Category: Music

Music

The Best Rock and Roll Album You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of

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Want a great way to start an argument that doesn’t involve politics or religion? Ask a group of music-lovers what they think was the greatest decade in rock and roll. (First, ascertain if they even know what rock and roll is. One of the answers I saw to this online was “The 80’s, because of Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Cyndi Lauper.” Bzzzzt, you’re disqualified. Also, we’re revoking your Spotify playlist privileges.) After the furor dies down, you’ll probably find that everyone settles on the decade they were in high school, because that’s the music they know.

Even then, you won’t find many that answer the 90’s.

Music

Perfect Pitch

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I had too much time on my hands this weekend, so I started thinking about “perfect” (within three decimal places) songs. You know the ones — five-stars in your iTunes library, ones that you could listen to a dozen times in a row (and have), songs that you’re pretty sure could not be improved in any conceivable way. They’re … perfect.

These are just the ones I chose to get the conversation started. Since they are all “perfect,” they’re listed in alphabetical order.

Angel (Sarah McLachlan) — there are two reasons to watch City of Angels, the spectacular visuals of the angels on the beach at sunrise, and this song.

Mission / Music / Travel

Day 2 — Kong of Majesty

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  • Guys, you won’t break any fences sitting on the bed with Amy in front of 9 other people — spoken by Pam at the morning’s team meeting. In order to get 11 people in a Cambodia hotel room, multiple people have to sit on the bed. Amy was already on it, but none of the late-arriving guys seemed to want to join her.
  • Fix your gaze — spoken by Alf during the morning devotional. From Acts 3, where Peter and John perform the eponymous act on the lame beggar; Alf’s question was do we “fix our gaze” on people, or merely look at them?
Music

Well Done

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Thirteen years ago this month, I lost a dear friend. Although seldom a week goes by that I don’t think of him, I haven’t written anything about him since he died. I woke up this morning thinking it was time to change that.

He challenged me in so many areas of my life, it’s difficult to think of them all.

He challenged me theologically, but in very subtle ways. He was very well-read, but did not beat you over the head with what he’d learned, but instead weaved it into his conversations so adroitly that you sometimes didn’t realize the depth of what he said until days or weeks later.

Church / Music

Speed Trap

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I recently attended The Summit, and it was, as always, excellent (more on that later). However, I was almost completely distracted during one of the sessions on the second day by a Music Speed Trap.

You know speed traps on the highway? Those places, almost always outside of small towns who have very small revenue streams, where a speed limit sign is put where you can’t see it (or can’t see it in time), and the police sit just on the other side waiting to catch you going too fast? Well, this is the like that, only with music.

There are two kinds of MST’s.

Music

Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Classic Rock

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Having established my fogie credentials last time, let’s turn our attention to the greatest decade in rock ‘n roll, 1967-1976. These days, I spend most of my radio time listening to KVRK, the local Christian rock station, but when they’re playing something I don’t like, I’ll sometimes wander off to the classic rock station for a bit. Occasionally I’ll think, “that’s a good line, I need to start writing those down.” I’ve been thinking that for probably ten years. Now I finally have. With apologies to Robert Fulgham, here’s classic rock with you all you need to know.

Education

When I think about all the crap I learned in high school, it’s a wonder I can think at all.