Under the Radar

Episode #187 - Brooke Fraser, Gungor, Andrew Peterson

2012-06-01T07:30:25+00:00

Throw out your musical diet of overplayed radio tunes and check out these one-of-a-kind tracks by Brooke Fraser, Waterdeep and Gungor.

Julie Lee - “Forgive Yourself”

2012-05-29T19:58:45+00:00

Episode #186 - Co-host: Julie Lee

2012-05-25T07:12:55+00:00

Singer songwriter Julie Lee is in studio picking all the music including Alison Krauss, Ron Block and David Story.

Episode #185 - Hymns Bonus Podcast

2012-05-22T07:30:02+00:00

They have stood the test of time and challenged the hearts of all generations. Here's a full hour of hymns brought to you by Jars of Clay, Matthew Smith and many more.

Q&A with Andrew Greer on the Value of Hymns

2012-05-21T16:44:39+00:00

The importance of hymns in our lives often gets lost in modern day churches and among young people. Yet there is a steady stream of artists that come back to them with full appreciation of their honesty, theology, and power to move hearts. I had the honor to not only sponsor a hymns tour with Andrew Greer, but also to sit down and talk about why hymns are so close to his heart.

DT: What kind of role have hymns played in your life?

AG: Well, if it hadn’t been for hymns I don’t know that I would have ever been introduced to God in the way I was. I grew up in church, but I don’t remember a lot of the sermons that were preached, I do remember a lot of the hymns. Something about the way hymns connect these profound theological truths with these beautiful Americana/Folk, sometimes Celtic, melodies has a way of translating it from your mind to your heart – from head knowledge to heart knowledge. Hymns have had a profound impact on the way I relate to God.

DT: Was there a "lightbulb" moment when you decided to make a hymns album?

AG: I think that light has been burning for a long time. I grew up loving hymns records; the ones produced in the 80’s and 90’s really drew me in. I loved the corporate idea or feeling of singing them in a community of faith. In church I really enjoyed studying the hymns – even more than singing them. I would often read through the hymns if I was bored or the sermon was too sleepy, maybe I should have been paying more attention. (laughs) So ever since I grew to love music and knew that music was something I wanted to do as a career the hymns have always been in the back of my mind.

DT: So what made you decide to make the hymns album at this point in your career?

AG: For this timing and season in my career, after doing one record of all original songs (Open Book), I needed some time to write the next record. I’m not a prolific songwriter at all; so hymns are the first resource I went to. I feel very personally connected with the hymns, so in a lot of ways it’s as if they are my songs and personal stories. At first I thought of it as an in-between record but I’d say I put more heart into this record than I have with anything of my own up to this point. So in its own way it turned into a substantial release for me.

DT: Do you think it's possible for the younger generations to connect with the hymns?

AG: One reason I did the hymns record and wanted to revisit the hymns was to keep them fresh, keep them alive and awake, not only in my generation but in the generation to come. There are lots of times that teenagers and even youngsters at my shows enjoy the music. I’ve had several parents e-mail me and say the kids connected with me and thus all they want to do is play the hymns record. That’s cool for the parents and that’s cool for me. I think there is a lot of life and heart, sweat and tears on the pages of the hymn book. Hymns are messy because the authors were going through some very vulnerable times when they wrote these hymns and I think that is transparent throughout the hymn itself.

DT: How would you compare modern worship music to hymns?

AG: Looking at our modern worship culture I think it’s important to hang on to the hymns. I’ve seen hymns trump "fluff." That’s not to say modern worship is fluff, we have incredible writers – Stuart Townsend, the Getty’s – that are writing hymn quality songs. But historic hymns will always trump the fluff; they will always come back through. You've see the Passion movement record an entire hymns record. I was recently at a church that had a very modern setting and the song leader was singing, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,” an old hymn in a contemporary setting. He asked if I would play for the service and asked, “Do you think the old folks will like that?” I said, “Do you have an old hymnbook around?” So I showed him the date on the hymnbook and he was floored that it was a hymn. What that says to me is that the hymns are timeless. Because he’s still singing the lyrical content and he didn't even change the melody. So hymns are very relevant. Were I to change the instrumentation on some more generic worship songs it might completely take away the emotion and movement of the song. But I dare people of faith to read through the hymns and not be inspired, moved, or challenged. I think of them as easy devotional pieces and I believe it's extremely important for hymns to live on.

Make sure to listen to Episode #184 of UTR where Andrew Greer is the guest all hour. Also, for a limited time, you have the chance to win a stack of hymn remake CDs, including Andrew's latest release.

Episode #184 - Hymns with Andrew Greer

2012-05-18T07:18:02+00:00

With a heart for hymns, Andrew Greer joins us to talk about his newest album and shares a live performance of his unreleased song, "Rescue Me".

Episode #183 - Mother’s Day & UTR Debuts

2012-05-11T07:43:26+00:00

On this Mother's Day weekend, hear a few favorites including Sara Groves and Randall Goodgame -- as well as fresh sounds from UTR debuts like Maron and Zach Winters.

Eric Peters - “Son of Laughter”

2012-05-08T23:01:35+00:00

Episode #182 - Special Guest: Eric Peters

2012-05-04T08:00:17+00:00

Hear Eric Peters talk with us about the inspiration behind his new album, Birds of Relocation.

CD Review: “Birds of Relocation” by Eric Peters

2012-05-01T21:56:49+00:00

This is the CD release day of Eric Peter’s 9th project, Birds of Relocation, which was released in digital-only format 5 weeks ago. We don’t write a lot of album reviews, but this one is so special, it would almost seem wrong to not highlight it.

I met Eric’s music and Eric the person in 2009. I have come to deeply appreciate his art, but I even more so admire the man – an honest, vulnerable person who allows the Gospel to meet him in his brokenness. I met him when he was in a valley. 2009 was a very dark year for him, and Chrome appropriately spoke on some of those fears, doubts, and grave disappointments. But Eric will openly tell you that he is in a different place – a healthier place now.

Here’s how Eric described the project to me in a recent interview: “I feel like there are a few themes going on but the main one is coming out of darkness back into light; which is sort of my experience over the past couple years, especially since the release of Chrome in 2009. I always write about hope, that’s sort of a lifelong theme of mine, this time talking about being lost and found again and an old year versus a new year. The main umbrella is coming out of darkness and seeing light again.”

Birds of Relocation is more than just a collection of songs. This is an amazing chapter in the book of Eric Peters. The listener is invited to hear from the heart of someone currently tasting new hope. This is the realization of the longing for reclamation found in Chrome.

Recommending this album is the biggest no brainer on Earth! Eric is one of the most underrated songwriters today, and his well-crafted lyrics shine through on all 11 tracks. For those who take the time to actively listen and digest each song, you will be treated to a feast for your heart, mind, and soul.

Allow me to pull back the curtain a bit. I sent Eric a private email last month, after my first full listen to Birds. I had no intention on sharing this publicly, but I think it’s worth seeing my response as a friend… and not as a “critic.” So…

Here were my my top 5 BOR impressions – Casey Kasem style, exactly as sent to Eric.

5. The last 0:48 of "Where Would I Go" -- Did you dream up all that production? It's crazy. Crazy good! From the electric guitars, doo wop BGV, horn section, bells, the "ooo Ooooo's"... just tremendous, and more "fun" than I've ever heard in an EP song before!

4. "No Stone Unturned" -- Didn't see it coming. One of your most worshipful and spiritually overt songs. But not a single second that is contrived or cliche. A powerful surprise!

3. The final 1:10 of "New Year" is so beautifully put together. The "Whoa ohhh's" and guitar solo and echo create this amazing vibe. Love!

2. Having heard "Today Dream" live around 20 times -- it's great to hear the produced version. And it's got that perfect trippy "Pet Sounds" vibe going -- really nice. [Way to go Ben!]

1. "Voices" -- I hate to pick just one, but probably my favorite song on the album -- at least lyrically. For some reason I'm not a huge fan of the piano ballad thing, but it works here. Also this one lacks some of the production flair of other songs... but with lyrics like "In the silence/ When we lean into the silence/ We choose the thing that hates us most/ And rest upon its lies" -- dang, boy -- that's some big league chew. And in the arrangement, I absolutely love the very subtle slide guitar or dobro-ish sound. Doesn't trump "Reality" as your best... but in your top tier of songwriting!

Buy MP3s or hard-copy CD of Birds of Relocation at The Rabbit Room
Enter to win (thru 5/15/12) an Eric Peters’ autographed 4-pack of CDs

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Don’t just take my word for it. Here are a few other reviews of Birds of Relocation:

“One of the best records I’ve ever heard. Seriously, maybe top 20 all-time… I think if Rich Mullins had been given more time here, and if God had blessed his life with love and a wife, if he had the chance to see as much of the relational beauty as he saw of the natural beauty, I think he might have written some songs like the ones we find on Birds of Relocation. And you know that’s about the highest praise I can give someone. You will not find a combination of more beautiful poetry, raw honesty, and gorgeous melodies for a long time.” – Todd Agnew, Fair Trade Services recording artist

"Birds of Relocation is a soul awakening, triumphant, honest survey of a year of life and loss. Eric's tell-it-like-it-is voice combined with these aching melodies come together to pronounce both heartache and hope, bringing these two opposite sides of the same coin into view simultaneously. This musical offering is a needed spark of inspiration in a cultural moment heavy with cynicism. These songs speak. They lift. They comfort. Eric skillfully blends melancholy with sunshine. And the end result is magnetic." - Sandra McCracken, singer-songwriter

“Eric Peters has crafted his greatest album to date. The story Eric tells on Birds of Relocation is his own escape story. It’s the airborne travelogue of a grateful, singed survivor, the record of one songbird whose shining eyes are turned suddenly skyward.” – S.D. Smith, writer

“The more I hear Eric’s music, the more aware I am of how generous he is, always giving away every bit of hope for the journey as he finds it. When I buy an Eric Peter’s record, I’m not just adding to my music library, I’m participating in his artistry and making space in the world for songs that bleed life, truth, hope, and beauty.” –Jason Gray, Centricity Music recording artist