The North Coast Sessions – Keith and Kristyn Getty
****
This EP of new hymns and songs, inspired by the book of Psalms and created with the Sing! 2018 conference in mind, was recorded by Keith and Kristyn Getty with their band in the little harbor of Portbradden along the North Antrim coast near the Getty’s home in Northern Ireland. I enjoyed hearing many of these songs at the Sing! 2018 conference.
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- More of this review and reviews of The Beatles (White Album) and Native Tongue by Switchfoot
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Below are a few comments about each song:
I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130) – This song is written by Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The song features Kristyn Getty singing over piano and Irish instruments (perhaps Uilleann pipes, the traditional bagpipe of Ireland). The beautiful song slowly builds powerfully with backing vocals.
Key lyric:
I will wait for You
Surely wait for you
Till my soul is satisfied
Magnificent, Marvelous, Matchless Love – This song, which we sang three times at the Sing! 2018 conference, was written by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa, Aaron Keyes and Luke Brown. This wonderful song could very well be the next Getty song to be sung in churches around the world. It’s one of my favorite songs of the year. The upbeat worship song really shows off the band as it opens with guitar, drums and pipes. Kristyn’s vocal leads to the memorable chorus with backing vocals.
Key lyric:
How great, how sure; His Love endures forevermore
Magnificent, marvelous, matchless love
The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) – This song is written by Keith Getty, Kristy Getty and Tom Douglas. This worshipful song begins with Kristyn singing accompanied by some excellent acoustic guitar. The band then joins in with piano, drums, bass and some wonderful backing vocals for Dana Masters, who has sung with Van Morrison.
My Dwelling Place (Psalm 91) – This song is written by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Kelly Minter, Stuart Townend and Chris Eaton. This song has Kristyn singing over piano accompaniment. The song features a nice violin work.
Key lyric:
Wonderful, powerful
My hope and my defender
Mighty God, Emmanuel
My dwelling place forever
I Lift My Eyes (Psalm 121) – I couldn’t find writing credits for this song. The song opens quietly with Kristyn singing over pipes and a stringed instrument, and then the band really kicks in with a driving drum, along with some backing vocals.
Key lyric:
He will not slumber
He will not sleep
But all my days He keeps
You Have Searched Me (Psalm 139) – I couldn’t find writing credits for this song. The song begins with a child’s vocal accompanied by acoustic guitar on the first verse. Kristyn picks up the vocal on the second verse. The song features an acoustic guitar solo and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Search me know my heart
Lord, test my anxious thoughts
Save me from where I have strayed
To walk in your everlasting ways
Psalm 150 – This is an instrumental song that shows off the incredible Getty band.
Inishowen – Again, I couldn’t find writing credits for this song. The song is about Inishowen, the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland. The song opens with acoustic guitar and pipes, with light drums and backing vocals added.
Key lyric:
In my heart I am living in Inishowen
Hearing Your voice in the wind
As breath comes from breath as life comes from life
Following the ancient song
It leads me to you
The Beatles (White Album) – The Beatles
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I can still remember as a 12-year-old seeing the Beatles double “White Album” (officially The Beatles), at our local K-Mart when it was released on November 22, 1968. But Christmas was coming, and I would have to wait a month to get the album. Later, during the time of the “Paul is Dead” rumors, I would play “Revolution 9” backwards and yes, hear very clearly “Turn me on dead man”. Fast forward many years, I was able to hear many of these songs performed in concert – by Paul McCartney, who I will see in concert for the thirteenth time in 2019, George Harrison on his only U.S. tour in 1974, and Ringo Starr in 2014.
On the 50th anniversary of the release of the album, comes a wonderful remastered project, available in different editions. There is the Deluxe edition, which includes the original 30 song double album remastered by Giles Martin (who handled 2006’s Love and 2017’s remastered Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band project), son of the Beatles late producer George Martin, as well as the Esher demos. The Esher demos were 27 solo acoustic songs taped on a four-track machine at George Harrison’s home. These are “unplugged” recordings of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison demoing for each other the songs they had written in India.
The Super Deluxe includes “The Sessions”, 50 early takes, working versions, outtakes, including a nearly 13-minute slow blues version of “Helter Skelter”, an excellent alternate take of Ringo’s “Good Night”, with the strings replaced by backing vocals, some songs that made later Beatles albums (“Hey Jude”, “Lady Madonna”, a very different sounding “Let it Be”, substituting “Brother Malcom for “Mother Mary”, “The Inner Light” and “Across the Universe”), one that didn’t show up until later, “What’s the New Mary Jane”, or ended up on Beatles’ solo albums (Harrison’s “Circles” and “Not Guilty”, the latter of which went through 107 takes and still didn’t make the “White Album”, McCartney’s “Junk”, and Lennon’s “Child of Nature”, an early version of what would become his “Jealous Guy”). There are also takes of songs like “Blue Moon”, “St. Louis Blues” and “You’re So Square (Baby I Don’t Care)”. You’ll also hear George ordering a sandwich immediately before launching into a take of his classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.
The “White Album” was remastered in 2009 and I thought it sounded great at the time, bringing out new sounds not heard on previous versions. Martin’s remastering here takes it even a step further. For example, on “Dear Prudence”, a song that was never one of my favorites, the mix is very clear, letting the listener fully experience and appreciate what is going on here (backing vocals, Starr’s drums, Harrison’s guitar, keys, etc.).
In summary, the Deluxe edition with the new Giles Martin mix of the original double album and the Esher demos is essential for Beatles fans. If your budget allows, go with the Super Deluxe edition. You won’t be disappointed.
Native Tongue – Switchfoot
****
Native Tongue is San Diego based Switchfoot’s eleventh studio album and first since 2016’s Where The Light Shines Through. The ambitious fourteen songs (out of nearly a hundred written for the album), is diverse, featuring a variety of music styles as the band takes some chances. They wanted to pursue joy and let it happen after taking some time off. The album was produced primarily by the band, along with OneRepublic bassist and multi-instrumentalist Brent Kutzle. Jon Foreman has said that the album was an attempt to be a loving embrace of all the human souls who have been weighed down by the times, and that hatred is not our language, love is our native tongue.
Below are a few comments about each of the songs on the album:
Let It Happen – This song was written by Jon Foreman and produced by Tim Foreman, Jon Foreman and Tyler Chester. The song features crashing guitars and driving drums, over Jon’s lead vocal. Backing vocals join him for the chorus and there is a nice guitar solo mid-song. This life seems hollow, he doesn’t know the meaning and his body is aching. He doesn’t know what is going to happen tomorrow but he trusts God with his future.
Native Tongue – This song was written and produced by Tim Foreman, Jon Foreman and Brent Kutzle. The song has a great beat. It starts with Jon singing over hand claps and light drums before a driving drum comes in. The song includes some backing vocals. I really appreciated the Chad Butler’s drums on this song. Love is the language, our native tongue. He wonders where we went wrong, we forgot our song. He wants the world to sing in her native tongue and use our lungs for love.
All I Need – This song was written by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. The love song begins with acoustic guitar and finger snaps and then builds. The chorus is memorable as he sings that all he needs is the air he breathes, the time they share and the ground beneath his feet. He wants to know if she believes in him.
Voices – This song was written by Brent Kutzle, Jon Foreman, Ryan Tedder, Tim Foreman and Tyler Spry. It was produced by Kutzle, Jon Foreman, Tim Foreman and Tyler Spry. The song, which was inspired by a homeless man at the beach, begins with keys and then Butler’s drums drive an excellent beat. In the catchy chorus, Jon sings of having an army of voices in his head. Each moment is crowded with choices, which speak to him and drown out the voices. There are also some good backing vocals on the song.
Dig New Streams – This song, which shows the band taking chances, was written by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. The song opens slowly with Jon singing over acoustic guitar and backing vocals. Mid-way through the chorus the band kicks in with guitar, drums and horns as Jon sings “I’ve got thirty voices in my head, they’ve been telling me to quit while I’m ahead.” Midway through verse two the song changes again as Jon sings “If you’ve been hurt by the church of black and white, come unto me, find rest my burden’s light “
Joy Invincible – This song was written by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. It begins with guitar and a nice drum driven beat. An illness has led to shattered dreams and the need to be brave in the midst of suffering. Jon sings “Hallelujah nevertheless, was the song the pain couldn’t destroy, hallelujah nevertheless, You’re my joy invincible.”
Prodigal Soul – This song was written and produced by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. The song is a prayer. It begins with acoustic guitar, before the band joins in at the chorus. He has been wandering and wants to come home, reminiscent of the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32). A highlight.
The Hardest Art – This song was written by Tim and Jon Foreman and produced by Tyler Chester, Tyler Spry, Brent Kutzle, Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. The song features Kaela Sinclair of the French electronic band M83. Jon handles the first verse and Sinclair the second. Love is surrender and is the hardest art to earn. The song has a dance beat, with Switchfoot again taking chances with a new sound.
Wonderful Feeling – This song was written by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman and they produced it with Tyler Chester. The mid-tempo song begins with piano and then builds, with a good drum beat, guitar solo and backing vocals. Jon sings how it’s funny how you fight what you need the most. Though he has spent a lot of time chasing his shadow, he has a wonderful feeling and hopes set high. His prayer is to let God’s light be his.
Take My Fire – This song was written and produced by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. The song begins with drum machine and then a distorted guitar. Satan is never going to take his fire, his love for God. This is about as hard as Switchfoot has rocked. A highlight.
The Strength to Let Go – This song was written and produced by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. The song begins with acoustic guitar and synth and builds at the chorus. Like “The Prodigal Soul”, it’s a prayer asking God to show him the way to come home. He chooses mercy instead of control. He needs the faith to surrender.
Oxygen – This song was written and produced by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman.
The song begins with piano and drums and then settles into an easy going beat with backing vocals and a guitar solo. The song is about a relationship that has gone bad with one partner leaving. It’s probably my least favorite song on the album.
We’re Gonna Be Alright – This song is written by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman, and they produced it with Tyler Chester. The catchy easy-going song begins with acoustic guitar, and includes a good beat and backing vocals. It’s OK to doubt, fear, grieve, etc. The joyful and memorable chorus tells us that we’re gonna be alright, just take a look at the sky.
You’re The One I Want – This song was written by Jon Foreman and written by Tim Foreman and Jon Foreman. This is a love song, featuring Jon singing over piano and cello. The song would fit well on one of his solo albums.
- Die Rich. Watch the video for KB’s new song “Die Rich” featuring Ray Emmanuel.
- Let It Happen. Watch the video for Switchfoot’s new song “Let It Happen”.
- Is He Worthy? “Is He Worthy” was my top song of 2018. Watch this video of Chris Tomlin singing the song, accompanied by the song’s writers Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive.
- Just As I Am. Watch this acoustic performance from Steinway of “Just As I Am” by Matt Maher.
- Cry to Me. Watch this video of John Hiatt performing his song “Cry to Me” from his excellent album The Eclipse Sessions.
- Michael W. Smith Sings at President Bush’s Funeral. Michael W. Smith sang his song “Friends” at the funeral of President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral.
- Live like someone died for you. Lecrae
- We sing because we’re created to, commanded to, and compelled to. Keith Getty
- Christ used death to destroy death. Matt Maher
- Is He worthy? Is He worthy?
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy of this?
He is Andrew Peterson
Voices by Switchfoot
This week’s song of the week is “Voices” from Switchfoot’s new album Native Tongue. Watch the video for the song here.
Sing to me, baby, in your native tongue
Sing the words of the wise and the young
Show me the place where your words come from
Love is the language, love is your native tongue
Feel your heartbeat bang the drum
Open up your eyes and fill your lungs
The same word from where the stars are flung
Love is the language, love is your native tongue
My heart is a beating drum
My head in oblivion
My soul, such a long way from
My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
My friend, where did we go wrong?
My Lord, we forgot our sound
My soul, such a long way from
My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
Sing it to me, whisper into my ear
Accuser’s voices start to disappear
In the wind, in the tongues of the flame
In my soul, in my one true name, oh
Back before we learned the words to start a fight
Back before they told us that the haters were right
He spoke the truth, “let there be” and there was
Love is the language, love is your native tongue
My heart is a beating drum
My head in oblivion
My soul, such a long way from
My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
My friend, where did we go wrong?
My Lord, we forgot our sound
My soul, such a long way from
My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
So sing it loud, get loud, get
Louder than the voices in the crowd, yeah
Even when they tried to drown you out, eh
Your lips, your lungs, your native tongue
So sing it out, get loud, get
Louder than the darkness and the doubts, eh
Louder than the curses and the shouts, yeah
Your lips, your lungs, your native tongue
My heart is a beating drum
My head in oblivion
My soul, such a long way from
My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
My friend, where did we go wrong?
My Lord, we forgot our sound
My soul, such a long way from
My lips, my lungs, my native tongue
I want the world to sing in her native tongue
To sing it like when we were young
Back before the pendulum had swung to the shadows
I want the world to sing in her native tongue
Maybe we could learn to sing along
To find a way to use our lungs for love and not the shadows
I want the world to sing in her native tongue
To sing it like when we were young
Back before the pendulum had swung to the shadows
I want the world to sing in her native tongue
Maybe we could learn to sing along
To find a way to use our lungs for love and not the shadows
