Category Archives: Music

Movie review: Jeff Bridges’ “Crazy Heart”

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Stephen

My review of the great new Jeff Bridges film, Crazy Heart, which I wrote with a friend shortly after I saw the movie last month, was just posted on the Rabbit Room blog. Here are a couple excerpts: I’d have … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Music, Work | 1 Comment

The time God told me to write about the evils of rock music

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Stephen

My friend Matthew’s new book releases today, and I just posted a review over at the Rabbit Room. Here’s how it starts: In his new book Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost, releasing February … Continue reading →

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Andy Whitman’s review of Joe Henry’s “Blood From Stars”

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Stephen

As I’ve complied a list of my favorite movies, books, and music of 2009 over the last couple weeks, I’ve gone back and reread some of the reviews of those entries from my favorite critics. Joe Henry’s Blood From Stars, … Continue reading →

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Derek Webb’s “Stockholm Syndrome” available Tuesday

Posted on July 4, 2009 by Stephen

Tonight, at a special event at The Rutledge, Derek Webb played a one hour documentary about the making of his new album, Stockholm Syndrome, letting the packed crowd hear several songs in their entirety through studio footage. When the documentary … Continue reading →

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Remembering Larry Dalton

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Stephen

For the past couple of weeks, after hooking up an old record player I bought at a yard sale recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of the vinyl albums I have. One artist whose work I didn’t have in … Continue reading →

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Trey Anastasio (of Phish) with the Baltimore Symphony

Posted on May 24, 2009 by Stephen

One project that has occupied much of my time over the last couple months has been doing all the music prep. for a concert that took place this past Thursday, a concert by the Baltimore Symphony. Last year, a friend … Continue reading →

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Derek Webb, Muppets, a Kick Drum and the Holy Spirit

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Stephen

Quick, name the last time an artist sampled a clip from Sesame Street in their song? The answer: Derek Webb, in a newly released song from his upcoming album, “Stockholm Syndrome.” Here’s the Sesame Street clip: Derek’s song is titled … Continue reading →

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At the risk of self-discovery

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Stephen

As I was driving down to Franklin Friday evening for the Sara Groves / Ben Shive concert, I put in Sara’s CD All Right Here, her first CD that I bought and still, I think, my favorite. And I was … Continue reading →

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Best song lyric of 2009

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Stephen

I’m in the middle of reading David Dark’s newest, The Sacredness of Questioning Everything, along with Peter Rollins’ How (Not) to Speak of God, and I just discovered a line on the new U2 CD that goes along with both … Continue reading →

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Why Music Matters

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Stephen

A friend of mine, a Grammy-nominated arranger that I work with, recently forwarded me a speech he’d come across given by Karl Paulnack to incoming freshmen at the Boston Conservatory. In it, Paulnack argues that musicians are as important as … Continue reading →

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