Rating System Comments

It's cool that the piece on rating praise music got some conversation going on the site. i would have posted on this yesterday but for a nasty cold and that sort of thing.

i gather from Valerie's comments that she thought the piece was intended for humor. Irene Q took it in the other direction.

i was unsure whether the piece was intended in humor or not, but i hoped that it was. Otherwise, Dale Meador needs a vacation. Certainly, our worship is of God and not man, thus our music should focus on the Triune God and not ourselves primarily. But to start rating things and disqualify songs which seem to man-centered is more than is necessary.

i found it interesting in reading through the Psalms that Ps. 4, Ps. 20, Ps. 27, Ps. 32 and Ps. 38 would not fair well according to the PPH. Those Psalms include numerous "Me, "I" and "My" statements and not nearly as many God-directed ones.

since i have had limited exposure to Razor Mouth, and had never read anything by Dale Meador before, i prefered to give them all the benefit of the doubt and assume that they are having some fun but not taking themselves too seriously.

i will say that in visiting Irene Q's site she brought up some interesting ideas on rating churches and pastors, and the inherent dangers of doing so.

Rating System

i came across a rating of praise music at Razormouth _ the resurrected web site _ and have been wondering what people think about the sentiments therein. i know from visiting kyriosity that Valerie likes it, that's where i saw the link in the first place.

Is the author of the piece, Dale Meador, on to something? what do you think?

i promise to post my thoughts later today or tomorrow.

Trent Lott to Co-Host Soul Train

Soul Train producer Don Cornelius announced today Sen. Trent Lott will be co-hosting an upcoming episode of the long-running R&B dance program in an effort to further assauge damage done by his remarks at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party. Lott, who recently appeared on Black Entertainment Television (BET) for an interview about comments which seemed to support segregation, said he would be delighted to "get his groove on," and show the African-American community he is not a racist.

"I think it is an important step for me to show African-Americans that I am sorry for the pain caused by my comments," Lott said through a spokesman. "My favorite song has always been 'Ebony and Ivory.' "

A spokesman for Soul Train said no agreement had been reached on an actual date for filming the show, but thought it would most likely be in January, perhaps the episode set to run on the Martin Luther King holiday. Lott will be alongside Cornelius, who has stopped hosting the show but is making a special appearance due to the nature of the circumstances.

Strange fascination . . . with what never satisfies
We're either eyes glued to the ground . . . or Lucy in the skies.

From Overflow on Bill Mallonee's new record Locket Full of Moonlight.

Locket Full of Moonlight

The 10-song EP new from Bill Mallonee _ yes i was wrong yesterday when i said it was a 9-song EP, due to not having actually listened to it yet _ continues the journey which has emerged from the post-Audible Sigh era in Bill's music. He seems to have latched on to some favorite new themes like Moonlight _ it shows up on Fetal Position and here in the title and elsewhere on Locket Full of Moonlight. Bill's religious imagery has been changing over the years as well, as he mentions angels more than he used to.

The music is still true and the lyrics are still poignant as ever. Bill experiments with different sounds on his guitar, something which really started with Summershine and marked a period where his affection for Brit pop began to show itself more in his own writing and producing.

He is still affirming all the things he holds dear, his family, his journey, his scars, his faith. i recommend the disc to anyone, long-time listeners and first-timers. Bill's music remains a treasure to anyone who will open it and go inside.

Over The Rhine With Special Guest Bill Mallonee . . .

. . . played 2 sold out shows at The Point in Bryn Mawr, Pa. last night. Bill Mallonee, formerly the frontman for his now-defunct band Vigilantes of Love played in the opening slot _ going solo. Without a supporting cast of any kind, we were treated to just Bill and his guitar, a very powerful duo. In what was the shortest set i have ever seen him play, he managed to hit the gamut _ songs from Audible Sigh, the brilliant Alt-country album by VOL; Fetal Position, his new solo release; To the Roof of The Sky, the exquisite VOL release of 1998 which was financed on his personal credit card; and an unreleased track.

Bill's set list:
1. Solar System (closing track from the third and final version of Audible Sigh)
2. Summer in Our Veins (one of many gems from Fetal Position)
3. Opposite is True (original acoustic finger-picking version. The version which appeared on Roof had a run-away mandolin)
4. Punk Rock is Dead (Unrecorded crowd favorite which is NOT in the works to be part of the next release in March 2003)
5. She's So Liquid (Trippy tip of the hat to Brit pop from Fetal Position)

The great thing about seeing Bill live is that in just 5 songs he still manages to make the audience feel right at home and fill the room with the warmth of his passion. Sitting 10 feet away from him front and center also enhanced the experience. Bill is always a treat, and The Point is the best venue inside or outside of Philadelphia for live music.

Then came Over The Rhine. Karin Berquist's voice is amazing, and she was even complaining about a sore throat. i have not kept pace with OTR the same way i have will Bill, and so i only have one of their albums, but even without former knowledge of the songs, the show was still fabulous. Linford Detweiler, who is Berquist's husband and normally plays bass, instead played keyboards and acoustic guitar. The supporting cast included a drummer who used brushes all night and a cellist. The result was sonic beauty. i'd give you set list, but most of the titles i don't know, so i can't.

After the show, it was great hanging out with Bill, bending his ear a bit and having him bend mine in return. it seems in my travels there are few authentic people in the world, and he is one. i also was able to pick up a copy of his new indie release, a 9-song EP titled Locket Full of Moonlight. Once i get a chance to listen to it, a review will be forthcoming.

Station No. 24

Charles did not notice John's absence, his lateness nor anything else about him when John came home. Charles was so lost in a fog he had forgotten about dinner altogether, leaving John and Jess to scrape together some cash and order a pizza.

Charles had blown into the house and out again like a gale, taking only the time needed to locate and pick up the book of Chin li's poetry. He was out the door before either John or Jess could get one word out, not even "Hi, Dad."

He walked briskly toward the cafe with a mind and heart full of, well, he wasn't sure what he as full of. Was it anger? Was it resentment? Was it frantic confusion? On one hand he wanted to scream at Jason for ever introducing him to the poem which had so captivated and tortured him for weeks. On the other hand, if Jason actually had some insight, Charles thought he might want some of it. Of course, wanting it depended on whether or not he liked the insight in the first place.

Charles had become quite skilled at taking information and making it fit his desires and preconceptions of how things should be. When he heard a convincing argument supporting a position he did not like, he found a way to punch enough of a hole in the argument to discredit it and relieve himself of the intelligent responsibility of considering it.

But he had to admit he was not so certain when it came to the reasons of the heart. Of course, Charles never referred to things such as he was feeling as reasons of the heart, that would be a far too positive a way of describing things. Charles regarded the very things which had been keeping him awake nights as "irrational." Whatever Chin li was getting at in his poetry was not the sort of thin Charles was all that comfortable contemplating. He realized he preferred Chin li's poetry which spoke of nature and its scenic beauty. Yet at the same time, he was drawn to the deeper things, much against his "rational will."

Charles brushed past several people on the sidewalk as he strode with increasing vigor towards the cafe. His manner led some of the other pedestrians to yell various expletives at him and present him with a choice finger — although Charles never saw it as he was headed away from the gesture.

The cafe door swung open and Charles barrelled in, shutting it hard enough to bring to a halt the buzz which arises from numerous, simultaneous conversations. He scanned the room for Jason but did not see him. Letting out a grunt of disgust, Charles turned to leave.

"Charles," a voice called. It was Jason emerging from the kitchen area.
Charles wheeled around swiftly and Jason recognized a look of desperation.