Watch the Rising Day is the latest album from Matthew Smith. Matthew is a singer-songwriter who writes songs largely based on centuries old hymns, and is also a founding member of “Indelible Grace”. According to the Smith, his latest album:

…explores the tension of living in that brokenness [of a fallen world] while awaiting the day when Earth and Heaven will meet and be made new.

I recently got my hands on Matthew’s latest album and had a chance to sit down and listen to it. Here’s a quick review:

Lyrics:

This album is very strong lyrically. Because Matthew bases most of his songs on hymns, the lyrics are rich and thoroughly biblical. The beauty of the lyrics is that they are very poetic and yet still full of sound doctrine. As a songwriter, I know how difficult that is to accomplish. If you buy this album, you will benefit from the deep, biblical lyrics.

Lyrics Rating: 7.75

Music:

The music for this album is pretty good. Unfortunately, I didn’t walk away from the album with any particular melodies running through my head, which is one way I gauge the creativity and catchiness of the music and melodies. But, the music isn’t bad either.

Music Rating: 6

Recommendation:

This album is worth buying, particularly if you enjoy old hymns redone. You can pre-order the album here (if you pre-order you immediately get to download it as well). Enter the coupon code “BLAZING” for 25% off the album.

I’ve also been listening to John Mark McMillan’s latest album, The Medicine. Here’s my take:

Lyrics:

I’m not sure how I feel about the lyrics for this album. Some of the songs have really gripping, poetic phrases to describe our relationship with God. For example, in the song “Death In His Grave”, he says:

So three days in darkness slept
The Morning Sun of righteousness
But rose to shame the throes of death
And over turn his rule

That’s a really cool way of talking about the death and resurrection of Christ. But then you also have phrases like:

Peel back the veil of time
And let us see You with our naked eyes
We just wanna’ love you
We just wanna’ love you

That sounds cool, but I’m not really sure what it means. We’ll see Jesus with our eyes in heaven, but we’ll never see the Father with our naked eyes. So I’m not sure what he means by this phrase. If you buy the album, listen with discernment.

Lyrics Rating: 5

Music:

This album has a really cool feel. It has a raw, under produced, folk-rock feel that I really like. Personally, I think a lot of Christian music sounds very similar, and is actually a bit boring. The Medicine does not feel like a standard CCM album.

John Mark McMillan also came up with some really good melodic hooks that have stuck with me for several weeks now. He knows how to write a song.

Music Rating: 8

Recommendation:

Buy the album, even if it’s just for the music. You’ll enjoy it. You can buy it here.

I’m submitting it to Sovereign Grace Music for an upcoming CD project on the resurrection. The song may not even make the album, or if it does, it may have serious modifications. But I thought you might like to hear it, including my vocal in all its unvarnished glory. Try to imagine Ryan Baird singing it, or Chris Martin, or Sting…. You can hear it here.

Newness of Life

Glory to God who gave up his Son to death
To cover my sins and clothe me with righteousness
Glory to God who raised me again to life
To see the glory of God that shines in the face of Christ
Praise God for this resurrection life.

New strength and new power
New hope and new vigor
I’m walking in newness of life
New joy and new freedom
New peace and new reason for living
I’m living for Christ
Who rose to this newness of life

Glory to God for Jesus, my all in all
The things of this world are empty and dry and dull
Glory to God for setting my heart on fire
To run after God and live for his heart’s desires
Praise God for this resurrection life

Glory to you for you have risen
Glory to you for you’ve ascended
Glory to you for you are ruling and reigning over all
Glory to you for you have risen
Glory to you for you’ve ascended
Glory to you for you are ruling and reigning over all things.

Copyright Mark Altrogge 2010

]]> http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2010/06/rough-cut-resurrection-song.html/feed 12 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2010/05/how-to-write-an-awful-worship-song.html http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2010/05/how-to-write-an-awful-worship-song.html#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 23:54:41 +0000 Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/?p=4513 So you finally learned to play the guitar and now you’re wondering, “How do I write a truly awful worship song?”

You’ve come to the right place my friend. Here are some sure fire ways to write a truly horrible worship song.

Recycle A Love Song.

Write a song for your girlfriend. When she breaks up with you, convert it into a worship song. Be sure to change all uses of “girl” or “baby”.

Use Time Tested Rhymes.

Make sure that you rhyme “love” and “above” at least twice. The song becomes doubly awful if you can also incorporate the word “dove”. Example: “You sent your love from above, makes my heart feel like a pure white dove.” You get the point.

Be Vague About Your Theology

Make sure to avoid any theology at all costs. Don’t talk about atonement, wrath, or any other biblical concepts. You want your song to be all about feeling. Don’t let the mind get in the way. Repeat after me: “Worship is a warm feeling, sort of like heartburn, only better.”

Make the Song All About You

The main point of your song should be your experiences and how God makes you feel. Don’t bother with objective truth about God. I would suggest that you use the words “I” or “me” at least 12-15 times. For example, “I feel like singing, yes I feel like spinning, because You make me feel so good inside. Like it’s my birthday, but more awesome.”

Be Incredibly Poetic

If you can, muddy the waters with poetic phrases that don’t make much sense. Example: “Your love is like a warm summer’s breeze, washing over my heart like a crystal river.”

Use Well-Worn Musical Progressions

If you can, keep your music and melody boring. I would suggest that you use no more than four distinct notes in a song, so that by the time someone is done listening to it they want to scream. A worship scream, but a scream nonetheless. It also helps if you use the chords G, C, and D over and over.

Defend Your Song Like It’s Your Firstborn Child

Do not, I repeat, do not, let anyone make suggestions for improvement. Tell people that God laid the song on your heart. Tell people that you really want to preserve the artistic integrity of the song. Tell people that you already did the song at your campus ministry and that a revival broke out. Don’t take advice from anyone.

There you have it. Seven ways to write a terrible worship song. You can thank me later.

What else would you add to the list?

In regard to writing hymns, John Newton, said:

Perspicuity, simplicity, and ease should be chiefly attended to, and the imagery and coloring of poetry, if admitted at all, should be indulged very sparingly and with great judgment. (John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace)

Newton wanted his hymns to be understood by all manner of people, and so he shied away from imagery and poetry. I tend to agree with his advice.

What about you?

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If there’s another thing that I know, sort of, it’s kids. Because I have one.

When you put these things together it practically makes me an expert in kids music. So listen up: go out and get your hands on the new Sovereign Grace Music children’s album, To Be Like Jesus.

In all seriousness, this is a fantastic album. It combines excellent music with simple, yet doctrinally sound words. The album is done in such a way that it will appeal to children without going skimpy on the truth.

My two year-old daughter and I have been rocking out to it lately. Click the player below to listen to our favorite song, “Gotta Wait”.

So last Monday I isolated myself in a barn for several hours with just my guitar, a Moleskine journal, and my MacBook.

After prayer, blood, sweat, tears, and feeling like I had the talent of a thumbless monkey, I came up with something moderately satisfying.

I then did a rough (and I mean rough) recording on my computer. It’s just me, my guitar, and a whole lotta soul.

Take a listen for yourself (note: If you’re reading this in a reader you may need to click through to the post):

Here’s the lyrics:

How long would you pursue
One who hated you?
How long would you keep calling?
And how far would you go
To make me your own?
To rescue one who’s fallen?

Oh the lengths you went to prove your love

You gave up your son to save me
Your beloved to make me yours
Now I call you Father
How could I question your love?
I’ve been bought with sacred blood
Now I call you Father

How much would you do
To make me trust in you?
To prove that you are for me?
You crushed your only child
So I could know your smile
And be with you in glory

Will it end up on the CD? That remains to be seen. I’m just grateful that my songs would even be considered.

But what you hear on the album is often very different (in a better way) than what was originally written by the songwriter. My songwriting process usually goes something like this:

_Stephen writes a song and immediately thinks it’s brilliant – possibly the best worship song ever written.

_Stephen plays the song for his dad, who points out the chorus is boring and cliche, and that the verses could really use some more work.

_Stephen goes back to the drawing board (well, writing board actually) and attempts to correct the above problems. Stephen then plays the song for his dad again, who again helps him to refine the song.

_Stephen finally comes up with the ‘finished’ (note the quotation marks) and then records a very rough demo. Trust me folks, my demos are really rough. Don’t believe me? Click on the player below and listen to one of my original demos from the Psalms project.

_Stephen then sends the rough demo to men who are much more musically gifted, such as Bob Kauflin, who then suggest further changes to improve the song. After another round of changes, the real final version of the song is given to the producer, who takes my really rough demo and creates something that actually sounds good. Click on the player below to hear the album version of the song.

So there you have it folks. That’s how a song goes from idea to album in a nutshell. I’m so grateful to work with Sovereign Grace Music and guys like my dad and Bob Kauflin. I hope I can do it for many more years.

FYI – You can download a free song from the album by clicking here.

(HT: Worship Matters)