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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

When I Think of Christmas – Amy Grant and Vince Gill
***

Amy Grant and Vince Gill’s annual Christmas at the Ryman is one of the most successful residencies in the history of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium (former home of the Grand Ole Opry).
Since 1993, Grant and Gill have celebrated Christmas with hometown concerts. What began at the Opry House as “A Tennessee Christmas”, opened Bridgestone Arena, moved to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and finally took up residence at The Ryman Auditorium. They have now performed their Christmas show more than 100 times in front of nearly a quarter-million people. This new collection of songs captures the spirit of those shows.
When I Think of Christmas is a compilation featuring nine of Gill and Grant’s favorite holiday songs along with two brand-new recordings. The new songs are  including Grant’s version of the album’s title track and “Til the Season Comes Round Again,” a Grant/Gill duet, the song they end their Christmas concerts with.
The track list includes holiday favorites like “The Christmas Song”, “Winter Wonderland”, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “O Holy Night” and more.

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  • More of this review and a review of Hallelujah! It’s Christmas by Phil Wickham and In Excelsis (EP) by Matt Redman
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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

I Heard the Bells (EP) – Sandra McCracken
****

This five-song project from Sandra McCracken was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, and produced by McCracken and Seth Talley. It features collaborations with other artists, including Dave Barnes, Cindy Morgan, and Joseph Bradshaw.
The songs have a gentle – acoustic guitar, bass, piano and drums – sound. Four of the songs are Christmas standards – “White Christmas”, “I Heard the Bells”, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”, and “The Christmas Song”, and the final song is McCracken’s “The Space Between”, which she wrote with Cindy Morgan and Gabe Dixon.
I Heard the Bells will be an excellent addition to your Christmas music collection. Also recommended is McCracken’s 2019 Christmas album, titled simply Christmas.

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  • A review of Song of the Saints by Phil Wickham
  • Music News
  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Rise With The Sun by CityAlight

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

The Still Point, Vol. II – Sandra McCracken and Ben Shive
****

Sandra McCracken (“We Will Feast in the House of Zion”) and Ben Shive (“Is He Worthy”) are back with a second The Still Point EP, featuring four new songs. Both are members of the Getty Music writing team. McCracken has said that the songs were born in quiet moments – piano, strings, stillness, and words to help the listener breathe. The songs were written to help the listener slow down and remember what matters most.
The songs were written by both artists, and the EP was produced by Shive. McCracken plays guitars and provides vocals, while Shive plays piano, arranges, and also provides vocals. This beautiful project is best enjoyed by sitting back and relaxing with headphones on.

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  • More of this review and a review of Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version) – John Fogerty
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ The God We Love (Nicene Creed) by CityAlight, featuring Matt Redman

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


Remembering Now – Van Morrison
*** ½

Remembering Now is the 79-year-old Van Morrison’s 47th studio album, his first of new music since 2022’s What’s It Gonna Take, and his best in many years. The album includes fourteen new songs of soul, jazz, blues, folk and country over sixty-eight minutes. Morrison’s voice is in fine shape on this album that has him singing love songs, looking back to his early years in Belfast, considering spiritual themes and a sense of wonder.
Morrison’s core band has been with him since the Three Chords and the Truth album in 2019. They are Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass), and Colin Griffin (drums).  Fiachra Trench, whose history with Morrison goes back to 1989’s Avalon Sunset album, does the excellent string arrangements, performed by the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley. There are also horns, Seth Lakeman’s fiddle, and  gospel background vocals by Crawford Bell, Dana Masters, and others. Morrison provides lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, saxophone, and production.

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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Christus Victor (Amen) by Bryan Fowler and Terrian

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Walk This Road – Doobie Brothers
*** ½

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Doobie Brothers celebrate their 54th anniversary as a band with the release of Walk This Road, their sixteenth album, and their first of new material with Michael McDonald since 1980’s One Step Closer.  The album, which was produced by John Shanks, features ten new songs, including “Lahaina” featuring Mick Fleetwood and Jake Shimabukuru, which was released in 2023.
McDonald, who rejoined the band for their 50th anniversary tour, which we saw in Peoria June 24, 2023, makes his presence known from the beginning notes of the title song, which features Mavis Staples. He also sings lead on “Learn to Let Go”, “The Kind That Lasts”, and “Speed of Pain”. McDonald joins cofounders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons and guitarist John McFee, an on-and-off member since 1980.

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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Oh, What High and Holy Privilege by Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS


Heaven on My Mind – TobyMac
****

Heaven on My Mind is TobyMac’s ninth studio album, following 2022’s Life After Death, my favorite album of that year. It is another strong effort featuring twelve new songs, five of which were released in advance of the full albums. Toby co-wrote all of the songs and worked with a number of writers and producers. He was joined by guest artists Juan Winans and Terrian, and a choir providing backing vocals.
Heaven on My Mind features Toby’s hook-driven songs with themes of loss and trusting God, and will certainly find its way onto my best albums of 2025. Here are a few comments about each song:

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 Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Homesick for Heaven by Phil Wickham Continue reading →


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Film Review:
Bono: Stories of Surrender, rated TV-MA
*** ½

In October, 2022, U2 front man Bono published his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story (now titled Stories of Surrender). The following month, he began a twenty-six show Stories of Surrender tour. This film features footage from one of his one man show Beacon Theatre performances in New York City. The film was directed by Andrew Dominik. The black and white film, which is rated TV-MA for adult language, is available on Apple TV+, and is dedicated to Bono’s parents, Bob and Iris Hewson.
Where U2 often has an elaborate stage in concert, Bono has a very simple stage, with two tables and a few chairs here. The chairs at different times represent his father Bob, who he talks directly to, his mother Iris, and his U2 bandmates The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.

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  • More of this review and a review of Curioso by Wilder Woods
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics:  Come, Christians, Join to Sing – Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Meanwhile – Eric Clapton
***

Meanwhile is the latest album from Eric Clapton, whose career spans more than six decades, during which he has achieved success both as a solo artist and as a member of legendary bands like The Yardbirds, Cream and Derek and the Dominos. The new album includes six newly released songs and eight previously released singles, including collaborations with Jeff Beck, Van Morrison and others.

Here are a few brief comments about each song:

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  • More of this review and a review of I Love Jesus by Mac Powell
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “All My Boast is in Jesus” by Matt Papa, Bryan Fowler and Keith Getty

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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

House of David: Music Inspired from the Prime Video Original Series (Season One) – Various Artists
***

This project features songs inspired by the new House of David series on Prime Video, which tells the story of the ascent of the biblical figure, David, who becomes the most celebrated king of Israel.
The album features some excellent artists. My favorite songs are “40”, the 1983 U2 song covered by for KING + COUNTRY, “I’ve Got a Story” by NEEDTOBREATHE and Tori Kelly, “Take Courage My Heart” by Drew Holcomb and Ellie Holcomb, and “After Your Heart” by Chris Tomlin.
Among the other artists on the album are Lecrae, Anne Wilson, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and Blessing Offor.

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 Song of the Week Lyrics ~ Heaven on My Mind by TobyMac and Forrest Frank Continue reading →


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MUSIC REVIEWS and NEWS

Music Review:
Every Kind of Uh-Oh by Charlie Peacock
***

I’ve long been a fan of multi-talented (singer/songwriter, producer, author) six-time Grammy award winner Charlie Peacock’s music, back to his West Coast Diaries cassettes in the late 1980’s. Every Kind of Uh-Oh is his latest vocal album of ten new songs all written in a two-week period, which he co-produced with his son Sam Ashworth.

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  • More of this review and a review of The Still Point by Sandra McCracken and Ben Shive
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  • Song of the Week Lyrics ~ “The First Hymn” by Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding

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