful vocals re-appear throughout the disc, coloring the
whole project beautifully.
While the musical theme of the record is big rock and hooks, the band finds
a way to add some diversity within the formula. There are ’80s-era power ballads
(“Yours to Hold,” “Say Goodbye”) and manic metal (“Better Than Drugs”). But its
stock-in-trade remains new-century arena rock, full of huge melodies (far more
interesting than the band’s typical monotone melodies of the past) and simple,
easy-to-grasp lyrical sentiments. Thematically centered on the concept of waking
up (to love, to relationships, to truth, to life), there isn’t much here that is truly
unique; but arena rock was never about originality in the first place. It’s honest;
it’s real; and you can bang your head to it.
JOHN J. THOMPSON
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PILLAR
CCM_10.06_Music.v4
File Under:
Hard Music
Page 66
The Reckoning
Flicker
Grade: A-
SONIC BRILLIANCE ALWAYS HELPS A GOOD
SONG STAND TALLER…
66 ccm october 06 ccmmagazine.com
PILLAR
leaving, only to return after her mother
dies to take care of her daddy in his older
years. Not only do they tackle a taboo
subject, but they throw in the wrench of
forgiveness and mercy to make you think.
DOUG VAN PELT
CASTING
CROWNS
A successful producer once told me that
no one ever comments about the sonics
of an album when they’re describing it to
a friend for the first time. The Reckoning,
which hits stores October 3, will break
that rule with its incredible bass, drum
and guitar sounds. Whether it’s the opening
strums of “Last Goodbye” or the rich and
airy drum intro to “Everything,” it’s hard
not to notice the stellar production. This
thought doesn’t seem lost on Pillar,
which shows off nothing but music in the
1’48” instrumental “Elysian.”
Travis Wyrick, who’s made quite a
name and reputation for himself in the
past two years (Pillar, P.O.D., Disciple),
really dialed in the sweetest rock sounds
here—with complete separation and
crisp, solid tones. This could very well
end up being one of those albums that
engineers use when they set up sound
systems for live shows. If nothing else,
it’ll certainly get drummer Lester Estelle
and bassist Kalel more attention.
Fortunately, the band delivered in the
songwriting department, too, so listeners
have 13 good reasons to come back and
hear these sounds again and again.
Not unlike P.O.D., which forcefully left
its rap-rock roots behind to become a
respectable rock band, Pillar is painting
with the kind of vibrant colors that could
fill an arena with a wall of anthemic power
chords and an athletically-inclined vocal
workout. It’s an easy bet that these
songs will absolutely shine in the band’s
live repertoire, where the fast songs will
coax infectious headbanging and
enthusiastic fist-raising action from its
audience. Those that enjoyed the
Matchbook Romance direction of
Disciple’s last album will love the fast
and catchy “Sometimes.”
Lyrically, Rob Beckley and Co. hit
home with some deadly serious subject
matter—as a tragic story of sexual abuse
unfolds in the haunting power ballad
“Angel in Disguise,” where a young girl
copes with years of abuse, eventually
File Under:
Pop/Rock
Lifesong
Live
CD/DVD
Beach Street
Grade: B+
MEETING THE CAST BEHIND THE CROWNS
Talk about striking while the iron is hot.
With two discs still simmering on Neilsen
SoundScan’s sales charts, seven-member
ensemble Casting Crowns now churns out
its Lifesong Live CD/DVD project, a concert version of the band’s sophomore studio release. The new endeavor, which
releases October 3, represents the Crowns’
second per formance-oriented CD/DVD
set, following 2004’s Live from Atlanta.
Not surprisingly, the Lifesong Live CD
contains all the essential elements of a
concert-style recording: audience applause,
brief comments from lead singer Mark
Hall and several expanded renditions of
the band’s hallmark anthems. Although
only six songs are prominently featured,
all the standouts made the cut, including
“Love Them Like Jesus,” “Praise You in
This Storm” and “Stained Glass
Masquerade.” Interestingly, a seventh
(bonus) track, “Set Me Free,” appears on
the CD (but not the DVD). The song
replaces its standard driving guitar riffs
with well-executed piano and violin
instrumentation. Moreover, Hall’s gritty,
impassioned vocals take the song to a
new level of soul-stirring intensity.
While, early on, the disc seems to promise a satisfying listening experience, it
starts to drift and ultimately feels a bit
too run-of-the-mill. Perhaps infusing more
conversation from Hall or additional
musical improvisation would have helped
capture the spirit of the performance.
Fortunately, redemption comes via the
DVD, which yields a full-on view of the
show. The set list mirrors the CD’s, but
it’s only here that we encounter Hall’s
convicting, yet non-preachy, devotional
challenges between songs.
Unlike the Live from Atlanta effort, this
DVD is replete with enough behind-thescenes footage and other special features
to keep the most rabid Crowns fans
satiated for hours. Among the highlights
are a well-produced, exclusive conceptual
video of “Does Anybody Hear Her,” a virtual
tour of the band’s bus and a spotlight on
tour pastor Tony Nolan, who shares an
inspiring testimony with wit and candor.
Also memorable are Hall’s accounts of
how the group’s tight-knit dynamic plays
out in daily life. Revealing glimpses show
the band spending time together in prayer
and devotions, goofing off during sound
checks and detailing how each member
remains engaged in local church ministry.
It all serves as evidence to Casting
Crowns’ unwavering commitment to serve
each other and the body of Christ.
DAVID McCREARY
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File Under:
Pop/Rock
Don’t Wait
BEC
Grade: A
EVEN BETTER THAN THE BENJAMIN GATE?
As front woman for The Benjamin Gate,
this talented singer earned fans with her
energetic rock persona and vocal firepower.
A lot has happened since the group called
it quits in 2003. She married Jeremy
Camp, had two little girls and began
leading worship at a women’s Bible study.
She re-enters the Christian music arena
with a stunning solo debut filled with great
songs and earnest, heartfelt performances.
Co-writing with her talented hubby, Adie
has crafted a collection of songs that
celebrate the grace of God and the
strength that comes from a close relationship with the heavenly Father. A prime
example is “Sufficient,” a poignant song
that speaks of crying out to God and finding
out that, when we are weak, His grace is
sufficient. That song is a perfect showcase
for Adie’s gorgeous voice. She has the
ability to sound both strong and passionate,
yet tender and vulnerable, and has an
innate ability to wring every ounce of emotion
from a lyric. “What Have I Done” is another
poignant example that is among the highlights on this collection.
Whether she’s serving up a track like
the artsy, ethereal “Overwhelming,” the
lovely title cut or a cover of the Byrds’
classic “Turn, Turn, Turn” (an early fave of
Christian music fans thanks to Sheila
Walsh’s 1983 remake), Adie consistently
makes each song a personal anthem, a
potent declaration of faith that speaks
volumes to listeners. When she sings
“And if I’m stronger/It’s ’cause the fear is
over” on “If I’ll Ever,” it’s obvious this is a
woman who has lived life, experienced
joys and challenges and is now
reveling in her complete surrender to God.
In the past couple years, Adie’s musical
gifts may have taken a back seat to her
roles as wife and mother, but this engaging
pop/rock set heralds her arrival as one of
Christian music’s most compelling female
solo artists.
DEBORAH EVANS PRICE
SALVADOR
ADIE
ADIE
File Under:
Latin/Pop/Rock
Dismiss the
Mystery
Word
Grade: A-
DON’T DISMISS THIS SIZZLING EFFORT…
Latin powerhouse Salvador is an anomaly in
Christian music. The tireless sextet has
managed to outlast many of its contemporaries during the seven years it’s remained
in existence.
Yet, it’s unclear how these guys do it.
Their sonic gusto is far removed from the
stock pop and rock stylings of the moment.
Their albums aren’t necessarily hot sellers.
Radio seldom gives them any love, their
cover of Los Lonely Boys’ “Heaven” notwithstanding. And they don’t have a
dramatic testimony—normally a last resort
in a market that thrives on the power of
story to sell an album.
Unfazed, Salvador soldiers on. Since
its inception, the group has endured
several transformations—stylistically, in
membership and otherwise—which have
taken these hermanos from Latin rock
(their self-titled debut) and the nether
regions of Latin pop (Into Motion) to
Tex-Mex-influenced Latin folk (Con Poder)
and Latin funk-rock (So Natural).
There isn’t one song on the new
album, Dismiss the Mystery, that can’t be
traced back to a previous recording. That
in itself is commendable, as the group
has tried insistently to capture on disc
“the Salvador sound,” which, incidentally,
has been a fixture at all its live shows, yet
was never quite present in any of the
band’s previous studio sessions.
One need not look further than the incendiary opener “Now That I Have You”—a
romp that moves naturally from funk-pop
and Latin fusion into a straight-up salsa
fiesta—to realize how much the group has
tightened up its act; it’s arguably the
most addictive thing Salvador has ever
committed to tape.
Recorded at Willie Nelson’s renowned
Pedernales Studios in the band’s Austin
hometown, Mystery hardly lets up, each
subsequent track a creature with a life of
its own. Though similar in their warmbloodedness, all the songs boast
distinctive traits, whether it’s cascading
riff lines (“Neighbor”), menacing horn
sections (“None Greater Than You”) or
the Latin-rock swagger of Santana (“Te
Enaltezco Dios”).
Even in all of its rhythmic revelry,
Salvador still has a soft spot for midtempo balladry, evident in the placid first
single “Shine,” the prayerful “Waterfall”
and the fervent “Trying to Be the Sun.”
These meditative slow-burners appear
targeted to an older fanbase—they’re
less threatening, for sure—but they still
belong in the Salvador canon.
It all amounts to Salvador’s most
complete opus to date—an album where
the band’s sizzling in-concert musicianship
and mastery meet its on-record diversity
and artistry.
ANDREE FARIAS
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KRYSTAL
MEYERS
CCM_10.06_Music.v4
File Under:
Pop/Rock
Dying For
A Heart
Essential
Grade: C-
MEYERS’ PERSONAL EVOLUTION CONTINUES
BEBO
NORMAN
BEBO NORMAN
File Under:
Pop
Between the
Dreaming
and the
Coming True
Essential
Grade: B+
A POTENT DOSE OF HOPEFUL HONESTY
While it’s certainly true that “clothes
don’t make the man,” it’s a symbolic step
when a singer/songwriter who’s best
known for his wardrobe of wrinkled
T-shirts and khakis opts for a suit and tie
for his new CD’s artwork. And, for Bebo
Norman, that’s only the beginning of
what’s different this time around with
Between the Dreaming and the Coming
True, his fifth major-label album.
Instead of employing the introspectiveguy-with-a-guitar routine of years past,
he’s experimenting with a variety of musical
textures, something that’s apparent from
the outset on the piano-driven (yes, piano)
cut “Into the Day.” Overall, his sense of
adventure, musically speaking, is refreshing. It’s a little maudlin like David Gray’s
latest some moments, then warm and
jangly like Josh Rouse’s work the next.
But, even though the album largely succeeds as a whole, there’s something
about “Into the Day” that simply doesn’t
jell. While the scaled-back accompaniment
aptly showcases Norman’s rich tenor, the
68 ccm october 06 ccmmagazine.com
mood morphs from plaintive to easybreezy pop far too quickly, making the
track disjointed. Quite possibly, this may
have been his intention, considering the
theme of the record (more on that in a
minute). However, the end result feels
more like a few fractured ideas rather
than a cohesive progression.
Despite the uneven beginning to
Between the Dreaming and the Coming
True, the idea that “you can’t understand
light unless you understand darkness” is
adeptly conveyed through tracks such as
“Be My Covering,” a yearning plea for
relief during the hardships of everyday
life. Even better is the somber but
poignant “Time Takes Its Toll” and “The
Way We Mend,” two particularly relatable
and heartfelt sentiments in the uncertain,
war-ridden world we live in.
For those who may feel like they want
to sit this one out because of what
could be perceived as depressing subject
matter that hits a little too close to
home, there’s significant payof f if
you’re up for the challenge. While hope
in Christ is found in each song—even in
the melancholy closer, “Now That You’re
Gone,” an ode for those who’ve faced
extended bouts of loneliness and
grief—Norman doesn’t settle for easy
answers or contrived clichés. And honesty like that, the kind that’s not tied
neatly into a bow, is not only wor th a
listen but should be celebrated.
CHRISTA A. BANISTER
Krystal Meyers pitches her tent in the
heavily-trafficked neighborhood of Superchick, Avril Lavigne and Aly & AJ. While it’s
unfair simply to dismiss her as one more
girrrl-rocker, she plays into many of that
genre’s clichés.
The record, produced by Wizardz of Oz
(Britney Spears) and All Star United’s Ian
Eskelin, launches with a credible, buzzing
rock track, “Collide.” Not super-original
but good for a spin or two, anyway. Better
still is “Live,” which might even stand up
at mainstream radio. This hook-heavy
track is a bit Michelle Branch-ish—but
easily the record’s strongest cut and
Meyers’ best vocal. And “The Beauty of
Grace” is a grand, swing-for-the-bleachers
rock ballad, on which Meyers sings
“There’s freedom from your scars/The mistakes that you’ve made, forgiven/The memory’s erased/That’s the beauty of grace.”
Nicely done.
From there, the record takes a wrong
turn and never recovers. The guitar work
of “The Situation” tries almost comically
to create drama, and the song drips with
high school angst. The generic “Shake It
Off” could come from any of a dozen of
her peers. Other songs sound like Hilar y
Duff fronting a hair-metal band—the
sing-songy “Only You Make Me Happy,”
“Love Is on the Run” and “Stand and
Scream.” When Meyers sticks to more
modern stylings (as on the first three
tracks and “Together”), she gets more
palatable results.
In shor t, this record doesn’t match
up to the musical chops or engaging
lyrics of Superchick or BarlowGirl, and
Meyers sounds like other ar tists on
too many of the songs. Heart has a
couple of oh-yeah-that’s-cool moments
and at least two killer singles. But it’s
also responsible for more than its
share of skippables—too many to
keep this disc spinning.
BEAU BLACK
9/8/06
6:37 PM
PHILLIPS,
CRAIG & DEAN
CCM_10.06_Music.v4
File Under:
Pop/Modern Worship
Page 69
Top of My
Lungs
INO
Grade: A-
A TRULY SATISFYING EXPERIENCE
PHILLIPS, CRAIG & DEAN
V3
Having racked up 18 No. 1 radio hits,
surpassing two million albums sold and
packing out concerts nationwide, Phillips,
Craig & Dean has spawned a largely illustrious career, especially for part-timers.
For Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig and Dan
Dean, three full-time pastors who happen
to possess golden throats, their latest
offering, Top of My Lungs, serves as a
fitting release. Though having recorded
nearly a dozen records over the past 15
years, the threesome’s most recent
worship trilogy has comprised the majority
of its sales success. Musically, Top of My
Lungs is equally impressive.
Copiously made up of worship tunes,
the pop gem showcases the latest and
File Under:
R&B/Pop
Grade: C
V3
EMI Gospel
I only know a few things about myself.
My name is Carl.They call me Saint.
HE’S NOT WHO YOU THINK.
Go to ReadTed.com for
information on a $10 Rebate
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AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS
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ccmmagazine.com august 06 ccm 69
9/8/06
6:37 PM
Page 70
greatest contributions of the modern
church. Thanks to producer Nathan
Nockels (Point of Grace, Downhere), a
praise & worship guru all his own, the
record is originally current, albeit formulaic,
proving the men of PC&D (each nearing
50) and the songs of the church possess
a relevant reach.
All 10 tracks hold their own in an
uncharacteristically aggressive, yet sufficiently believable, set. Hosting such current favorites as Hillsong’s “One Way” and
Paul Baloche’s “Your Name,” it is the
Michael Neale penned “You Saved the
Day” that peaks the Phillips, Craig & Dean
performance. Assembling the group’s quintessential powerhouse vocals and
Nockels-infused passion, the ballad of
epic proportions begs a repeat listen.
Sparse piano and string accompaniment surrounds a genuinely stirring lyric in
Jared Anderson’s beautifully simple
“Amazed”: “You dance over me/While I am
unaware/You sing all around/But I never
hear the sound/Lord, I’m amazed by You.”
And the bonus track—and famous hymn—
“’Tis So Sweet” is especially charming,
featuring its own rivaling musicians, the
men’s teenage children.
Repeated lyrics, though felicitous in
worship music as a genre, tend to harass
songs with routine expressions, the only
stumbling block to an otherwise truly
satisfying disc from one of Christian
music’s timeless trios.
SANDRA
McCRACKEN
ANDREW GREER
File Under:
Folk/Singer/Songwriter
Gravity/Love
Towhee
Grade: B+
LOVE GONE RIGHT
After a two-year hiatus from the recording
studio, singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken
returns with Gravity/Love. This marks the fifth
release from McCracken, and the disc falls in
line with her folk/rock/roots sound
primarily established back in 2002 with Gypsy
Flat Road and again in 2004 with Best Laid
Plans. Whereas Best Laid Plans explored
themes of irreconcilable relationships and
conditional love, this album is full of love gone
right. The first track, “Head Over Heel,” is a
SANDRA McCRACKEN
catchy number reminiscent of Sheryl Crow
with its memorable melody, driving guitars
and drum line and whimsical, upbeat, albeit
brief, chorus.
Other tracks, such as “Doubt,” recall a
more vintage-inspired sound à la Jackson
Browne. Most of the tracks are mid-tempo,
and the instruments range from strummed
acoustic guitars and piano-based tracks like
the gorgeous “Portadown Station” to some
nice, mellow electric guitar and steel rounding out the album’s appeal.
McCracken garners help, as always, from
her husband and solo artist, Derek Webb
(formerly of Caedmon’s Call). Peter Collins
(Elton John, Indigo Girls) helms the production, as he did on her debut. Collins may
help bring McCracken’s songs to life
sonically, but the real beauty lies, once
again, in the songwriting. Eleven tracks
harbor the beautiful images and original
metaphors that McCracken is so talented at
crafting. No one could dispute her talent as
a wordsmith after first listen.
The only disappointment with this disc is
in the intensity. McCracken delivers her
message with the precision of a seasoned
performer, but there’s something absent
here. She sounds less engaged in comparison
to past offerings. This disc is less moody,
more mainstream and, perhaps, lacking the
passion so evident in her earlier work. First
time users may not notice, or care, because
Gravity/Love is good, regardless.
LIZZA CONNOR BOWEN
70 ccm october 06 ccmmagazine.com
ANADARA
CCM_10.06_Music.v4
File Under:
Pop
Into the
Unknown
Spring Hill
Grade: B
DIAMONDS IN THE FLUFF
The only disappointment with Anadara’s
debut is not talent or depth of message—
both are rather satisfying—but the disconnect between her record label’s marketing
and the music.
Spring Hill portrays a young woman who
moves to New York City, struggles to find
her way, reignites her faith and becomes a
regular at coffeehouses and children’s
ministries, possessing “an acoustic/folk
style, drawing comparisons to Nichole
Nordeman, Amy Grant and Sara Groves.”
This prepares the listener for an organic,
unplugged context that empowers a poet
to penetrate the heart.
Instead, producer Kent Hopper (Scott
Krippayne, Travis Cottrell) often burdens
her with a catchy pop dressing. Into the
Unknown goes beyond mere comparisons
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Page 71
vocals and generic praise song lyrics of
Gabriel Martinez. As they progress, you
hear them attempt to channel U2 on
“Weather Boy (C’mon, C’mon)”—or is that
channeling Coldplay channeling U2 on
“Possession”? “Noah” and “Meteor”
come closest to The Choir, but, again,
there’s the inescapable U2 vibe.
The difficulty here is the rather pedestrian
lyrical constructions. These are, indeed,
“Uncommon Days,” so we need poetic language, not the common religiosity of easy
resolutions that dominate here in songs
such as “My Reward” and “Walking on the
Waves.” Where are the expanding
metaphors, the rich subtexts, the subtle
artistry that make the songs by this band’s
influences so much better than a sermon
point put to music?
BRIAN QUINCY NEWCOMB
newreleases
ANADARA
JOHN M. DE MARCO
OCTOBER 3
CIRCLESLIDE
to Nordeman, making Anadara at times
nearly indistinguishable from the Dove
Award-winning singer. Across more than
half the project, you’re waiting for the
predictable guitar riffs and percussion
rhythms to simply go away and let Anadara
thrive in her authentic voice.
This voice is most powerfully offered
on the 10th and final cut, “Still,” when
the market-drivers are stripped out—and
we get a sense of what it’s like to sip a
cup of java while Anadara takes us deep.
She’s also permitted more fully to shine
on the minimalist “Song of My
Surrender,” “To the One” (a worshipful
duet with Watermark’s Christy Nockels)
and the rich “The Name,” a cut already
familiar to some listeners.
Anadara is an emerging artist with an
enduring music ministry ahead of her.
Hopefully, during live performances and
the next go-around in the studio, she’ll be
free to leverage more completely who she
is and what she does best.
File Under:
Alternative Pop/Rock
Uncommon
Days
Centricity
Todd Agnew
Jared Anderson
Casting Crowns
Wayburn Dean
Stephen Hurd
Inhale Exhale
(Solid State)
Smokie Norful
Pillar
Various
Grade: C+
PREDICTABLE, YET PROMISING
FUTURE ACHIEVER
Name your band after one of the genre’s
most revered albums, a critical favorite of
Christian alternative music’s pioneering
heyday in spite of only modest commercial
success, and you’re almost begging for
comparison. Borrowing their moniker from
The Choir’s 1990 release, Circle Slide,
honored by this publication in its book The
100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music
(Integrity), where it came in at No. 53,
these guys attempt to step into large artistic shoes, only to partially fill them.
Early in the disc, which was actually
co-produced by The Choir’s Steve
Hindalong and Derri Daugherty, Circleslide
creates a genuinely accessible brand of
somewhat predictable modern pop/rock
formula songs, featuring the appealing
Do You See What I See? (Ardent/INO)
Where to Begin (Integrity)
Lifesong Live CD/DVD (Beach Street)
Peace Child (Wayjade Music/EMG)
My Destiny (Integrity)
The Lost, the Sick, the Sacred
Life Changing (EMI Gospel)
The Reckoning (Flicker)
Christmas Treasures: A McPherson
Guitars Instrumental Collection
(Autumn)
Skillet
Various
Various
Various
Various
Various
Comatose (Lava/Atlantic/Ardent/S-R-E)
Facing the Giants Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack (Provident)
Igniting a Passion (Integrity)
Strength in Numbers (Beatmart)
WOW Hits 2007 (EMI)
X2007 (BEC)
OCTOBER 10
Go Fish
SPUR58
The Swift
Various
Snow (GFK/Word)
Sleepwalkers (Indelible)
Singing Back to You (Rocketown)
Sistas in the Spirit (Integrity Gospel)
OCTOBER 17
Avalon
Third Day
dcTalk
Candlefuse
Mary Mary
Don Moen
OCTOBER 31
Jeremy Camp
newsboys
Sonicflood
Faith: A Hymns Collection (Sparrow)
Christmas Offerings (Essential)
Jesus Freak 10th Anniversary
Special Edition (Forefront)
Never Go Unheard (Infinity)
Mary Mary Christmas (Integrity)
Hiding Place (Integrity)
Beyond Measure (BEC)
GO (Inpop)
Glimpse: Live Recordings from
Around the World (INO)
ccmmagazine.com
october 06 ccm 71
CCM_10.06_Books.v4
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6:38 PM
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thefineprint
books
by Kristi Henson
WALKING A FINE LINE
SINNERS AND…
MICHAEL STREISSGUTH released Johnny Cash: The
Biography (Da Capo) on September 12, the anniversary of Johnny Cash’s death. And, three years after
his passing, Cash is more popular than ever, with his
album American V: A Hundred Highways (Lost
Highway) topping the charts and the biopic Walk the
Line drawing $120 million at the box office and
raking in multiple Oscars. But, with all the media
frenzy around Cash the legend, Streissguth reminds
us that, perhaps, the most important aspect to
remember is Cash the man. To that end, Streissguth,
an English professor who’s also an expert on Johnny
Cash (having written several books on the man) and
contributes frequently to the Journal of Country Music
and Country Music Magazine, became the first Cash
biographer to delve into the archives of the
entertainer’s late manager Saul Holiff in addition to
undertaking other investigative work. The result is an
intriguing and eye-opening look at the man in black—
one that should be an addition to every fan’s library.
Looking for a good book to read before you go to
bed? Then you’ll want to bypass TEDD DEKKER’s
latest thriller, Saint (WestBow). Not because it’s bad.
On the contrary, it’s chock full of all the suspense
and, well, thrills you’ve come to expect from Dekker.
In this outing, Dekker follows the story of Carl
Strople, a guy with telekinetic gifts who’s been kidnapped, brainwashed (as in his memory has been
erased) and re-programmed—turned into an assassin
for an extraordinary mission. When his past begins
to creep back into his subconscious, the truth
begins to come to light…or, perhaps, it’s not the
truth at all? You’ll have to read it to see! But, be
forewarned: you won’t get much sleep until you’ve
finished the entire book. It’s a page-turner!
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS
WE KNOW IT
Following the sudden death of his friend and colleague
Kyle Lake, DAVID CROWDER was inspired to write
Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, But Nobody Wants to
Die: Or The Eschatology of Bluegrass (Relevant). If the
title alone isn’t enough to catch your attention, the content is. Co-written with bandmate MIKE HOGAN,
Everybody is an emotional journey through the grieving
process, encouraging us to live life to the fullest and to
experience our deepest emotions, especially when
grieving the death of a friend. Plus, in my book, anyone
who can work “eschatology” into the title of a publication clearly intended for a lay audience and—on top of
that—connect it to bluegrass music deserves to be
read…and heard. Sharing the Eschatology subtitle with
Crowder’s audio recording, B Collision (sixsteps), the
pair complement each other and the subject matter.
Don’t miss this moving experience!
YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION?
This year marks the 40th anniversary of John
Lennon’s legendary comment that The Beatles were
“bigger than Jesus.” Now, in his new book, The Gospel
According to The Beatles (Westminster John Knox),
STEVE TURNER, the Christian community’s most
esteemed mainstream rock journalist, follows the Fab
Four during the years 1966-1970 on their journey from
mere pop stars to rock icons. And he doesn’t rely on
second-hand accounts and impersonal research. Not
a chance! Turner brings out meat from interviews with
John Lennon, Yoko Ono and other Beatles insiders to
make his case. If The Beatles’ “gospel” were simplified
to an elevator speech? Expand your consciousness
and open your eyes (“Dear Prudence”); free your mind
and change your head (“Revolution”); learn to see
(“Blackbird”); and see beyond yourself (“Within You
Without You”). If you’re a fan of The Beatles or of pop
culture or of music (which should cover just about
everyone reading this), do yourself a favor and pick up
a copy of this excellent book!
B(u)y the Book
Other Titles of Interest
What do you get when the front
man for the punk rock group Bad
Religion (who also happens to
have a Ph.D. in zoology and wrote
his dissertation on evolution, atheism and naturalism) corresponds
with a history professor at a Christian college
(who also happens to be a fan of Bad Religion)?
Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant? A
Professor and a Punk Rocker Discuss Science,
Religion, Naturalism & Christianity (InterVarsity),
which showcases the writings of GREG GRAFFIN
and PRESTON JONES. Yep. It’s good stuff!
According to HAYLEY DIMARCO &
MICHAEL DIMARCO, dating’s not
a science, it’s an art! If you’re one
of the 80 million singles in America
looking for love, you’ll want to
check out their “Marriable Books”—The Art of
the First Date and, subsequently, The Art of
Rejection (Revell). Consider these to be musthave pocket guides!
Her husband led a double life as
a bi-sexual for 25 years and
succumbed to AIDS. Three of her
children died. Her celebrity daughter,
Anne, entered into a very public
(and Hollywood) lesbian relationship. DR. NANCY HECHE, a Focus on the
Family speaker, then struggled to learn to love
those in the gay community. In The Truth Comes
Out: The Story of My Heart’s Transformation
(Regal), Heche documents her struggle and her
journey. An extremely compelling read!
Proving that his brother-in-law, Pastor
Joel Osteen, doesn’t have the market cornered on talent in the family,
JIM GRAFF offers up A Significant
Life: Fulfilling Your Eternal Potential
Every Day (WaterBrook). If you’ve
ever wrestled with ideas of what your life is really
worth (and who hasn’t?), this book is a must-read!
Apparently some teens are using
blogs for purposes akin to those
of the ladies in the popular film
Mean Girls. To combat such negativity, Zonderkidz has released a
new series of books designed to propagate online positivity. Pick up DANDI DALEY
MACKALL’s Grace Notes, Love, Annie, Just Jazz
and Storm Rising for your favorite teen today!
CCM_10.06_Gear.v4
9/8/06
6:39 PM
Page 74
russlong’s guidetogear>>
TURNING THE
TECHNOLOGY
KNOB UP TO
ELEVEN
NEWSBOYS RECENTLY COMPLETED PRODUCTION ON ITS NEW ALBUM, GO (INPOP), WHICH HITS STORES OCTOBER 31. THIS TIME AROUND, TEDD
T (SANCTUS REAL, MUTE MATH) SHARED THE CO-PRODUCTION CHAIR WITH THE BAND’S CHIEF SONGWRITER AND LEAD SINGER, PETER FURLER.
I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO PETER IN BETWEEN VOCAL TAKES, AND HE WAS ABLE TO GIVE ME THE SCOOP ON THE WAY TECHNOLOGY HAS
INFLUENCED THIS ALBUM, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS A “CHEEKY ROCK RECORD.”
>> 21ST CENTURY SONGWRITING::
Peter is doing the bulk of his writing in either GarageBand or Logic. He describes his love for Apple’s GarageBand program: “GarageBand
is so much like the Atari ST days. It’s so simple that you can just throw stuff down without thinking. I’m really just using it as an 8-track
tape recorder, and it’s great.”
Preferring not to fall into a rut, he avoids following the same process on every song. “Sometimes I might just use loops or
samples in GarageBand and play an acoustic guitar into the computer using the mic in the computer.” Regardless of whether he
starts in GarageBand or Logic, by the time he takes it to the studio, it has made the move into Logic. At that point, everyone gets
involved. He explains the process: “We’ve been recording everywhere. All the guys in the band have their own studio, and they record
at their own place. We are constantly uploading files back and forth to each other. We’ve got tons of great stuff to choose from, and,
if something doesn’t work, we just delete it.” He goes on to say, “A good example is Jeff [Frankenstein keyboardist], who I’ve only
seen at the studio once since we started the record. He’s been doing everything at home.”
Apple Logic Pro 7
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW::
Last I heard, newsboys were avid ProTools users, so I asked Peter about his switch to Logic. “In 1999, I tried Logic, and I
didn’t like it,” he says. “I was using Cubase at the time. When Logic 7 first came out, I bought it and just started using it.
Tedd [T] was a Digital Performer guy, but he switched to Logic about the same time, and it’s been really good. It comes as
one package, and it all works together, which is really nice.”
OLD SCHOOL SPACESHIPS::
It’s exciting to see how far technology has come since the mega-mishap on the band’s “Take Me to Your Leader Tour,”
when a cable broke as the band was being lowered onto the stage in spaceships. During the opening number, Duncan
[Phillips, drummer] and Jeff were left hanging in the air from their spaceship with a confused audience below. I think Peter sums it up nicely:
“We appreciate the technology because we know what it was [like] before. [For instance,] it’s been really good for songwriting. The title track
of the record [“Go”] I wrote on the plane. Midway through the flight I sang the melody into the computer’s mic.”
Mac Book Pro
GO!::
Peter describes the new album as “our best record yet. We’re not treading on the same ground, but we’re not going places we shouldn’t
be going.” It’s definitely worth checking out even if it’s just to see how all of this technology translates into a final product.
[
OYE MATE!
One common thread of every band’s setup is its reliance on computers to help it organize its thoughts, communicate with others
and capture its music. While the Griffin PowerMate isn’t a new product, it is one of the most versatile computer accessories that
I’ve encountered in a long time (it works with both Mac & PC). It is, essentially, a big knob that can be assigned to do pretty much
anything you want within any application. It can be used to edit audio tracks or movies, scroll through long documents or act as a
volume knob for iTunes. It includes presets that work with iMovie, FinalCut Pro and GarageBand. And it can be quickly and easily
programmed to execute any Key Command within any application.
GEAR :
LINKS
For more information on the gear on this page, visit:
access-music.de, apple.com, griffintechnology.com,
newsboys.com
74 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
]
Russ Long is an award-winning recording engineer who has helmed gold and platinum albums by Sixpence
None the Richer and newsboys as well as recordings by Chris Tomlin, Relient K, MercyMe, Wilco, Phil
Keaggy, Over the Rhine and others. Russ has created an educational DVD on studio engineering tailored for
singers, songwriters and home studio enthusiasts. For more information, visit audioinstruction.com.
CCM_10.06_SRO.v4
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Page 76
standingroomonly
your guide to concerts
All concert photos by Andy Argyrakis
by Andy Argyrakis
From left: Bear Rinehart; Joe Stillwell, Seth Bolt, Bo Rinehart and Bear Rinehart; Seth Bolt
CLUB CONNECTION
[NEEDTOBREATHE “Love and Heat TOUR”]
BEAT KITCHEN | CHICAGO, IL — AUGUST 11, 2006
As signees in the general market to Lava/Atlantic,
southern streaked rockers NEEDTOBREATHE have
opened for the likes of Collective Soul, Graham
Colton and Edwin McCain while touring most
recently with Train. Yet the group’s roots are also
firmly planted in Christian settings on its national
debut disc, Daylight, which also features a
par tnership with Sparrow Records, including
shared stage time with label mates Switchfoot. No
matter what the format, NEEDTOBREATHE
provides an eye opening mixture of classic rock
steeped in alternative influences with the
occasional melodic ballad thrown in and the ever
so subtle use of ambient experimentation.
In concert, brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart (who
lead the group on vocals and guitars) along with
drummer Joe Stillwell and bassist Seth Bolt took
fans through each of those sonic textures while
allowing their redemptive influence to rub off in a
general market setting. Chicago’s Beat Kitchen
recently played host to the mainstream likes of
International Noise Conspiracy and Eagles of
Death Metal, though NEEDTOBREATHE had no
trouble reeling in followers of any association while
ruling the relatively small stage.
Much of the band’s appeal came from the
double guitar onslaught that commanded respect
from the opening blasts of “Don’t Wait for
Daylight.” The track built steadily throughout its
duration, ramping up with such solidarity that it
yielded howls and even a few air strum
impersonations from those gathered. It was
obvious club goers wanted to rock, and
NEEDTOBREATHE was pleased to oblige, unveiling
the coarse “Quit,” characterized by its shirtshaking drums and monstrous percussion slaps.
The group gave nods to its South Carolina roots
during “Sweet Talker,” a swampy jam reminiscent
of old school Creedence Clearwater Revival or the
more modern approach of Blues Traveler, featuring
76 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
Bear on harmonica. The front man switched
instrumental hats once again to sit behind the
piano for “Don’t Leave Just Yet,” one of the set’s
lone ballads that gave both the band and crowd a
much needed breather (no pun intended).
But the break didn’t last long thanks to “Knew
It All,” again taking cues from the classic acts of
yester year (think Led Zeppelin meets Lynyrd
Skynyrd) but with a much more pure lyrical focus.
The set’s most fun moment came with a carefree
cover of EMF’s “Unbelievable,” passing the baton
to Bo on lead vocals, who was backed by a sea of
karaoke during each chorus. The momentum took
a slight halt come the current single, “Haley,”
which, given its subdued acoustic nature, would’ve
been better placed after “Don’t Leave Just Yet.”
Despite the mistiming, its words were streaked
with hope and encouragement in such a clever way
that it might leave unsuspecting listeners
wondering what might be different about this
band.
Of course, that element is a grounded faith,
again alluded to throughout the revved-up finale of
“You Are Here,” which, as NEEDTOBREATHE’s lead
single, reached No. 2 on the Christian pop radio
charts earlier this year. Depending on where one’s
coming from, this fan favorite could simply be an
infectious sing-a-long or shout out to the Almighty.
Throughout its blistering hour-long performance, the
band simply let the songs speak for themselves.
HERE AND THERE
ARE YOU WITHIN A DAY’S DRIVE?
Here’s a concert date you won’t want to miss!
10/28 Selah—Takoma Park, MD
For the latest concert listings, check out
CCMmagazine.com’s searchable tour database to
find out when your favorite artists will play in a city
near you.
[
Giving concertgoers a look at one of
the country’s coolest Christian venues
]
The UNDERGROUND CAFE, located in the Sacramento
suburb of Roseville, Calif., boasts a pretty bold goal,
to present an “environment that honors people,
reflects truth in culture and encourages honest
pursuit of God.” With these intentions, the venue
opens its doors to all ages and a wide balance of
bands that are firmly planted in faith, yet sensitive to
seekers. The slew of acts to come through its doors
includes hardcore heavy hitters Underoath, emo
darlings The Juliana Theory, alternative act Emery
and rap/rockers Dizmas.
Aside from the music, there’s plenty of food and
non-alcoholic drinks on the menu, along with ministry
opportunities such as Bible studies, praise events
and discipleship groups. However, promoters are
even more excited about a newly planted church
service, which is set up to reinforce the redemptive
entertainment seen on stage through relevant and
practical teachings. In addition, Underground Café is
a non-profit organization where all proceeds go to
persecuted Christians in other countries, who,
because of political strife, are forced to worship in
underground churches.
For additional information, log on to
undergroundcafe-roseville.com.
CCM_10.06_ThingsILOVE.v3
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THINGS I
With JEREMY CAMP
<< I love this picture of Bella—
she’s one funny girl. She’s starting
to ask for Jesus and asking us to
pray. I love more than anything to
see her little desire for the Lord.
<< I love to ride on my four-wheeler.
It’s a great way to relax when I get home
from touring. I also love to play golf,
work out and play basketball.
Love is a manysplendored thing. Love lifts
us up where we belong. All
you need is love. Yes, it all
comes down to love, and, this
month, we’ve asked
JEREMY CAMP to share some
things he loves.
>> I love football. Yeah—GO
COLTS!!! This was one of the
best games ever. I watched
this game with my dad. This
was the game when Peyton
Manning broke all the records!
<< I love this picture of my beautiful wife,
Adrienne (“Adie”). What I love most
about her is her soft heart for the Lord. I
also love her new album, Don’t Wait (BEC)!
>> I love time with my family. Here is a picture of my
beautiful baby girls, Isabella and Arianne. I’m so
thankful for the family the Lord has blessed me with—it has
been such an amazing example to me of God’s love, grace
and faithfulness.
<< Christmas is my favorite holiday. We
have a lot of really special family traditions.
It’s always a reminder of the spiritual
blessings the Lord has given us. This was
our Christmas tree from last year.
>> I absolutely love ice cream.
This is me and my wife at Cold
Stone... (Sorry, honey! Got to get
my bite!)
It’s no trick. If you want a treat on October 31, pick up a copy of Jeremy’s new record, Beyond Measure (BEC). We know he loves that!
After all, he’s poured his heart and soul into it. For the latest info on Jeremy, visit jeremycamp.com.
78 ccm october 06
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LOOSE ENDS
CONFESSIONS OF AN UNFINISHED FAITH
Not Home Yet
The situation in my mailbox is completely out of
control. I cannot begin to describe the amount of
junk mail and catalogs that show up
every…single…day. I mean, occasionally I order
something online, so I do understand how I got
on some of these mass mailing lists. But could
someone please tell me how I got signed up to
receive the latest installment of “Northwest River
Supplies”? And it’s not like it’s just addressed to
“current resident,” it is specifically addressed to
me and usually arrives just after my copy of
“Dancewear Solutions.” I mean, it’s maddening,
really. Every time I throw a huge pile of those
catalogs away, I hold a brief moment of silence
for all the trees that had to be sacrificed because
someone out there thinks I should buy some new
pink leg warmers or a patch kit for my raft.
I suppose I come by it genetically. My
grandmother, “Kiki,” was a catalog addict for years.
If there had been a 12-step program, we would
have staged an intervention for her. For months
after she passed away, my mom would still get
random packages delivered to the house because
Kiki had ordered some free weights or a bikini with
matching eye shadow. I suppose it’s possible that
the Catalog Command Center got word that she
had a granddaughter in Dallas and launched a
shock and awe campaign on my mailbox because
they figured the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I have become so annoyed with the situation
that, even now, when I am asked for my address
and even if it is a legitimate person asking (like at
my bank), I start to sweat and stammer and
eventually blurt out some house number on “Sesame
Street.” I just don’t need any more junk mail!
But, admittedly, there are a few catalogs I like.
“Pottery Barn.” “Anthropologie.” “IKEA.” (I would
not protest some sort of endorsement opportunity,
incidentally)…and one obscure little catalog called
“The Land of Nod.” It has the most clever children’s
stuff imaginable. Toys, room décor, books, music,
educational games, you name it. I love their stuff,
and their catalog has a very whimsical and
imaginative feel to it, even though, in the end…it’s
usually just more stuff. Stuff I don’t need.
T
80 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
BY NICHOLE NORDEMAN
home with a capital H. Because it is part of the
The pastor at church the other Sunday was
legacy of sin that the Garden of Eden left us.
talking about the story of Cain and Abel in early
Restlessness and transient discontent.
Genesis, and he read aloud the part in the story
I’ve never known what to do with songs about
where Cain really blew it, offed his brother in a
heaven. I hear Steven Curtis Chapman sing “We Are
jealous rage and was sentenced by God to be a
Not Home Yet…” or MercyMe sing “I Can Only
“fugitive and a wanderer on the earth,” banished
Imagine,” and I want so much to want that kind of
far from the beautiful Eden he knew to a place
longing. But I am immediately confronted with my
called the Land of Nod—which I learned
own unbelievably shallow attachment to the stuff
actually means “wandering” in Hebrew.
of my life here. Are you with me on this? Does
I was a little sad and surprised to hear the name of
anyone else bargain with God and say idiotic
my favorite catalog taken in vain. But I kept listening.
things like, “Okay Lord, I’ll be ready to see heaven
Cain’s story is a sad one, and, yet, gives context
only after I get married/have kids/run a
to our own. I think it’s interesting that God’s
marathon/buy a home/discover a cure for some
punishment for Cain’s murderous retaliation on
disease/do something important with
his brother is very simple. In essence, God
my life. And, then,...if You must...
sentenced him to homelessness. It’s a
break out the trumpets and harps, I
rather similar sentence to the one He
guess.” I mean, I like to sing and
gave Cain’s parents. The gates of
“...the first
the garden were closed as a result musician mentioned in everything, but sometimes I get a
little nervous about hours and
of their sinful choice. And so was
the Bible descended hours of that celestial choir. I
access to all of the rich and
wonderful blessings God had directly from the father hope there are, at least, bathroom
breaks and snacks.
initially intended for them. They,
of all wanderers. ”
What an incredibly myopic
too, were forced to redefine “home” in
way to see the landscape of eternity.
that moment…and forever.
Not only does Cain’s wandering
And generations later, so are we.
resonate because we share in the consequence
I’ve lived in a lot of different places that I’ve
of sin, but I fear some days that it resonates
called home over the years—Colorado Springs,
because wandering has its own kind of
San Diego, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles,
comfortable familiarity...until we’ve forgotten
Nashville and, now, Dallas. Music has taken me
that we’ve wandered from something and away
to most of those cities. If you read further in the
from Someone. The wandering itself becomes
Cain story, after a few verses about several sons
perfectly and benignly routine. So, while other
who begat a bunch of other sons, eventually it
people are usually singing about wanting for
traces the lineage to a descendant of Cain whose
Jesus to take us home, I am usually praying that
name is Jubal. Jubal, the Bible says, was “the
Jesus will help me want to want to be home and
ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe.”
to make the disposable, irrelevant, immaterial,
So, basically, the first musician mentioned in the
trivial and terminal stuff of life…exactly
Bible descended directly from the father of all
that…tossed out with the catalogs.
wanderers. Makes perfect sense to me.
I don’t need more stuff in my life...I want the
Each of those places I’ve lived has felt like
real stuff of Life.
home in its own way and made a very specific
Homeward bound,
mark on my life. But none of them fully felt like
Nichole
home should fully feel. I’ve always imagined that
one would truly feel “home” when not only does
Nichole Nordeman’s current album, Brave (Sparrow), features the
the grass not look greener over someone else’s
hits “Brave,” “What If” and “Real to Me.” For more information
fence but you don’t even notice the fence
on the CD and to find out if Nichole will be performing in a city
anymore. And, so, I feel a bit of Cain’s wandering
near you this month, visit nicholenordeman.com.
in my spirit…and, perhaps, always will until I am
CCM_10.06_Classifieds.v2
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Page 81
CLASSIFIEDS
BOOKS
MUSIC EVANGELISM – an exciting new
book that investigates the modern cultural
phenomenon known as contemporary
Christian music. Author Chris Flux examines
whether Christian rock can be a credible,
moral, biblical and effective ministry. Music
Evangelism asks if the primary purpose of
such music is worship, art, edification or
evangelism. This book also studies the
history of Christian rock along with
evaluating the current scene. For more
information please visit:
www.musicevangelism.com.
professional faculty. Cost: $3000/year.
Room & board included. For more
information, call 716-312-8363.
myCCM.org is LIVE!
MUSICIANS
WORSHIP SONGWRITERS: Reach thousands
of churches with your unpublished songs
absolutely free if accepted into our program.
www.newworshipsong.com
PRODUCTION
TIME TO RECORD A CD? Try Plan B:
www.herose.com
CCM OPPORTUNITIES
INTERNET
MARK WEBER’S CHRISTIAN MUSIC
MONTHLY: Artist? Promote your CD. Music
fan? Read news and interviews. Where?
www.christianmusicmonthly.com
MINISTRY
TRAINING YOUTH MINISTERS (TYM) is a
significant ministry within Pure for God
Ministries, Inc. TYM is looking for missionsminded young adults to serve in the urban
and rural areas of western New York
through in-the-field training, while acquiring
spiritual disciplines, ministry skills and
practical theology taught by a godly,
ATTENTION ccm READERS:
ARE YOU A NATURAL-BORN TALKER? If so,
and you’re passionate about Christian music,
we could use your help! CCM’s looking for
volunteers to contact youth pastors and
colleges across the country.
Call 615-312-4241 for more info.
Subscription/Customer Service Information: Write CCM, 104 Woodmont Blvd., Ste.
300, Nashville, TN 37205, or call 800/527-5226. In the U.S., $19.95/one year,
$35.95/two years, $53.95/three years; Canada, (U.S. funds) $27.95 per year; all other
countries, (U.S. funds) $33.95 (surface) or $67 (airmail). For address changes or other
inquiries, please include both old and new addresses and mailing label. Allow four to
six weeks for new subscriptions to begin.
Occasionally, CCM Magazine allows other Christian organizations to mail offers of their
products or services to people on our subscriber list. If you do not want to receive mail from
these organizations, please contact our customer service department at 800/527-5226.
Check out this new online
community created especially
for fans of Christian music,
and let us know what you think!
JOIN TODAY:
myCCM.org
HOW TO PLACE CLASSIFIEDS
To place a classified ad, send a check (payable to CCM
COMMUNICATIONS) or a credit card number and expiration
date, along with your ad copy, by the 15th of the month, two
months in advance of the issue in which you want the ad to
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issue.) Cost: $3.00 a word with a minimum of $50 per
month. Display ads run as follows: $175 (B/W), $225
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october 06 ccm 81
CCM_10.06_HistoryMakers.v4
9/8/06
6:44 PM
Page 82
HISTORYMAKERS
WITH J O H N S T Y L L
MOMENTS THAT SHAPED CCM
THIS MONTH, JOHN STYLL RECALLS CCM MAGAZINE’S FIRST SIGNIFICANT CONTROVERSY.
[THREE BUTTONS
AND THE TRUTH]
The title of this article comes from Harlan Howard’s famous
description of country music: “three chords and the truth.”
Followers of Christ believe that there is such a thing as
absolute truth. But, outside of certain bedrock fundamentals,
the Christian family tends to disagree about many things—but,
of course, we think that our point of view represents the truth.
Christians have often confused cultural preferences with
theological absolutes, the result of which is a sliding scale of
personal opinions regarding things such as music and fashion.
The first major controversy within the pages of this
magazine stemmed from one such variance in viewpoints. In
the September 1979 issue, a letter-writer from a Christian
music radio station (who still works in Christian radio today)
wrote to complain about certain album covers of Christian
music artists. (Back in that pre-CD era, album covers were 12
inches square.) He noted that he was passing over certain
albums just because he didn’t like the covers, only to find out
later that they contained some good music.
Here’s the part of the letter that touched off a firestorm of
response: “Don Cusic, in his article on Amy Grant, said her first
album cover was ‘horrendous.’ I liked it myself, and it is
certainly better than her second album [My Father’s Eyes], with
her all fixed up, her top three buttons open on her shirt and a ‘come on’ look”
[italics mine]. He closed by stating, “You can do good covers
which bring sales and do not turn off unbelievers without them
trying to look sexy. Let’s give God more credit in His ability to
bring people to Himself without the use of sex.”
That letter prompted quite a few responses. “Absurd”
wrote someone. “The problem isn’t the fact of judging a
book by its cover but, rather, the view and the viewer. I
believe the basic problem is not in the view, but in the eyes
of the beholder. Maybe someone should do some ‘eye
plucking.’” Ouch!
Another writer put matters in perspective: “Unfortunately,
we Christians are too adept at nitpicking criticism of
82 ccm october 06
ccmmagazine.com
The front and back covers of Amy Grant’s My Father’s Eyes album.
believers who dare to be successful or different. We have come a long way from witch hunts and stake
burnings, but we still see three buttons unbuttoned instead of a beautiful witness of Jesus Christ…”
Since the album cover in question is reproduced on this page, you have probably formed your
own opinion of whether it is appropriate or not. I made my opinion known in these pages a
couple months after the original letter ran:
“Why is it that Christians are so quick to judge one another? For example, this controversy
about Amy Grant’s infamous ‘three buttons’ is absurd! This kind of spiritual nitpicking serves no
other purpose than to waste time and energy on pure trivia. If we each spent more time trying
to determine God’s perfect will for our own lives and ministries, perhaps we’d be able to give
others the freedom to do what they feel they should do. In most cases, we don’t really know
enough about the other person or their situation to fully understand all the reasons for whatever
they may do. I can recall many situations where my attitude toward someone changed
completely when I learned more about them.”
When we launched CCM Magazine, our goal was to increase Christian music’s impact on
culture by providing balanced coverage of the emerging “industry” with serious journalism.
Finding balance can be tricky business, especially when people can observe exactly the same
thing and arrive at completely different conclusions. For example, do you see a partially
undressed woman with a “come-on” look when you see Amy’s album cover? Or do you see a
sweetly smiling teenager?
Jesus had some tough words (recorded in Matthew 23) for those who focused on minor
things while neglecting that which is truly important. Among them: “You strain out a gnat but
swallow a camel.”
I believe that part of the reason this magazine is still being published after 28 years is that it
has somehow managed to keep the metaphorical gnats and camels in perspective. CCM has
consistently sought to be balanced and objective. It has never used sensationalism to sell copies,
yet has not shied away from controversy. To find the middle of the road, it helps when you can
see the edges. Maybe the “three button controversy” was one of the edges, and by bringing it
to light, we helped readers find a more balanced position.
The notion of swallowing camels…or gnats for that matter, never really appealed to me.
Send your thoughts to me at [email protected].
[
JOHN STYLL is the president of the Gospel Music Association. Before taking its helm, he launched CCM
Magazine in 1978 and captained our ship for more than 20 years. For more information on the Gospel
Music Association or the GMA Music Awards, which it oversees, go to gospelmusic.org.
]